Azoospermia - looking for support!

[Cris76]

Hi everyone,

I just happened to come across this site and decided to join this forum.

My hubby and I have been TTC for 5 years and over the past year, we finally decided to seek help from our doctor. The initial tests that were done on me came out fine so the next step was to do a semen analysis. You can only imagine our surprise and disappointment when the doctor told us there was no sperm AT ALL in his samples! Especially considering that he has 2 children (ages 13 and 11) from a previous relationship.

I was devastated. I am very new to this and haven't even gone to see a fertility specialist yet. Our doctor referred my hubby to a Urologist first. Has anyone ever heard of something like this? Where there is no sperm even though previous pregnancy was attained naturally???

The one thing the doctor has identified is that he has low testostorone and he recently had him do a "free testostorone" test. Has anyone ever heard of this test? What exactly are they checking for?

Once this test has been completed, the next step will be to be referred to a fertility clinic.

The hubby is quite upset and doesn't like to talk about it much..I guess that is his way of dealing with things...

Please write back soon...feel like I am going crazy trying to make sense of this!

Cris

ps - I am 30 years old and he is 33.

[Gargy]

Hi Cris,

My husband also suffers from azoospermia, however he has not had children. He is 41 and I am 37.

The next step generally is that they go and do a testicular biopsy to find out whether your husband is producing sperm at all. This will determine whether you are able to use his sperm to have children.

I'm sorry but I'm not sure about the testosterone test. Maybe others can help.

My DH said that his testosterone levels were fine but that there was no sperm in the biopsy. We are currently going down the donor insemination track. However, your situation may be different.

If you do go down the DI track, you are quite welcome to join us on the DI forum.

All the best to you!

[Kery]

Hi Cris

I have just been reading your post and thought I would tell you our story so far.

We also have been trying for some time to get pregnant. Although I have a son (10 yrs) from a previous relationship, we starting trying for a baby together. Anyway to cut the story short after two years of trying we went to a fertility clinic and after all the tests we found that dh had no sperm in his sample.

We decided after a few months that he would go for a biopsy and then we would know for sure if ivf was possiable at all. Dh was not that happy about laying out his manly parts to a doctor and four nurses!

Anyway they did find some sperm down there, not a huge amount but enough to di isci with. We are starting isci this month and I am so pleased that he went through with the biopsy as we really thought that there was no chance of having a child together. I know that isci doesn't always work but at least now there is some hope.

So what I really wanted to say is don't give up hope just yet. It does take a bit of encouragement to get these males through the doctors door but it just may be worth it. Dh was a bit tender for a few days but nothing major.

Good luck!!!!!

[Lavender1]

Oh my goodness...this is probably all too late now but I've just stumbled upon your post and have to tell you our story (I'll try to keep it brief!)

My DF also suffers with azoospermia. He did 3 samples all showing no sperm. He too, went a little crazy - really upset, angry. Couldn't handle it and told me to leave him to go find a 'real' man!! Needless to say I didn't. Anyway, he too then went to the Urologist and also had a scan. All fine.

He then went and had a PESA and to our delight they did get some sperm. Not much, but some. We then went ahead with an ICSI/IVF cycle and on our first go got pregnant with our son (now almost 15 months old)!!!

I am still gobsmacked to this day and can still hardly believe it (no, I'm not exaggerating. I guess when things look gloomy for so long it's hard to really believe something this fantastic can result).

Anyway, just wanted to give you a happy story and a little hope. I do hope things are just as succuessful for you two.
xxx

[nwquiz]

oh my gosh am in the same frastration as you. well dh had 3 kids from a previous relationship which the doctor told him he does not believe they are his. need to do a dna test coz his sperm count on several occasions was zero. then testicular biopsy and still no sperm or blockage. we were in eal shock. i was at least and he cried the whole time, we almost broke up but i had to hold things going. i tell you it has been rough on our end. anyway we decided to do with donor sperm. and have had 3failed cycles but all my tests are okay. so we are still coughing money oit to try and make at least one. but hand in there you have to hold on sometimes.
wishyou the best

I was devastated. I am very new to this and haven't even gone to see a fertility specialist yet. Our doctor referred my hubby to a Urologist first. Has anyone ever heard of something like this? Where there is no sperm even though previous pregnancy was attained naturally???

The one thing the doctor has identified is that he has low testostorone and he recently had him do a "free testostorone" test. Has anyone ever heard of this test? What exactly are they checking for?

Once this test has been completed, the next step will be to be referred to a fertility clinic.

The hubby is quite upset and doesn't like to talk about it much..I guess that is his way of dealing with things...

Please write back soon...feel like I am going crazy trying to make sense of this!

Cris

ps - I am 30 years old and he is 33.[/quote]

[Kery]

Hi Cris
I am in the same boat as you are. We have done the testical biopsy thing too and they found three abnormal sperm. They retrieved 12 eggs from me but they were no use without sperm. The biopsy and EC was done on the same day. He did have a asperation done a month earlier and they thought that there would be enough for isci. I had all the tests done and they all came back all clear. I also have a son from a previous relationship.

Anyway we decided to go down the donor path too. I had a cycle of iui and got a BFN and am starting to wonder if it's just not meant to be.

That is strange that your DH has had three children from a previous relationship. I'm not sure why they would do a testostorone test. Mu DH had one done and it came back fine even though he wasn't producing sperm. I do know what you mean this has really put pressure on our relationship nearly to the point of breaking up. He doesn't talk about it much as I can tell it really breaks him knowing he will never have his own biological child.

Life sucks sometimes!!! I really do try and stay positive but it's hard sometimes.

[Miracle08]

Cris-

Needless to say, I am in the same boat as well. My husband and I found out he has Azoospermia last December. We are going through the donor route as well. My husband reacted the same as yours did at first. Give it time, he needs to deal with is feelings and emotions. My husband was dead set against the donor path at first. Now he is all for it. He wants a family as much as I do. Yes, my husband was sent to a Urologist as well. He had to have both types of his testostorone tested too. All his numbers were fine. I am not sure why they test the FREE testostorone.
Where do you have your IUI's done? They will only do them through a Infertility Clinic here. It is such a hard thing to have to go through. This will make you and your hubby even stronger. Trust me, if you can get through infertility together, you guys will be able to get through anything!! It takes its tolls and some days will be better then others, you will get through it.