My story

helly · Post by **helly** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:26 am

Hi Ladies I am new to this site and I just thought I'd finally make an entry as I'm feeling low and fed up and need some words of encouragement. DH and I have been trying for 1 1/2 years and I've had all the tests done to check my fertility and as far as I know I'm fine but DH has sperm problems. For the first year we were seeing a Naturopath and taking herbs and suppliments I was convinced we would fall pregnant but unfortunately it didn't happen, although it did fix the sperm motility for my DH but he still has poor morphology. We are both now having accupunture over next 2 months (him for fertility and me for fertility/insomnea as I'm now having sleeping problems!) and will be going straight to IVF at the end of the year if we don't fall before hand. Is there anyone else out there who's husband has sperm problems and are planning on going IVF in the next few months? I have been told it's better to go IVF rather than IUI if there are sperm problems.

shantala · Post by **shantala** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:37 am

Hi Helly

I'm so glad you are new to this website as well as new to the whole IVF thing. My husband and I have been trying for nearly one year but we have found out that my husband's sperm has a really, really low count and its motility is beyond low. So we have to go for IVF and ICSI. we are currently on the waiting list for up to 3 months (although we have to pay privately as my husband already has a child from a previous marriage) but the clinic have said that we could get in before the 3 months are up. the waiting is killing me - it feels like waiting in a dentist and hearing all the drilling but actually when you get in to have the treatment you just have to deal with it (does that make sense?).

I'd really appreciate anybody replying to this who has any tips on first time IVF and/or ICSI or who is at the same stage as me.

Shantala x

AuntyPebbles · Post by **AuntyPebbles** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:27 pm

Hello Helly and Shantala...and a big

to the site you have come to the right place for support before you know it you will feel like youve been here forever.

your both about to start and amazing journey i know its scary but its also exciting and lately we have seen loads of couples get a BFP on the first attempt ... for tips id say try as much as you can to enjoy every step you take and take every stage as it comes if you try to look too far ahead it can be daunting and over whelming.

your not alone there are many many of us none conventional conceivers out there and we will always do our best to answer any questions you have and help you through your mad moments too....

welcome again and wishing you luck and big baby belly's very soon...

hugs Aunty

shantala · Post by **shantala** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:40 pm

Hi Auntie Pebbles

Thank you so much for such a warm welcome! its so nice that to have found this website and people like you seem so friendly and approachable!

it all seems quite scary but ill certainly take on board what you said about taking one step at a time. another newbie has also posted a reply to another thread to say that maybe we should open a new thread for new people at their 1st ivf so i'm hoping she's gonna do that as i havent got a clue how to do this!

it would be great if you could join that one once we've set it up as i think a more experienced ivf-er could maybe set our minds at rest about a thing or two that first comers worry about - injections, scans, egg collection, transfer, the 2 week wait, etc etc all seem quite scary at the moment!?

the best of luck with your treatments!

xx

Smita · Post by **Smita** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:29 pm

Hi there Helly and Shantala,
Welcome here!
Like Aunty says,
Its a wonderful site and I found so much support when I was going through my cycle.
So feel free to ask anything you people want to!
For a first time cycle, I'd say, just try and relax as much as possible, though i can imagine how its difficult to

Wishing you loads of luck for your dreams come true!

hugs,
smita

helly · Post by **helly** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:06 am

Hi Shantala, Aunty & Smitia!!

Oh I feel so excited to be able to talk to other people about to go through, or have been through what I'm about to embark. This site really is good therapy as I felt SOOO alone. Of course my hubby is an amazing source of support but most men don't like to talk about infertility in detail and just want to 'fix it'. I'm finding that I'm absolutely fixated on falling pregnant and it's so hard when most of my friends are either pregnant or have completed their families. I don't feel that I can talk to them about my situation at least now I have some chat buddies who know exactly how I feel!

Shantala I know how hard it is waiting for 3 months. My ivf doctor wants us to wait until Dec to start our treatment but I'm itching to start now and want to get the ball rolling. Of course I'm hoping we'll fall pregnant naturally before then and won't even have to go IVF but at least we have made our decision now and that's where we'll be in Dec if we don't fall.

Thanks for all your input and advice it really does help.

Helly x

BecP · Post by **BecP** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:06 am

Welcome! This site is great for making you feel 'not so alone'.

A couple of tips to improve sperm - make sure DH wears loose boxers, takes cold showers (not baths), takes zinc, vit c&e and selenium supplements.... it made improvements to my DH.

As for the IUI vs IVF question, it really depends on how bad the sperm is. The docs look for a minimum count and morphology when doing IUI. My doc said if morphology was below 10% it wasn't really worth doing IUI and to go straight to IVF.

A lot of the ladies on here also swear by a book by Zita West, called Fertility and Conception. This takes you through the whole process of IVF and how you can help yourself too.

Good luck!!
Bec

shantala · Post by **shantala** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 11:08 am

Hi everybody

Helly - I know what you mean about feeling so alone. DH is very supportive too but every time I want to talk about the IVF he tells me he wants to take it one step at a time. He's very right but at the same time I like to know what's going on in the bigger picture, too! and no offence to him, but except for the ICSI, it's me that has to go through all that trouble! lol

it's also great to know that you will be starting in december as it looks like that will be roughly when we will be starting. if not, then i wont be far behind! where are you planning to have your treatment?

smita - thank you so much for your advice and congratulations on your baby girl! it's inspiring and hopeful when you read about other's IVF working 1st time. you must have been thrilled!

BecP - thanks for such a warm welcome. we tried all the tricks in the book for my husband's sperm to improve but the second result came back almost as bad as the first. the consultant told us that natural conception is almost impossible. i'm not sure what the morphology is (i'm looking on the test results and there are lots of other figures??)...

its funny you suggested that book as i have just bought a book online but not that one. i think i'll see what its like but definitely keep that one in mind! there are so many to choose from that its nice to have some recommendations!

helly and everybody else - a woman called sokru8 just started another thread in the general forum called 'new member support' as we were replying on various threads about the same thing. i dont mind continuing on this one or swapping over to the other one. if we stay here, i'll let sokru know. any suggestions??

xxx

shantala · Post by **shantala** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:00 pm

BecP - I forgot to say the best of luck on the 27th. i'll have my fingers, toes and everything else crossed for you! let us know how you get on.

xx

shantala · Post by **shantala** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:02 pm

ticker question - i've set up my own ticker and have the address that they gave me but how do I make this appear at the bottom? in my profile i added it but i dont think it worked as its still not there....

xx

shantala · Post by **shantala** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:03 pm

ah wicked it worked!!!!!!

helly · Post by **helly** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:55 am

Hello lovely ladies,

Well I'm sending my hubby to the book store today to get the Fertility & Conception book. They only had one left on the shelf, it must be popular! I appreciate your input Bec, I need all the advice I can get at the moment. I haven't heard of selenium supplements before but my DH has been taking zinc, multi and vitamin c for the past year. Also, my DH is a keen mountain bike rider does anybody know if this is not got for his sperm development? Should I be asking him to cease this form of sport for time being??? The poor thing, he's given up smoking (thank the lord!), coffee, and there are strict limitations on his alcohol indulgences and for me as well!! Oh the things we have to do.

My DH's sperm morphology is 15% are we better off going ICSI as opposed to IVF? I mean, is the success rate higher for ICSI??

Shantala I will be having my treatment at IVF Australia. I live in Sydney. What about you?

Sending you good luck vibes for the 27th Bec, how exciting, not long now and you'll find out!!!

H x

shantala · Post by **shantala** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 7:12 am

Good morning ladies!

how do you know what your DH's morphology is? i have lots of other results but not that...

helly i'm in the UK in Reading, about 25 minutes from London and will be attending the Oxford Clinic.

i also have another question that someone might be able to answer...i was on the depo provera contraceptive injection for 5 years and my next one was due in Jan 06. i stopped my periods altogether so when i came off this injection it took about 8 months for it to return. ever since (this was about 2 months ago) i have been on most of the time!

how will that affect the IVf? one of the consultants said that they can regulate it - does he mean the injections you have to take at the beginning of IVF or did he probably mean having to regulate them before starting with the IVF injections? (does that make sense?)

well, better get back to work

xx

Smita · Post by **Smita** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:40 am

Hi Shantala,
When he says he'll regulate it, it probably means, they'll gve you tablets or injections to control your period.
usually, the procedure involves down-regulation( where they give you meds to shut down/supress your system,where you get your AF at the time they want you to get) and then they start you off on stimming(stimulating) injections to induce your ovaries to produce follicles.
They should be scanning you every now and then at this stage to see how many follicles you have, what size they are, are you likely to over stimulate etc and then when they see that your follicles have reached 16-20 mm, they give you the hcg trigger injection to induce egg-release...

I dont know if i went over-overboard in the explanation..

also, about morphology, a general ananlysis of sperm, should mention how many are normal, motile etc..

hope this helps,
smita

olivia · Post by **olivia** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:37 am

Hi Helly

I just thought I would post you my encouraging story.

My husband also has poor sperm morphology with only 2% of normal sperm. I too have problems due to endometriosis (one tube is blocked) and ovulation problems. We were told that we could try iui but ivf may be the best option and we were put on the waiting list.

However, while waiting I got pregnant naturally and now have little Joe who has just turned six months. My doctor laughed when we cancelled our forthcoming treatment and told us it only takes one!! and he was right.

I wish you lots of success.

Olivia

My story

My story

1st IVF

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