Low sperm high fsh

[Lopst23]

Sorry I am posting a lot. Google is being no help.
OH has oligozoospermia, so low it wasn't even recorded. But still there are some sperm. Further tests showed very high FSH (29) and high LH (10). Waiting to hear back from the clinic but me being me I am searching the Internet so I know what to expect.
Some people talk about still going for ISCI whilst others talk about needing karotype testing done first.

Has anyone any experience of this?
Panicking that it will be another set back since I already was told I can't wait too long for treatment with my low AMH

A high FSH means his brain is producing the hormone to stimulate the testicles but the testicles are unable to respond.

If there are some sperm, I’d jump straight onto IVF with ICSI which is what we have done.

good luck xx

I’d echo the previous poster and get the ball rolling with ICSI. I’d also recommend getting him to freeze some sperm, both as a back up for an ICSI cycle and for future use if you want it. Good luck!

I'm hoping that's what the consultant suggests and not karotype testing first. Hopefully hear back tomorrow. As his count is so low we have to freeze batches to use along side fresh.
Is it likely to be chromosomal? From all the stories I've read I've only seen a few cases of abnormal results which were all klinefelter syndrome and my OH doesn't have all the other symptoms.
So nervous about this feels like constant set backs.

My partner was karotyped, didn’t hold us back at all.

Did you have to wait for results first? Sorry all the questions is been so difficult finding stories online of people going through the same. Not sure what happens if the test is abnormal or is that what you mean happened your husband? Still haven't heard back from consultant and the wait is killing me.
Thank you

Ask away.
we found on the day of egg collection it was all OK, so couldn’t have been that important!

We have 10 straws of frozen sperm in case fresh samples are rubbish!

That's good to know thank you so much. Can you tell this is my first time lol. We are going private as well so I'm hopeful that will mean things move faster. The consultant wasn't very clear during our consultation about the next step other than it depends on the bloods. Been waiting days now to hear back so hoping it's tomorrow

@Lopst23 our first consultant was rubbish - no personal skills at all!! My new one (at same clinic) seems lovely

Aw that's good to hear. This one seems to do a lot of the first time consultations no idea why as he was super blunt and delivered the results like they were nothing.
I've heard most people don't see the same consultant so hopefully someone a bit warmer next time.

Oh he was vile! Asked me why I was crying when he told me my AMH was 1.9pmol!!

Oh my God that's horrible! Mine just confirmed our names and started into how very low my eggs were, how bad his sperm was and possible options with low chances. No numbers or anything.. we just sat in stunned silence but I managed to ask for copies of results so I could check myself as I didn't want to talk anymore.
It was supposed to be a 45 minute appointment but was barely 20 mins.
Just awful.
I get they can't give false hope but that was rough.

Sorry one last question. Did you find the reason for your DHs high fsh? None of the reasons I have read about would necessarily apply although we don't know about chromosomes.

@Lopst23 consultant said most likely a testicular issue because they’re not resounding to the hormones released by the brain. He’s said to be referred to an endocrinologist as testosterone is on the lower side of normal, but not until once we’ve finished IVF

Very similar here. He got testosterone tested before we got testing done at fertility clinic so we already knew it was low. He was referred to endocrinology and has an appointment soon but is aware he can't start any TRT until after treatment.
His T has actually come up slightly so is no longer in the official low category but not by much.

Well clinic called. Said it may be a chromosomal issue so yet another test to do. They won't start treatment without this test and the next SA. And if the karotype test is positive that's us out. We won't be able to use his sperm.

Devastated and so very scared right now. Few weeks wait til results and that's going to go very slowly

My partner has also been diagnosed with oligozoospermia, however his hormone bloods came back normal. His first appointment they only found 19 sperm, 4 of which were normal. The consultant did suggest testing for karyotype but we haven’t. Since that appointment we have decided to freeze his sperm so his first freeze they only managed to freeze 4 sperm. They have said we need to do another frozen sample as 4 isn’t enough. My partner is still pretty wounded from it all so we don’t have a date for the second freeze yet but they’ve said it’s good to have some backed up frozen for when it comes to egg collection day in case on the day his sample doesn’t produce enough sperm x

Hi there. I'm sorry you are going through this as well. He too got the diagnosis of oligozoospermia after his first SA but it was changed to non obstructive azoospermia after his bloods.

He had been told before the bloods that he would also need a few samples frozen as back for fresh done closer to the time but now they want karotype and y chromosome micro deletions tests done.

We were told if they r positive we can't use his sperm which I'm struggling to find evidence of online, most cases still use sperm if found. And they wont freeze or begin treatment without them.

I'm sorry your husband is struggling with this hopefully it will get easier. Mine must be too but you would never know as he is acting like it's nothing.

Blood test results take around 6 weeks so it's going to be a long difficult wait

Hi @Lopst23 if the Y chromosome micro deletion is positive, I would definitely challenge your clinic on why the sperm can’t be used. Yes there’ll be less of it and it’ll probably be poor quality, but they might be able to find some usable ones, either from a “manual” sample or after surgical sperm retrieval. My husband has Y chromosome micro deletion and we have done several rounds of IVF at three different clinics and all have been willing to use his sperm. If your clinic refuse to use his sperm, definitely look around because I don’t think that is common.

Thank you for that. I've read the same, there are 3 types and 2 produce no sperm whilst the other have some. I wonder if they meant the karotype test altho I don't think its would impact things since embryos can be tested for genetic issues as well. I am hoping it's all clear but if not I will quizzing it. We are stuck for choice here only 2 clinics here

@Lopst23 how did the genetic blood tests go? My partner has now been told he has to do them before we can go ahead 🙄 we done another freeze and he now has 4 frozen straws but we can’t actually do any form of treatment until he does the karyotype and Y chromosome deletions bloods

Hi there. I'm sorry you are going through something similar, the wait is awful. It took 6 weeks for our results to come through and everything was normal. We thought this was good news but the consultant actually said he was a little disappointed as we are now no further forward?!
Hopefully your bloods won't take as long, I've seen other parts of the world get them back much quicker.
We are in a horrible limbo at the minute. Still not started treatment and no closer.
Second semen analysis showed no motile sperm at all but no further tests done to see if any was viable they want to move straight to tese.
It's been 2 weeks of waiting for the clinic to contact us to arrange a consultation where he will get an examination and hopefully an ultrasound to check for blockages. Something they haven't done yet.
I am rapidly losing hope and patience.

@Lopst23 well I’m currently waiting for my partner to decide if he’s going to have the tests or not 🙄 he’s took the whole thing quite hard and after doing the next frozen batch on Wednesday to then being told on the Thursday he has to do more tests, he’s took it as another knock back. I wish they got him to do this months ago as there’s no reason why they’ve only suggested it now. So I’m currently in the limbo of him deciding 🤦🏼‍♀️ the consultant did advise me it’s a 6 week wait. She did also suggest him having an ultrasound but she also said he does have some motile and we’ve frozen some so that’s down to us. Whether this will help you a bit quicker or not I don’t know but she said she could send a referral to his GP for a check up/ultrasound basically saying to check for cancer (when they’re not) and it’ll get him on the two week referral. So he’d be seen within two weeks. I’m not sure if they’ve done that for you or not?

Im at the point where I just want to start the treatment now but it’s never that simple is it!

That is awful that they are only suggesting the bloods now that he has already has samples frozen. The fact he has any sperm should rule out klinefelters so the karotyping i would imagine will be fine. My partner has no moving sperm and his bloods were OK so I'm sure your partner's will be the same. It's horrible for them though.
My partner has been so quiet about the whole thing, just takes it one day at a day and has been more concerned with me and my rollcoaster of emotions. But after his last SA, after 3 months of lifestyle changes and all the supplements, and how bad it was he was so upset. Very hard to see.
He had been referred through GP to endocrinologist and they had done the same bloods as clinic as well as a physical examination. He has smaller than average testicles and an issue with one more than the other. He is still waiting on his ultrasound but it's been over 2 months. No rush with NHS. I must get him to call again.
Although I am thinking the clinic will do one as well.
All his bloods really point to NOA though however the ultrasound will hopefully clear it up. I've read tese is more successful if there is a blockage.

We are just exhausted and devastated by it all. We were told that we would be starting with my cycle now at the end of the month/start of May. But now we have to wait on a very busy consultant fitting him just for a consultation, then planning appointment and bloods. Then the tese.
So no clue when we will be starting treatment, and it's obviously a massive concern that they won't find anything during the tese.
We have touched on the topic of donor sperm but both not sure how we feel about it.

@Lopst23 my partners seems to be becoming less and less. In 2019 he had 200,000 and his last analysis he had 19. So there is very minimal there and not all motile, only some. My partner won’t discuss it at all, he pretends it isn’t happening. So whether he’ll do the bloods, I don’t know yet, I’m obviously hoping he will. We’re private so having to pay for it which is £750 😬 before my partners analysis in October he done all the supplements etc. and his consultant basically told him his results are so bad no amount of supplements will help so he cut them all. He has been cutting out caffeine, alcohol and eating more nuts but it hasn’t made a difference.

Yeah I’d definitely call and chase it up! Sometimes they need that push. Or maybe with money allowing ask the clinic how much they would charge to do it privately and get it out the way. My partner has categorically said no to donor sperm

It is so difficult for them especially since men are usually less inclined to want to talk it or their feelings. It's the unknown as well, doing everything "right" and still not seeing the results. Hopefully he will come round to the idea of tests. At least you have sperm frozen so you can hopefully move forward once the tests are done.
I really expected the actual treatment to be the difficult part but this waiting in limbo is excruciating.
We are with a private clinic anyway but the issue we have is that there are only 2 clinics here and the one we are with only has 2 consultants that do surgical sperm retrieval. These consultants work across different clinics both private and NHS so are very busy. I have been in touch with the other clinic to see if they could go any quicker but they seem to be making promises and not following through.
We have been told by our original clinic that they will have an updated rota on Monday so I'm hoping we can be seen a lot sooner than May. I know it's only next month but I've been told so many times I'd be starting treatment in May.
I think his bloods for karotype and y chromosome micro deletions were around £500. I thought going private would speed them up but nope. The wait is horrible but hopefully yours will be quicker.
Have you been told a definite no to starting treatment without them?
The donor sperm conversation is a very tough one. My partner brought it up, but isn't really wanting to make the call. I would only consider it if he was fully behind it.