Horrifically bad/low sperm success stories please ✨

[Cornish13]

My partners sperm was tested in 2019 due to trying for over a year and we found out he only had 250,000 sperm and all the other parameters were also very low. Diagnosed with severe oligospermia. By some miracle we conceived our daughter naturally in 2020 just before we started IVF.

I very naively thought it would happen again but fast forward 4 years not one positive test. We went back to the clinic and his analysis was even worse. His count had dropped to 19, quite literally double digits. Out of those 19 only 4 were motile. Was advised to start freezing ASAP, so we did. Checked his hormones etc. all fine. Can’t test DNA fragmentation as he doesn’t have enough sperm. Can’t add in zymott as not enough sperm 💔

Started treatment in August 2025. Collected 13 eggs, 10 matured and made 3 blasts of good quality. Also didn’t need to use any frozen sperm as there was enough in his fresh. Advised not to PGT as we’re both early 30’s. Fresh transfer failed and started bleeding before OTD. Natural FET with added lubion was a chemical. We have 1 blast left and I’m absolutely terrified that it’s not going to work and it never will as his sperm is so bad 😭 I know he feels so so guilty so I can’t honestly open up and tell him how scared I am as he’ll feel even worse. We do have another round included but I’m convinced we’ll just get the same results and same outcomes.

He doesn’t smoke/vape (he used to vape), he rarely drinks, doesn’t do drugs. His BMI isn’t the best which we’re working on. I’ve also switched up his supplements just in case he doesn’t need to provide another fresh sample for a collection.

Please tell me someone else out there has had a similar experience and there is hope? 🥲

Has he been checked for an infection /urine infection? Get GP to check urine as sometime can have no symptoms and this can effect fertility, or checked for a varicocele at all ? Also I would definitely advise PGTa testing , as due to high DNA frag which he prob has there can be genetic abnormal chromosome issues and can cause recurrent implantation failure, we were advised not to PGTa test and wasted so much money putting in transfers that were no doubt never going to work.after 6 failed transfers and losses we got the rest tested (2 out of the 6 were euploid so we saved another potential 4 losses and failed transfers and saved money) Is he taking COq10? This can help and even if his hormone levels are fine can you push for extra testosterone gel or something he can be prescribed by GP just as an extra boost /precaution maybes ? Not sure if he has ED but if he has he may get this extra testosterone prescribed. Also I assume you done ICSI rather than ivf ? All these things may make the difference, we have been through nearly 6 years of fertility treatments with male factor infertility and now 11 weeks pregnant (hoping it continues for us as still early days) 🤞🏽best of luck 🧡

Hiya have you been to see a urologist and check for anything as a cause to the low numbers. We have 100k and have diagnosed varicocele which we got embolized a few months back and have been seeking the support of Dr Ramsey who has been great. I would also advise PGT as we are 34 and told not to but we sent 4 embroys off for testing and only 1 came back euploid (and wasnt the best graded either!) so it has saved us unnecessary heartache of transfers not working.

my partner has joined a WhatsApp group for male factor which he finds really supportive and there are lots of male fertility podcasts that can give extra information that you may find useful. Please don’t despair it’s a hard road but there are options and hope out there. Wishing you all the best x

@AmberRose26 no he hasn’t been checked for any urine infections. I am going to get him to do a microbiome test as I’m going to do a uterine microbiome test. I’ll also try and get a urine test through the GP as well. We’re private but I’ll try and wing it for a free urine test on the NHS 😂

Yes we’ve both said if this embryo fails and we have to do another round then we’ll PGT test any blasts we get.

I’ve added to my list to speak to the consultant about putting my partner on clomid. As it takes 3 months for it to work and by the time we have the next transfer in February and then time for another collection if needs be, it’ll be the 3 months.

Yes I’ve now put him on a whole concoction of supplements 😂 including ubiquinol.

Ah amazing, congratulations x

@SprinklesOfHope no we haven’t gone down that road yet. If the next transfer fails then we’ll be looking into seeing a urologist 😊 I have however added clomid to my list of many things to discuss with my consultant, for my partner to take. As I’ve seen a lot of men with sperm issues been prescribed it and their numbers have improved. I mean it can’t get any worse 😂 we have some frozen sperm worse case scenario.

If we do another collection then we’ll hopefully be PGT testing any blasts we hopefully get (hopefully more than 3 like we got on this round).

I wish he would join chats but he’ll barely talk to me about it, let alone to people he doesn’t know. Which is something I personally find a lot easier than talking to people I do know. Thank you x

@Cornish13 yeh I think men are made up differently in these situations, us woman need to talk about things and feel better for getting it out in the open, where men prefer to just plod on and not speak so much about things, am sure he knows you there if he needs you and sounds like you are doing everything great so far, best of luck to you 🤞🏽