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Original poster

Sperm retrieval - what should I be asking for?

4 replies

potatosconelover · 26/07/2023 09:46

Hello everyone,

My husband just had surgical sperm retrieval (he had blockages from severe UTIs).

Someone phoned a day or two later and said it went well - they have five straws, four from the epididymis, which are the best (I don't know if this is the case for all sperm or just compared to the other ones they collected).

They also said they had a concentration of 32% and a motility of 22%. No idea whether this is good.

I will phone them today, but I thought I would ask - is there anything else I should be asking for clarification about? Or more tests I should be asking for?
I've heard about a DNA fragmentation test - should I be pushing for that?

The process so far hasn't been great - I've had to chase so many things, we've been messed about a bit and I've realised I'll have to advocate for us and occasionally get my elbows out.

Any advice gratefully received. I feel like I am stumbling about in the dark trying to find everything out.

Thanks! X

OP posts:
Arewetherenow · 26/07/2023 11:40

My partner's sperm had average motility (how it moves) but volume (number of sperms per ml measured as million per ml)and morphology( shape, head and tail) was below par. He also had severe DNA fragmentation.

We asked for the results in absolute numbers so that we can look up on internet and also compare how it changed during different cycles.
All of this information helped us in choosing the best IVF route for our circumstances.

I think you should also ask for Morphology. Good morphology contributes to healthy embryo.

Also take these results to GP/consultant to get a second opinion if the sperm quality is good and suitable for forming a healthy embryo.

Original poster
potatosconelover · 02/08/2023 11:02

Arewetherenow · 26/07/2023 11:40

My partner's sperm had average motility (how it moves) but volume (number of sperms per ml measured as million per ml)and morphology( shape, head and tail) was below par. He also had severe DNA fragmentation.

We asked for the results in absolute numbers so that we can look up on internet and also compare how it changed during different cycles.
All of this information helped us in choosing the best IVF route for our circumstances.

I think you should also ask for Morphology. Good morphology contributes to healthy embryo.

Also take these results to GP/consultant to get a second opinion if the sperm quality is good and suitable for forming a healthy embryo.

Sorry @Arewetherenow I somehow missed this! Thanks so much for the advice, will phone them today and ask about all of it! Good luck to you. X

OP posts:
lemons44 · 04/08/2023 19:38

@potatosconelover sometimes they do a thaw test to see how well the frozen sperm thaws.

You just need to bear in mind that surgically extracted sperm are not 100% fully formed yet. They can be used for ICSI IVF but you won't get a proper semen analysis report like other people get with ejaculated sperm.

We are doing ICSI with my OH's surgically extracted sperm. His came from the testes and I know that sperm from the epididymis are a bit more developed than from the testes.

Hope your OH is recovering well. Was it a TESE or the aspiration method?

Original poster
potatosconelover · 25/08/2023 14:09

lemons44 · 04/08/2023 19:38

@potatosconelover sometimes they do a thaw test to see how well the frozen sperm thaws.

You just need to bear in mind that surgically extracted sperm are not 100% fully formed yet. They can be used for ICSI IVF but you won't get a proper semen analysis report like other people get with ejaculated sperm.

We are doing ICSI with my OH's surgically extracted sperm. His came from the testes and I know that sperm from the epididymis are a bit more developed than from the testes.

Hope your OH is recovering well. Was it a TESE or the aspiration method?

@lemons44 I'm so sorry - I didn't have notifications on and just saw this! I need to fix my profile!
So we're five weeks after the op and he's still a bit tender! It was the full TESE in the end and they got five straws and various tests gave results that we were told were within normal parameters!

I think this whole process needs more info - every time we need to push to ask what certain results mean, etc.

Have you started your ICSI, how are you feeling? We're so far down the waiting list that it's likely to be Jan or Feb before anything will happen with me...

Hope you are both doing wellX

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