Semen morphology abnormal - help with next steps!

[Kateeeeeeee]

Hello all,

my husband has just received his semen analysis and I was really shocked to see only 2% of normal morphology. All other markers like count, concentration and motility had very good results though, so I am confused to only see this one marker off. I thought if someone had an issue, all of the results would be slightly off.

Has anyone else experienced this, and what have you done to improve this? Has your doctor investigated further? If so, what other tests can be done? Since this is really just a morphology issue, I wonder if this is tied to anything particular…?

Side note: I am so lucky that my husband never smoked, never drinks, not even a drop, eats a whole foods diet with me, takes some supplements, exercises etc. so I am really wondering what else he could do to help. I guess I am mainly curious about what the next steps would be regarding further investigations so would massively appreciate your guidance.
Also: I know that officially these days, normal morphology is 4% which is still shocking since not long ago, a minimum of 14% was required to be classed as normal, and this is about the ideal number for conception. It’s shocking how they lowered the threshold this significantly.

Hi, my husband had the exact same measurements, just morphology was out, also ~2%. He also lived pretty healthily already so there were very few changes we could make, he started wearing lose boxers! We somewhat accepted it just was how he was and set off down the IVF route with ICSI. I was on my early 30s but had a very low AMH and AFC so we didn’t want to waste time.

We did do a couple of other tests privately, DNA fragmentation and testicular ultrasound but in hindsight these were kind of pointless as the path would still have been to IVF with ICSI anyway.

We had to do a few rounds as I don’t produce many eggs each time but we’ve managed to get some good quality blastocysts frozen and I’m now 17 weeks pregnant after my 3rd embryo transfer. It’s been a long road but it is totally possible.

Appreciate it’s probably a bit of a shock right now, I remember it was for us as he’s so healthily and it was a double blow with my low reserve. Give yourself some headspace and time to process.

Good luck!

Hello! My husband also recently had similar results (morphology of 3%). My bloods and ultrasounds have been fine. TTC for 18 months now with no luck.

My consultant advised I have a laparoscopy in case I have any scar tissue that’s preventing us conceiving. (I have Bupa through work) She also recommended my husband take Proxeed. He’s taking a sachet every morning now and will re-test in 3 months. Both the private consultant and GP were unconcerned about a 3% morphology. Didn’t realise it used to be 14!!

He’s also never smoked, drinks but not to excess, we eat really healthy home cooked meals and exercise daily. He’s swapped to looser boxers but what seems to constitute “loose” to a man seems hard to pin down

thanks so much for replying!
Great that you managed to make it work now and congratulations!
I haven’t tested my AMH but now that you mentioned it I wonder if I may need to think about it. I really would prefer to avoid IVF if possible, for obvious reasons of course, I really want to see what is possible naturally. We’ve „only” been trying for 6 months but I am glad we tested early. I am planning to work with a nutritional therapist, they can often be quite amazing at improving all kinds of issues so it’s worth a try.

Aw this is such a tricky one isn’t it. I found the book Real food for fertility by Lily Nichols amazing in case you haven’t read it. Good luck!

My partner had 1% morphology but had above average count so doctor said it outweighed itself and we were classed as unexplained infertility
It all led to IVF either way, which we did and were successful with a now almost 3 year old daughter and another three embryos in the freezer which we plan to try transfer back soon.
We just did simple IVF didn't do ICSI

Have similar issues with partners sperm, I would recommend taking CoQ10 supplements, both of you can take these, also vitamin C and vitamins D, you could recommend your partner to a Urologist to get things checked. Could get your partner checked for varicocele.
Do a sperm DNA fragmention test.
All of these we have done, best wishes for you!

My partners low morphology - also 2% - is the result of a varicocele.

I had an accidental pregnancy with him and he's had a varicocele since he was 15, so it's definitely not a case of complete infertility.

did you get pregnant after that? did it help somehow?

can i ask how old are both of you?

all those checks have to be made by a husband simultaneously with his wife doing her checks

wow, sort of a miracle, what's your both age?

@Tanya87xz we are both 33

Hi @Tanya87xz I’m not sure I understand your question sorry. As in my post, I’m now pregnant (18 weeks) following quite a few rounds of collecting eggs, icsi and trying to freeze embryos to transfer back. My third embryo transfer is the one that’s stuck. So yes, IVF with ICSI has helped! We’ve been trying naturally for years and while I know it’s not technically impossible we knew it was unlikely naturally so turned to ivf.

My husband had morphology 2%, we were devastated to get those results... but about 2 weeks after receiving those results we got a positive pregnancy test.
Then, 2 years later, he had a S.A. analysis again, 3% morphology, unable to conceive for a year naturally then we moved to IVF embryo banking. Managed to improve it with Impryl, Vit D, omega 3 and stopping drinking completely so now it's been at 4-6% on various tests. Also those lifestyle changes and supplements really improved DNA fragmentation.

You could look into infra red light devices
It Starts With The Egg (for supplements)

There’s a useful group on facebook for further recs

https://www.facebook.com/groups/improveyourfertilitygroup/