Hi, I only posted about an hour ago but here's my next one!

I wasn’t going to go into this much detail yet, I was going to settle in a bit but I really need some thoughts and advise from you all. It’s a long story so please bare with me!

About a month ago, just before we started TTC, my DH found a small lump. He went to the doctor who told him it was a varicocele (sp) which is basically a small vein that affects the temperature of the sperm etc, it can also affect fertility, and the doctor told him that he shouldn’t have any problems having children. He wasn’t really happy with what the doctor said so he decided to go private for a second opinion. The 2nd doctor told him a lot more about it and said that although it can affect fertility, it doesn’t always and they wouldn’t look at it as a problem until we'd been trying for a baby for at least a year. So my DH decided that he wanted to get a sperm test done to check. The results are as follows: (I have dumbed the medical speak down for my benefit!)

• The count was just below average
• The motility (sp - how they move, the speed and strength) was just below average
• The morthology (sp - the appearance, shape) was 0%

The count and motility are fine but the morphology is really bad. He did loads of research online and found that people with 0% have pretty much no chance of conceiving naturally but have chance of IVF. He was obviously pretty upset and had given up. He then spoke to a woman who works at the clinic where he had his test done. She said that people wouldn’t normally have their sperm checked until the couple had been trying for at least a year but that the morphology is something that they wouldn’t be concerned about as they only check a small amount of the sperm and the rest could be fine. She said to try to conceive naturally for at least a year then come back.

He's got a 2nd test booked on 9th July which they advised.

What I don’t understand is if the 2nd result comes back the same and we really have got only a very small chance of conceiving then why do we have to wait a year before getting more tests done? Why if it looks like we will struggle will they make us wait a year before helping?!

Sorry for the HUGE post and thank you for reading it ! If anyone has any thoughts or advise or has been in a similar situation I would really appreciate it.

K xx

Just noticed a few spelling errors! One in the title, Advice!! lol Sorry!! xx

Honey! post this in the LTTC section the girls there will advise as their OH have had these tests done.



X

I dunno. Perhaps it depends on your age, are you under 35? Or the fact that you still might be able to conceive on your own, and it takes a year to prove that you can't. I am sorry I couldn't be more help.

Ok thank you, sorry!

I'm normally over there too, that's how I know they are good with things like this.

XXX

Is your partner in his twenties too? I sometimes get the feeling that doctors base everything on age. If you are in your twenties, no matter what the problem, you have to wait. On the opposite, If you are over 35, your chances of giving birth are so seriously reduced, they even wonder why you are trying in the first place.

My view is that it is up to you and your OH as to whether you want to start assisted conception sooner than later. Don't hesitate to make that clear and not let them dictate that because you guys still have plenty of time, you should keep trying against the odd (if that is indeed the case). Do take as much advice as you can though, IVF/ICSI is a stressful and demanding journey that you have to prepare yourself for psychologically and physically, but in the end, it should remain your choice.

Hi, sorry that you are having such a tough time. Unfortunately the Doctors seem to stick fairly rigidly to 1 year TTC rule which seems like such a long time when you really want your little bub. As MrsJD has said if you post in LTTTC some of the girls may have suggestions on how you OH can help his sperm.

On a brighter note it is great that you have a OH who is prepared to have the tests done and is supporting you by approaching things so directly.

x

When was his first test done? He should really leave 3 months between doing tests, to ensure you are testing a fresh batch of sperm. As many factors could affect a sperm sample, illness, stress, drinking etc and therefore leaving it 3 months would be best. You also need to ensure he makes any lifestyle changes required eg, give up achole, smoking, eat healthy, exercise (but not cycling), no hot baths etc, wear boxers. Make sure he gets on a good multi vitamin for men (with plenty of zinc) and amino acids.

If after the above and the next sample shows no improvement then I would take the results back to you gp and discuss it all with them. But I can't stress enough how important lifestyle changes are and the 3 month period between tests.

If you need any more help please PM me xxx

Thank you all for your replies. It will have almost been 3 months and the fertility doctor said that the 2nd test will be fine. He already has changed a lot, although he didnt really drink and smoke anyway. We've both started taking multi-vitamins and are doing all we can to increase our chances. With all the research he did he found out that you can change sperm count and motility but you cant really change morphology because it can be a genetic reason.
We're both in our twenties so I know we have plenty of time, its just frustrating. My DH gets quite stressed and he's been trying to reduce his stress levels as much as he can but I'm worried that the longer we try the more stressed he'll get which wont help. We're off on holiday in 3 weeks which I'm hoping will be a relaxing break for both of us!

Thank you all again for all the advice, it really does help to know that I can come here if I need to talk.

xx