We feel its not going to work out for us
I am 33 my wife is 37 we've had all the tests and only problem found is my count is low
I've had 4 tests 9, 36, 25, 14 Million
We've been trying for 15 months. and to be honest we're distraught
Does anyone have any success stories that can give us hope
we feel we are running out of time...
Success stories please
Whilst I can’t (yet) offer you my success story, just to say that my partner has a low count too. ICSI is the technique that levels the playing field for anyone with a low count. We found out about this in October when we went for our first appointment with our clinic. Our doctor told us that around 100m is considered a ‘good count’ so our chances were nil without ICSI. Our first course in Nov/Dev was successful in part as we had a +ve result, only sadly I lost the pregnancy very early on after that. We’re on our second attempt now. I really suggest you read up about ICSI and locate a clinic near you that can help. The NHS have been useless – made my partner go through 4 humiliating and distressing (for him) sperm tests, only to follow up each test with a statement of his low count and fixing for him to come back in 3 months for another. Given my age (39) we couldn’t waste time with them telling us something we already knew (the NHS have not even told him about ISCI) so we went private. Your wife still has some time on her side but suggest you either get yourself on a NHS wait list or see a private clinic for a consultation. Even at 39 I managed to produce 12 eggs and got to blastocyst stage each time, which isn’t bad (doesn’t unfortunately guarantee success though).
Hi there Paul
Welcome to this site. Like Dancola I can't help but there are several girls here who have experiences with the same issues, and I know there are success stories as well
Don't lose heart, PMA to you and your wife.
Little P
Welcome to this site. Like Dancola I can't help but there are several girls here who have experiences with the same issues, and I know there are success stories as well
Don't lose heart, PMA to you and your wife.
Little P
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;54;53/st/20060312/n/Amelia/dt/5/k/f209/age.png[/img]
Hi Paul - There are a lot of success stories out there - so never give up hope! I am not in the UK and don't know about NHS. We have been trying for over 1.5 years, seriously trying (i.e. seeing a fertility clinic for almost 9 months). My husband was shocked to find out his motility was 10%, it has actually improved over the past couple of months with a better diet to almost 21%. We have just completed IVF with ICSI and are awaiting to see if I am preggers. For all of us, it is definitely a trying period. Try not to get distraught but determine the options available to you.
Your wife is very lucky to have you to be so involved!
Your wife is very lucky to have you to be so involved!
Traci
me37,DH49
IUI 01/05:-
1. IVF - 04/05: -
2. IVF -cancelled -preg nat-m/c 5w3d
3. IVF -success
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;45;12/st/20061117/n/Isabella+Loren/dt/6/k/3043/age.png[/img]
me37,DH49
IUI 01/05:-
1. IVF - 04/05: -
2. IVF -cancelled -preg nat-m/c 5w3d
3. IVF -success
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;45;12/st/20061117/n/Isabella+Loren/dt/6/k/3043/age.png[/img]
Dear Paul,
I have a success story for you so please don't get too disheartened - you've got a low sperm count, not no sperm count so you just need to beef the little buggers up a bit and think positively!
I am 37, DH 34. I had severe endometriosis so would always have had to have IVF anyway (poor eggs, blocked tubes etc etc). However when we had the tests my husband had poor sperm - 70% sperm antibodies which meant they were fighting against each other and 17% were 'shimmering on the spot' which meant if they weren't trying to kill each other, they weren't going anywhere but rooted to the spot.
We were told that in addition to IVF we'd have to have ICSI, which is where they take a sperm sample (DH was horrified he had to go into the men's lavs with no 'material') on the day of the procedure, then they pick the best and inject that sperm into the egg.
So we knew we'd have to have ICSI in view of poor sperm, as well as the IVF on my part. In addition to this, for the 3 months before the cycle we had the IVF/ICSI I prescribed ACE vitamins for my husband, and made him eat loads of healthy fruit and veg, no alcohol and tons of brazil nuts as they are full of sperm boosting selenium! There is a book by a lady called Zita West which is very informative about boosting sperm with dietary methods.
Our first go failed but I think that's because I didn't take the dietary measures with DH, PLUS I still had lots of endometriosis which was surgically removed in time for our second go.
So for our second go, both had healthy lifestyle, vit supplements and tons of brazil nuts for DH. Now this bit may be an old wive's tale, but my hubby's brother had gone through a similar problem (infertility with no cause for both partners), but at the clinic they went to, one of the older nurses told him off the record that in her view it was better not to ejaculate fora couple of weeks, then have an almighty go in the clinic!!!!! Their attempt worked first time. So DH did that as well on our second go. Old wives tale or not I don't know as the consultant told DH to 'produce a regular supply'. Sorry if anyone reading this is squeamish but am trying to help!
I can't say what (if any) of our measures worked, but miracles do happen - indeed our second IVF/ICSI cycle worked and we're now proud mummy and daddy to our beautiful son Jay who is now 15 months old and our miracle little boy!
Hope this sheds a bit of encouragement.
Love Sally
I have a success story for you so please don't get too disheartened - you've got a low sperm count, not no sperm count so you just need to beef the little buggers up a bit and think positively!
I am 37, DH 34. I had severe endometriosis so would always have had to have IVF anyway (poor eggs, blocked tubes etc etc). However when we had the tests my husband had poor sperm - 70% sperm antibodies which meant they were fighting against each other and 17% were 'shimmering on the spot' which meant if they weren't trying to kill each other, they weren't going anywhere but rooted to the spot.
We were told that in addition to IVF we'd have to have ICSI, which is where they take a sperm sample (DH was horrified he had to go into the men's lavs with no 'material') on the day of the procedure, then they pick the best and inject that sperm into the egg.
So we knew we'd have to have ICSI in view of poor sperm, as well as the IVF on my part. In addition to this, for the 3 months before the cycle we had the IVF/ICSI I prescribed ACE vitamins for my husband, and made him eat loads of healthy fruit and veg, no alcohol and tons of brazil nuts as they are full of sperm boosting selenium! There is a book by a lady called Zita West which is very informative about boosting sperm with dietary methods.
Our first go failed but I think that's because I didn't take the dietary measures with DH, PLUS I still had lots of endometriosis which was surgically removed in time for our second go.
So for our second go, both had healthy lifestyle, vit supplements and tons of brazil nuts for DH. Now this bit may be an old wive's tale, but my hubby's brother had gone through a similar problem (infertility with no cause for both partners), but at the clinic they went to, one of the older nurses told him off the record that in her view it was better not to ejaculate fora couple of weeks, then have an almighty go in the clinic!!!!! Their attempt worked first time. So DH did that as well on our second go. Old wives tale or not I don't know as the consultant told DH to 'produce a regular supply'. Sorry if anyone reading this is squeamish but am trying to help!
I can't say what (if any) of our measures worked, but miracles do happen - indeed our second IVF/ICSI cycle worked and we're now proud mummy and daddy to our beautiful son Jay who is now 15 months old and our miracle little boy!
Hope this sheds a bit of encouragement.
Love Sally
Me - severe endo, DH - poor sperm. First IVF ICSI Nov 02 neg. Second IVF/ICSI May 03 Positive.
Miracle baby Jay born on 27th January 04
Miracle baby Jay born on 27th January 04
Hi Paul
Feel so sorry but cheer up! there a lot of couples who are going through the same. After all there's only about 20% change of getting pg per cycle naturally. the rate for AR either ivf or icsi are around the same figure.
you can find a lot of info about ivf and icsi procedures on the web and it really boosts your chances in case you're not getting it naturally! We found out we have no sperm at all so all is not lost for you.
There are a lot of stories on the board about suceesfull tries and there were a couple of girls on another board i joined who have just got a BFP! There's loads of people here who have been TTC for years so everybody knows how exhausting it can be.
So chin up! You still have plenty of chances of getting it!
Good luck!
Rita
Feel so sorry but cheer up! there a lot of couples who are going through the same. After all there's only about 20% change of getting pg per cycle naturally. the rate for AR either ivf or icsi are around the same figure.
you can find a lot of info about ivf and icsi procedures on the web and it really boosts your chances in case you're not getting it naturally! We found out we have no sperm at all so all is not lost for you.
There are a lot of stories on the board about suceesfull tries and there were a couple of girls on another board i joined who have just got a BFP! There's loads of people here who have been TTC for years so everybody knows how exhausting it can be.
So chin up! You still have plenty of chances of getting it!
Good luck!
Rita
TTC 2y Me 31 Dh 34 NO SPERM - DI
Hi paul
I see you have already had some positive replies, what all the girls have said is true. There really are a lot of success stories out there. the main problem is that you hardly hear the good stuff, just the bad stuff, like evrything in life. . . . however, my husband and I are a success story too.
I am 25 years old and my husband is 38. Like you the only cause for infertility was my husbands poor sperm. it wasn't a low count, in fact it was above average. thing is, they weren't swimming!! (low motility) my husband was devastated when he found out that his motility was less than 10% (its sposed to be over 50% to be counted as 'average', if i remember rightly), and that his deformity was also slightly high. we were both shocked as we expected all the problems to lie with me! we were told in no uncertain terms that our only chance of ever gettting pregnant was via ICSI, which has already been explained to you by Sally.
i put my hubby on a course of vitamins, and they helped some, but on the day of the EC (egg collection) it had only increased his motility by 4% to 14%. HOWEVER ... i had responded really well to the drugs, and produced lots of good quality eggs. we had 2 of the fertlised eggs put back and if you look at my profile at the bottom of the post you will see that i am now 22 weeks pregnant with twins, we are expecting to meet our little boy and girl in august. so i am also a tetament to the fact that it can work first time!
please don't be disheartened. it is really good that you have found this board, and stick around cos everyone on here is lovely and helpful and literally a tower of strength. i couldnt have got through treatment without it! i hope everything works out for you, please keep us informed.
Love and kisses
Toni xx
I see you have already had some positive replies, what all the girls have said is true. There really are a lot of success stories out there. the main problem is that you hardly hear the good stuff, just the bad stuff, like evrything in life. . . . however, my husband and I are a success story too.
I am 25 years old and my husband is 38. Like you the only cause for infertility was my husbands poor sperm. it wasn't a low count, in fact it was above average. thing is, they weren't swimming!! (low motility) my husband was devastated when he found out that his motility was less than 10% (its sposed to be over 50% to be counted as 'average', if i remember rightly), and that his deformity was also slightly high. we were both shocked as we expected all the problems to lie with me! we were told in no uncertain terms that our only chance of ever gettting pregnant was via ICSI, which has already been explained to you by Sally.
i put my hubby on a course of vitamins, and they helped some, but on the day of the EC (egg collection) it had only increased his motility by 4% to 14%. HOWEVER ... i had responded really well to the drugs, and produced lots of good quality eggs. we had 2 of the fertlised eggs put back and if you look at my profile at the bottom of the post you will see that i am now 22 weeks pregnant with twins, we are expecting to meet our little boy and girl in august. so i am also a tetament to the fact that it can work first time!
please don't be disheartened. it is really good that you have found this board, and stick around cos everyone on here is lovely and helpful and literally a tower of strength. i couldnt have got through treatment without it! i hope everything works out for you, please keep us informed.
Love and kisses
Toni xx
Trying to conceive for over a yr
First ICSI - Nov 04 - Twins!!!
Thomas and Charlotte born 06/07/05 :D
First ICSI - Nov 04 - Twins!!!
Thomas and Charlotte born 06/07/05 :D
Honestly? If you’ve done 4 tests and the results all seem the same – ie you have a low count – then I see no point in waiting any longer. As soon as my DH’s low count came in again on the 2nd test he did, my doctor referred us to a private hospital. We still had to wait 3 or 4 months just to get an appointment to see the consultant there, but once we’d had initial tests we were able to start straightaway. HIS doctor on the other hand just kept sending him back to the NHS for more sperm tests and hasn’t even mentioned ICSI or IVF yet. As I mentioned above, at 39 we don’t have time on our side. If you cannot go private you’ll need to get yourself on the NHS waiting list, so I’d do that now. It could be months – possibly longer – before your turn for NHS comes, so you’ll still got lots of time to try naturally.
Our private consultant was very clear – a low count means that statistically you have very little if any chance of a natural conception. Of course miracles do happen, but hedge your bets and start the IVF process now to be on safe side.
Our private consultant was very clear – a low count means that statistically you have very little if any chance of a natural conception. Of course miracles do happen, but hedge your bets and start the IVF process now to be on safe side.
Paul
I agree with Dancola here, its always a possibility that it could happen naturally, you do hear of it, but the likelihood is so low that its not wise to count on it. and if your test results have unfortunately been that poor then I'd start looking into your options, and like Dancola says, get yourself on that NHS list. We went private and got started in a matter of months, but thats not always an option.
Toni xx
I agree with Dancola here, its always a possibility that it could happen naturally, you do hear of it, but the likelihood is so low that its not wise to count on it. and if your test results have unfortunately been that poor then I'd start looking into your options, and like Dancola says, get yourself on that NHS list. We went private and got started in a matter of months, but thats not always an option.
Toni xx
Trying to conceive for over a yr
First ICSI - Nov 04 - Twins!!!
Thomas and Charlotte born 06/07/05 :D
First ICSI - Nov 04 - Twins!!!
Thomas and Charlotte born 06/07/05 :D
Hi Paul
I have to say that I agree with Dancola and Toni.
I know that not everyone has the option of private, so if you are going to use the NHS then you know there will be a waiting period anyway - remember you can still keep on trying whilst waiting for the consultation and you never know what might happen
We went private as NHS isn't an option in this area and got seen straightaway
Loads of luck to you both and best wishes with whatever you decide.
Little P
I have to say that I agree with Dancola and Toni.
I know that not everyone has the option of private, so if you are going to use the NHS then you know there will be a waiting period anyway - remember you can still keep on trying whilst waiting for the consultation and you never know what might happen
We went private as NHS isn't an option in this area and got seen straightaway
Loads of luck to you both and best wishes with whatever you decide.
Little P
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;54;53/st/20060312/n/Amelia/dt/5/k/f209/age.png[/img]
jeepers
gosh i didnt think the tests were that bad
I've had 4 tests 9, 36, 25, 14 Million
my doctor said that normal was 20 million
so i thought i was only just off the mark on 2 tests
He did not say there was only a slim chance of concieving naturaly
He said "14 million sperm is a lot of sperm, it only takes 1"
What sort of counts do you consider normal if you think mine are so low.
I've had 4 tests 9, 36, 25, 14 Million
my doctor said that normal was 20 million
so i thought i was only just off the mark on 2 tests
He did not say there was only a slim chance of concieving naturaly
He said "14 million sperm is a lot of sperm, it only takes 1"
What sort of counts do you consider normal if you think mine are so low.
Hi Paul
I can't comment on what's high or low - our factor is me, too many Natural Killer Cells
(nasty little b*&^%ers)
Anyway, it seems to me that if 20 mil is average, then you aren't that far off are you
I was agreeing with Dancola and Toni that it is always worth getting yourself on the NHS list - I still maintain that there's no harm in trying whilst waiting - you never know what could happen
My feelings are very much - never stop trying
Hope this helps a little
Little P
I can't comment on what's high or low - our factor is me, too many Natural Killer Cells
(nasty little b*&^%ers)Anyway, it seems to me that if 20 mil is average, then you aren't that far off are you
I was agreeing with Dancola and Toni that it is always worth getting yourself on the NHS list - I still maintain that there's no harm in trying whilst waiting - you never know what could happen
My feelings are very much - never stop trying
Hope this helps a little
Little P
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;54;53/st/20060312/n/Amelia/dt/5/k/f209/age.png[/img]
Hi Paul
According to my literature, 20 million per 1ml is considered to be normally fertile, while the average is 60-80 million per ml.
"There are many lifestyle factors that affect your sperm count - caffeine intake, tobacco, alcohol, recreational drugs, diet, exercise and stress levels. Lifestyle changes can make a big difference and may be all a man needs to do to increase the count. Numbers of sperm may also be affected by a previous STI".
The above is taken from a book by Zita West called "Fertility and Conception". It's an excellent read Paul and I would urge you to buy it.
The book also explains how it takes 3 months for a sperm to develop. So, any changes you make will take around 3 months to come to fruition.
My df's mobility and motility were greatly increased by taking supplements and healtier lifestyle.
In the meantime, I would suggest getting the ball rolling with your doctor re referral for IVF, as it does take soooooo long. Hopefully as you begin the process you will suceed naturally, but it is better to have a back up plan !!
Good luck
Sandra x
According to my literature, 20 million per 1ml is considered to be normally fertile, while the average is 60-80 million per ml.
"There are many lifestyle factors that affect your sperm count - caffeine intake, tobacco, alcohol, recreational drugs, diet, exercise and stress levels. Lifestyle changes can make a big difference and may be all a man needs to do to increase the count. Numbers of sperm may also be affected by a previous STI".
The above is taken from a book by Zita West called "Fertility and Conception". It's an excellent read Paul and I would urge you to buy it.
The book also explains how it takes 3 months for a sperm to develop. So, any changes you make will take around 3 months to come to fruition.
My df's mobility and motility were greatly increased by taking supplements and healtier lifestyle.
In the meantime, I would suggest getting the ball rolling with your doctor re referral for IVF, as it does take soooooo long. Hopefully as you begin the process you will suceed naturally, but it is better to have a back up plan !!
Good luck
Sandra x
Me 41 yrs old - dh 49 yrs old. ttc 110 yrs.
1st cycle (ICSI)....Mar 04 -ve.
2nd cycle (ICSI)....Aug 04 -ve.
3rd cycle FET........May 05 -ve.
4th cycle (ICSI) ... Feb 06 -ve
5th cycle FET ..... Feb/Mar 11
1st cycle (ICSI)....Mar 04 -ve.
2nd cycle (ICSI)....Aug 04 -ve.
3rd cycle FET........May 05 -ve.
4th cycle (ICSI) ... Feb 06 -ve
5th cycle FET ..... Feb/Mar 11
Paul,
I have to say your count does not seem shockingly low. My husband has a low count but we are talking, out of 5 tests, his range was 4 mil to a max. of 9 million. His motility was also not great so we had to do IVF with ICSI (not successful unfortunately). Did they let you know if all the other parameters were normal (i.e. motility, morphology, etc.)? If everything else is normal and your wife doesn't have anything going on other than her age , you might ask your Dr. if it would be worth it to try a few IUI's before you look to IVF. Just a thought.
Good luck!
Staci
I have to say your count does not seem shockingly low. My husband has a low count but we are talking, out of 5 tests, his range was 4 mil to a max. of 9 million. His motility was also not great so we had to do IVF with ICSI (not successful unfortunately). Did they let you know if all the other parameters were normal (i.e. motility, morphology, etc.)? If everything else is normal and your wife doesn't have anything going on other than her age , you might ask your Dr. if it would be worth it to try a few IUI's before you look to IVF. Just a thought.
Good luck!
Staci
Me 35/DH 41
TTC 4 years
Diagnosis: MF infertility
IVF/ICSI April 2004: -tive
FET Aug. 2004 (canceled due to cysts)
FET Jan 2005: -tive
FET Aug. 2005
TTC 4 years
Diagnosis: MF infertility
IVF/ICSI April 2004: -tive
FET Aug. 2004 (canceled due to cysts)
FET Jan 2005: -tive
FET Aug. 2005