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 :)

How are you all doing? Hope things are going well for you all. We've finally chosen our donor! We also have our treatment plan - we're entitled to 1 round of ICSI plus 4 transfers. I'll be on the short protocol but due to the timing of my period I'm not likely to start any meds until 4 weeks time when I'm on day 21 of my next cycle. All seems very very real now! Definitely working on egg quality over the next few weeks so that salad suggestion was really helpful 🙂

Yayyy @Magix86 I’m so happy you have your plan and you have your donor. Sounds like you’re all set 💖

Isn’t it strange how you wait for so long then when it comes I was like wait? Like start soon? 😅.

All good here, nothing to report, just checking the hospital app like a mad woman waiting for our nurse appointment to come in. It says on my notes it should be around the 27th October, but not heard anything yet. If it’s any later we might only just get a cycle in this year, but they’d have to be on it.

@Magix86 thats great news! Congratulations on choosing your donor and starting veery soon! Also your entitlement is great considering than for is just one IVF and just one transfer.

No much update from my side, still waiting for the genetic match test results. Fingers crossed that it comes by the end of this week as we cant progress any further until we have the results and we send the straws to the clinic.

Oh wow @Magix86!! That's all so great. How are you feeling about it coming round so fast??

I also have some good news... We got funding approval for IVF/ICSI treatment and funding for the donor sperm 🥹. So happy!! Especially after only a few weeks ago finding out that my AMH plummeted and we couldnt have funding from our old ICB.

We are so close to picking our donor. We have two favourites so just need to make our mind up tonight and then let the bank know tomorrow.

The annoying thing is, it can take 4 weeks for my clinic to process the order or something and then potentially another 4 weeks for the sperm to make it to our clinic so I can't see us starting treatment this year 😢.

Anyway trying not to get too obsessed with time and just focus on the next step.

@StarJasmine93 that's great news on your end too!

I know exactly what you mean about getting obsessed with time🤦 I am every day making non-sense calculations on when we could potentially start the cycle...and at the end I am just getting frustrated as nothing is really under my control. Clearly this process is made to prove our patience🤦

@Blue234 I am exactly the same! Driving myself crazy counting left and right of my cycle. I keep trying to be patient, but I feel in limbo not having the next date. This process is just so long and in other people’s hands, it’s expected to feel some frustration. I’m just trying to go with the flow 😅

Fantastic news @StarJasmine93 I’m so glad the ICB worked out for you. Good luck making your choice and moving towards that next step! So exciting. I hope they give you clarity of dates so you have that to work towards 💖

@Disco24 thank you 💞 27th October will be here before you know it! Do you have a plan of what days of your cycle you'll be starting medication? I'm not sure how much IUI medication differs to IVF.

@Blue234 yeah it's not a bad entitlement, although it used to be 3 rounds and they reduced it to 1 😒 really hoping your genetic results come back soon! Keep us posted

@StarJasmine93 that must feel so good to you after the news of your AMH, I'm so pleased for you! And to get the donor sperm funded too is a bonus! That does seem a long time to wait for it to be available tho, hopefully it will be quicker than they said. I guess it's coming from a bank that's separate to your clinic? We're using our clinic's bank so that's probably why it's ready so quickly for us.

We spent all last night completing more consent forms so really tired this morning lol. I'm completely with you all on the wait driving me insane. I thought we might be able to start next week when my period is due but didn't realise my meds would start on day 21 instead of day1! So a little disappointed at another month of waiting, but yes it will go quickly and it gives me a chance to continue working on egg quality.

I'm a little worried that although my AMH was 16.9 they only saw 8 follicles on my scan. I'm now concerned that we won't get many eggs 😕 there is always something new to worry about isn't there!

Thanks ladies!! @Blue234 your message around checking your cycle constantly made me laugh because I'm doing the exact same 😂.

As I mentioned, we recently moved house so I'm going to try and focus on little reno projects so I'm not driving myself crazy waiting for treatment to start.

@Magix86 yes because the bank is separate to the clinic, I think that's why it takes longer. We also have two clinics... The one we are registered at and then because it doesn't have an Embryology department, it has another clinic linked to it. So I will be between the two for treatment. It's all very confusing!!

I can understand your concern around how many eggs you'll get because I'm totally the same. I'm prepared for single figures because I think that's highly likely for me with my AMH. As you say, just focussing on egg quality because that's something we can try to control!

So what happens with your treatment cycle then @Magix86? What do you start taking on day 21, how long do you take it for? What happens after that?

Its been a while since I looked into the protocols etc of IVF because we've always felt a million miles away from it.

@StarJasmine93 being busy with the new house sounds a great way to pass the time 😄 ah that is more confusing lol but hopefully you get the best of both clinics!
Yeah I've been the same, not really looked into it much as there's been so many other hurdles first, and now it's kind of here I'm feeling lost all over again 😅
I'll be on norethisterone from day 21 for about 5 days then 1 week of an fsh injection and then another week of another injection to prevent ovulation. And then the trigger for egg collection plus progesterone for afterwards I think. Its a lot of new information!
I think the norethisterone is to help with timing the egg collection, possibly to work with the clinics calendar, but I've read it helps to start your follicles off at the same size so they grow more evenly?? I could be very wrong. Its hard to remember everything the doc said to us

@Magix86 oh if it is around the 27th that would be brilliant, I’m just so cynical of them adhering to dates and that’s what adds the stress 😂. So regarding meds I start Day 1-5 of Clomid, and day 1-20 of Progesterone I believe.

How annoying it being day 21! I would have thought the same as you. Why is that, do you know? Always something new to worry about you’re right, you can only do your best with lifestyle choices, which in itself adds more stress.

@StarJasmine93 congratulations on the new house! A distraction is ideal at this point, and also getting a sense of accomplishment doing bits too is wonderful. Oh wow it’s so complex, but hopefully it’s all a well oiled machine.

Hope you’re all having lovely weekends! Excitingly we have our nurse appointment through! It’ll be the 4th November, so just 2 weeks away but puts us in the same situation as you @Magix86 as that will be day 3 of my cycle so we’ll have to wait another few weeks to start. But at least we’re hopefully starting!

And fingers crossed we get one round in before Christmas 🤞

Ah @Disco24 that's great news you have a date! Feel your frustration for the timing of your cycle though. I realise I didn't answer your last message, sorry. I think we start meds on day 21 so the clinic can control and time my cycle to fit in an egg collection on the right day.
The time really does go quickly and it's brilliant to think of getting one round in before the end of the year. I still can't believe all of us are on such similar timings lol.

I seee, that makes sense. Haha I know!! It’s so nice that we’re all similar.

Here’s to some 2025 pregnancy / babies please!

How is everyone doing? I collected all my medication yesterday and it's a lot lol. I don't start it for another 2 weeks but they've provisionally booked our egg collection in for 5th December and a transfer on 10th!!
It's all becoming so real now, the anxiety is really ramping up.

Oh yay @Magix86 that’s so exciting! Did they walk you through everything? Do you feel prepared?

I really get the anxiety thing, I had a little overwhelm cry a few days last week. We’ve been having a few deep chats on how we’re feeling which is helped.

I think our appointment in 2 weeks is when we’ll pick up our meds. But weirdly if we do start in the cycle after, our timelines would nearly match I think! Day one of my cycle is looking like the end of November. Willing for shorter cycles 😂

@Disco24 I'm a mix of feeling so completely ready and wishing things would hurry up, and at the same time feeling so unprepared and clueless!
I hear you - I've never been so pleased to see my period arrive this month 🤣
I think it's absolutely expected to be more emotional at this time with everything going on.
So I have my schedule which outlines everything for meds and scans but have a face to face nurses appointment booked for 5th Nov when I'm assuming they'll go through everything in more detail.
Aww that's amazing we'll be on the same timelines!! These next 2 weeks should go really quickly I hope. Going food shopping tomorrow for all healthy stuff. I've read high protein, low carbs, Mediterranean diet etc is all good! But I'm finding it a challenge to really know what's best at this stage.

@Magix86 thats great news for you! Its happening very soon. How are you feeling?

From my side, I finally got the genetic test matching results and they confirmed that I am compatible with the donor (thanks god!). We are now waiting for the sperm bank to send one straw to our clinic to hopefully be able to start the IVF cycle with my next period in 1 month time. Keeping fingers crossed that the sperm reaches the clinic within the next two weeks, otherwise we might need to wait for my next period. I am feeling quite anxious about timelines and delays. My period even came late this month when normally I am a swiss clock :( I am a bit worried that I might be the one sabotaging my IVF cycle if I dont calm down a bit. But I am struggling tbh. I am worried that as time passes, the worst my amh is gonna be and atm I am so worried about the outcome of the egg retrieval. I know I cant control anything and it is what it is, but I am struggling tbh

@Magix86 i totally get you!! I was saying to my friend no one usually has X years to consider children and TTC, which has driven me to overthink everything. But understandable I think given everything we’ve gone through.

@Blue234 I also resonate with what you’re saying. The lack of control has meant I’ve been obsessing with cycles and timelines. I really hope you can start your next cycle.

I honestly don’t know what’s for the best, I have it as one of my questions for the nurse. I’m eating healthy too, working out 5 times a week, lots of green vegetables, fibre etc. but then Instagram is like buy beetroot juice, don’t do high impact exercise 🫠 I don’t knowwww.

Hey @Blue234 thank you. I'm feeling good about it but the anxiety is really having an impact so I completely understand how you're feeling. I'm sorry to hear you're struggling. Have had similar thoughts that I have to calm myself down otherwise I'm worried the stress won't be good for us.
It's so positive that your genetic testing was compatible! Really happy for you. I know that was a long wait for you. Really hoping your sperm gets delivered soon and you can proceed but in reality 1-2 months really won't make a huge difference to your amh. Are there things you enjoy doing to relax in the evenings to take your mind off it? Sending hugs x

@Disco24 There's so much contradiction in what I'm reading! I think I'm going to keep it simple so I can stick to it more easily. Less caffeine. More fish and chicken. More veg. Salads and soups. Less carbs. Brazil nuts. Going to get fresh pineapple for after transfer. And I've heard pomegranate juice is good for lining 🤷‍♀️
And it's all probably too late now anyway cos I should have been doing this for the last few months I guess 😅

Oh wow ladies!! It's all happening 😀. How exciting. Great you've got dates @Magix86 ... I feel like that's such a huge step!

@Blue234 I totally feel the same about AMH... I'm very in tune with my body and can actually tell which side I ovulate from but this cycle is weird... Im not sure if I actually ovulated when I was meant to and my CM has been like it's meant to be be in a fertile window for two weeks now (sorry for tmi). I'm freaking out that I've ran out of eggs now 🙃😅. This journey makes your mind do crazy things.

We are currently waiting for our clinic to complete their checks on our donor and then agree a shipping date. Until then we are just in the waiting game. Totally trying to prepare myself for not starting anything until the new year. Annoying but what's another month?!

Yeah I think anything dark in colour like beetroot or pomegranate is high in oxidents and good for implantation, so ‘eat the rainbow’ is how I’m going to do it for simplicity.

I think if it helps your mind and maybe your body, then it’s not too late. It’s one of the only things I feel like I can do, so that helps my head at least.

@Blue234 have you considered anything to help with the anxiety? It really is an anxious time, I hope it helps we’re all feeling similar. I’ve contacted a local acupuncturist this week to help me as I know I’m feeling it.

@StarJasmine93 never TMI in this chat 😂 exciting that you’re getting closer, did they give you an approximate time for delivery? Oh goddd, the mind is so powerful 😅

@Disco24 no not really! They said this part could take 8 weeks for whatever reason. We are only like 10 days in 🙄. I hope it doesn't take that long!!

@Magix86 @Disco24 @StarJasmine93 thanks a lot ladies! You are all amazing!
I dont know what I would do these days without this group!
It really helps we are all on similar situation but its still hard :(
Also I am currently on my period and probably I am feeling more down than usual due to hormones.
@Magix86I am trying to keep myself busy with work, some hobbies and exercise from time to time, but I still have my days. Re my AMH, it went down from 14 to just over 8 in a few months. Probably you are right and 1 more month might not make any difference, but I am currently quite worried about the amh level going close to 0 in maybe in a few months if it continues going down at such pace... My last test results have been a shock tbh :( i wasnt expecting such a decrease in less than a year. I think it would have been better for me not to know the latest results. I was so positive about everything until I learned these results...

@Disco24 you have a good point about checking if acupuncture would help. I will check it out!

@StarJasmine93 sorry that you also have a long wait! Hope that hopefully you get some news a bit earlier than expected! I had to wait 6 weeks for my genetic results and tbh it has gone fast except for the last week, when we had had some challenges and delays with the sperm bank. I think they also know my full name now as I have been chasing them every second hour until they fixed the issue😂😂🤦

Hello

I ll start with our story.

We tried to conceive for 2 years and nothing was happening. So we went to a fertility clinic and had tests. We found that my husband had azoospermia and was producing no sperm.

We decided to try the Tese procedure to see if we could find any sperm. That resulted in no sperm. We were then referred to an urologist who completed a microtese and found 5 vials of sperm.

We had 2 rounds of ICSI IVF in June and September. Each time, we were only left with one embryo and it didn't work. We are absolutely heartbroken and emotionally drained. We really wanted to have a baby with my husbands sperm, but it's another £7k with no guarantee of any sperm. So we are going to focus on getting some money together and trying donor sperm.

How did everyone's partners feel about that? My husband has said that he doesn't want to take the experience away from me and we want to experience pregnany, live birth etc. How did you find the process? I assume you had counselling? We have said that if donor sperm can give us our child, we ll do it. As you can imagine, it's very hard though.

Natalie