Azoospermia - Donor Route Support

[Blue234]

Hi everyone!

This thread is dedicated to those of us navigating the azo journey and considering or have chosen the donor route.

I thought it would be great if we could share our experiences, offer support, and help each other through this challenging path.

Looking forward to hearing your stories and supporting one another along the way.

I am happy to start this thread by sharing our story:
-After around 1 year TTC, we were diagnosed with unexplained non-obstructive azoospermia back in March 2024. We were given 30% chances of finding sperm with MTESE but my partner decided he wanted to try all we could before moving to option B.
-We had MTESE done via NHS in August 2024 and unfortunately it was unsuccessful. We had lots of discussion before the surgery and we had agreed that we would good via donor route if the surgery wasn't successful.
-We have now been referred for a NHS funded IVF cycle using sperm donor (funded by us) and currently waiting for the clinic to call us to have implications counselling.
-In the meantime, we are currently in parallel the process of finding a suitable donor.

I’m feeling a mix of emotions right now. On one hand, I’m happy and excited that we still have a chance to become parents and the idea of a future baby brings me so much joy. But on the other hand, there’s still a lingering sadness about what we’re going through, especially when I think about what my partner is facing.

Even though I know it’s not all about genetics, who hasn’t dreamed of having a baby that looks like their partner or a blend of both of us? While I believe I’ve mostly come to terms with this, a part of me still feels a bit heartbroken.

Choosing a donor is challenging. We try not to overthink it and even find moments to joke around while browsing profiles, but there’s so much to consider. One thing that particularly worries me is the possibility of our child wanting to contact the donor when they’re an adult. What if the donor isn’t kind to them? I know this is something far off in the future and out of our control, but it’s been on my mind lately.

Sorry for my long message, I will stop now! But just thought of sharing some of my thoughts to start with!

Looking forward to hear your stories!

@Magix86 @StarJasmine93 looping you into this new thread :)

Yaaas @Blue234!! So happy for you, can’t believe you got a transfer eeeek. Got everything crossed for you 🤞✨

Awww yay @Blue234 that's so amazing!!! Congratulations 🎉. I'm so pleased for you. Have been thinking about you and wondering if you felt better from the other day. Glad OHSS didn't get it's hooks into you.

Keeping everything crossed for you on the 24th or Jan! Pretty sure that's the date of my first scan to check how things are going after a week on stims 😊.

@Disco24 how you holding up? Where are you up to in your cycles? xx

Thanks a lot @Disco24 @StarJasmine93 🥹🙏! Keeping fingers crossed OHSS doesnt show up at some point. I am still no risk free (specially if I get pregnant) but will try not to think about it!
How are you both coping with everything?

Oh fingers crossed you sail through them @Blue234 🤞

Yeah all good thanks for asking. Just focusing on each day as it comes. 10 days into injections now, next appointment this coming Friday. Not thinking further ahead than that just yet. The only symptom I seem to have are headaches. They are very mild though so not too bad xxx

Yes hoping for an easy ride for you @Blue234

That sounds good @StarJasmine93, what will the scan Friday aim to do?

I’m good, stillll waiting, feels like the longest time since my cycle was cancelled 5 weeks ago! Due on this week so planning to contact the clinic for my baseline scan. I’ve not heard from them since then either even though they said they’d call so I’ll be forcing my way in if necessary. Feeling a lot calmer this time which has been nice, but we’ll see where I am in 2 weeks 😂

The scan is to determine if the first two weeks of injections have worked. As I'm on the long protocol like @Blue234 was, this phase is essentially to suppress my natural cycle so they can control the stimulation process. I think women with low AMH tend to get put on this protocol. It's longer and more injections 🙄. But I'm coping fine 😊.

Good you are starting your next cycle soon! Sending you all the positivity xx

@StarJasmine93 keeping fingers crossed for you next friday!🤞Glad to hear you are still having mild symptoms!

@Disco24 glad to hear you are coping with it better this time! Hope you are able to start very soon your next cycle🤞🤞

I seeee, so after this you could start ramping up for collection?

I can’t believe how it’s all just coming together for everyone, I felt like in summer it felt so far away for us all and now it’s here! 💖

Yeah the hope is that Friday's scan confirms the drugs have done their job and then I'll start stimulation injections. I have a scan on 24th and 27th to track how well the stimulation drugs are doing and if follicles are measuring how they should be. My collection is pencilled in for 29th but that could move depending on what the scans show.

Yes it is crazy now we are all the thick of it isn't it?? I'm just so buzzing to be doing treatment 😂. I weirdly look forward to my injection each day as it's another one ticked off the list and us getting closer to the end goal!! Hopefully 🤞

Hi ladies! How are we all doing? @StarJasmine93 how was your scan? @Blue234 how are you feeling?

I am finally in my new cycle! 🥳 baseline scan done today, and this time we’re going with an unmedicated cycle as expected. I’ll have another scan Tuesday to see how my follicles are developing and hopefully this time we’ll see one dominant follicle growing and we can inseminate this time 🤞❤️

Hey @Disco24! Thats great news!🎉 So happy for you! Do you have an estimated date for the insemination or do you still need to wait for the scans?

I am good physically, the bloating and discomfort went away. I am just feeling some ovary pain/cramps from time to time. But mentally, its been a bit draining, days are going soo slow. It feels next Friday will never come🤦 Trying to keep myself busy but cant stop thinking on which sort of news we will get next week. Trying to stay positive but at the same time so worried of seeing a big fat negative next week😬

Yeah it depends on Tuesdays scan. If I have a follicle developing, depending on its size they’ll calculate approx ovulation (by my estimate I would ovulate 27th) so then they’ll decide if they’ll do trigger or natural which will affect the date. Trying to do scan by scan; got ahead of myself last time and fell with a bang ❤️

So glad the bloating went down but I can’t even imagine the wait! You’ve done all you can now. I did listen to a podcast about the TWW that I found interesting if that’s your thing: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0uj38sCCp6bIi2By6onVx8?si=fCkAj9OSRWiD1YEqo8VNgQ

xx

@Disco24 keeping fingers crossed for your scan! In any case whatever the final date is, it's not far away and thats the great news :)

Thanks a lot for sharing the podcast! I will listening to it! 🤗🤗

Such great news @Disco24 ! Will be thinking of you on Tuesday, hope the scan goes well.
@Blue234 not long to go! The 2ww is a killer. Do you think you'll test early?

Hey @Magix86! I am trying not to test early to avoid any further stress or disappointment. Did you test early?

@Blue234 I completely understand that! I tested on day 2 🤣 but that was to see if the trigger shot was out of my system, as that can show a false positive. It was so I ended up testing daily lol and got a positive on day 6. It can be torture trying to analyse the darkness of the lines and see if they are progressing. For me it would have been too much waiting the whole 10 days though and I'd rather prepare myself earlier on for any bad news. It's a horrible time either way so you just have to do what works for you x

@Magix86 me being me I would do the same than you by default😂but I am really trying to stop myself from doing it and wait. If I were to do it today and I see a negative I am sure I would be so devastated. So I am trying to fight against myself and wait til they date i was told (keeping fingers crossed I manage), so hopefully we know for sure whether it is negative or positive. In the meantime I am just visiting the toilet as soon as I feel any discharge in case its my period 😪honestly for me, this is being the worst part. The 4 weeks of injections felt so quick compared to this last 6 days.

How are things on your end? how are you feeling?

@Blue234 I get it! Keep yourself busy so you don't feel tempted to test. And count down the days so you know the wait is getting shorter 😀 are you on progesterone? Knowing I was using that helped reassure me I shouldn't be bleeding. I'm still taking them for another 3 weeks.
I'm doing good thank you, my back is hurting a little from 2 days in the office after a long time just working from home, but I really can't complain. Going to book a private scan for next weekend so I can reassure myself everything is as it should be. I'm sorry to tell you, but the anxiety never ends 🤣

@Magix86 yes I am in progesterone too!

Good to hear you are quite well! Hope your back gets better! Yeah I can imagine there is always worry for something. My mum always says that pregnancy always feels like a very fast 9 months only when you are not the one pregnant😂

Hi everyone!

Great news for you @Disco24 😊. Pleased that everything is going as it should so far! Keep us posted next Tuesday.

Just had my scan and they're happy with how everything is looking so I'm now adding in stims!

I think this is quite a unique issue but I have quite long nails and so I really struggle to get the caps off the needles. I did my first stims injection in the hospital in front of the nurse after she showed us the instructions and what happens but I fiddle with the cap to get it off and end up stabbing my finger which results in it pouring with blood 😂😂. So embarrassing! Not the first time that's happened either.

Next scan is next Friday so will just keep injecting and hope for the best 🤞.

@Blue234 sorry to hear that you are struggling with the TWW. I know I will find that wait horrendous as well. I personally will hold off from testing early because I think I'd rather stay in my bubble for as long as possible 😂.

@Magix86 good shout on the private scan. I would be doing the same. Let us know how you get on!

@StarJasmine93 yay! glad to hear that everything is going as planned and you are now on stims! I am sure you were not the first one struggling with the nails😂I am sure they have all sort of stories to tell!
Keeping fingers crossed for next Friday scan :)

Oh my goodness @StarJasmine93 how’s your finger 😂 I’m sure that must happen for others. Great news about starting stims too, everything seems to be moving along ❤️

@Magix86 so glad everything is going well! I agree I’ll be taking all of the private scans too, after so much anxiety in the process a little extra security is not a bad thing.

Hey ladies! how are you doing? Just wanted to let you know that we got a positive😭I still can't believe it🙏. I know is very early days and still anything can happen but trying to stay positive! I am still waiting for a call back from my clinic to discuss next steps.

@StarJasmine93 @Disco24 hope your scans went well!

@Magix86 how are you feeling? By the way, i didnt manage to hold on testing until today😂I was so sure that my period was coming that a couple of days ago I decided to start testing to confirm and got a faint line! But kept thinking it could be a false positive, but hopefully at this stage it is not!🙏

@Blue234 I've been thinking of you. That's amazing news, congratulations 🎊
I was wondering whether you would stick it out until your test day! I'm so happy for you ❤️
I'm feeling OK thank you. Just anxious to know everything is still OK in there. Waiting for our private scan on Sunday to check on things.
Hope you're both doing good @Disco24 @StarJasmine93 xx

Arghhh @Blue234 congratulations!! I’ve been thinking about you a lot but didn’t want to message until you were ready to share ❤️

My scans are progressing well and all as it should. Follicle is up to 11.5mm and needs to be 18+ so next scan Monday. They’re thinking I’ll ovulate Monday or Tuesday and if all well they’ll inseminate then. I’m cautiously optimistic, but also the body is unpredictable and the chances are less than IVF per cycle but keeping everything crossed!

It feels crazy to think we might have a chance to get pregnant NEXT week?! I’m sure you all felt the same. Acupuncture done, all my nutrition hit (with some extra chocolate) and another hibernation weekend planned 🧘 xx