IVF, ICSI

[Lucy1]

Hi, this is the first time I have used this website, but I am hoping that it may help.<br>My husband and I have had tests done through our doctor as we weren't conceiving and found that I wasn't ovulating regularly and my husbands sperm didn't swim quick enough.<br>We were put on the NHS waiting list, our appointment is in September but we felt we wanted to find out 'what the actually situation is', sooner. So this saturday we managed to get an appointment privately with BUPA............we were not prepared for what we were told. The Consulatnt advised us that my husband wasn't actua;;y producing any health sperm, he has had two tests done and both gave the same results.....our doctor had npt explained this to us. The Consultant has arranged for my husband to give another sample thi sweek, to which we will find out the results on saturday...........we are both in shock I think at the moment. If the results come back this week showinf no healthy sperm then it basically means my husband is infertile.<br><br>I would like to chat to anyone who can maybe give me a glimmer of hope.<br><br>

[Jo Locker]

Hi Lucy, sorry that you have received this scary news but take heart. I can't promise you that they can cure your problem but I do know that they do wonderful things these days that they weren't able to do even a few years ago.<br><br>My husband and I have sperm problems and are undergoing ICSI at the moment where they can take a single sperm and inject it into an egg. Sperm quality varies with each sample so there's no saying that your husband will always have the same problem. Someone has mentioned on this site the use of the drug tamoxifen and various foods that they improve quality.<br><br>There is also the option of donor sperm which I know is hard but is a consideration - you may end up with a baby you'd both love equally.<br><br>I dont want you to think it'll be easy but please don't despair - take any route available to you and pursue it. Poor sperm quality is simply a disability like any other - you can't help it, or control it, and most couples obviously don't even realise it until they want to start a family - it was a big shock for us too.<br><br>If I were you I'd go and see a specialist as soon as you can.<br><br>Sending you a big hug & wishing you and your DH all the best, love Jo.XX<br><br>

[caz]

HI there<br>we too have severe male factor. My dh had mups as teenager and has NO sperm in ejaculate. We had thought it was all over. But I would reiterate totally what Jo has said.<br>What they have done for us is amazing, basically you do only need one slightly motile sperm for ICSI and even if you dh has zero when he does a sperm terst its likely he does have some - but they arent coming out. This is my dh's case . They extracted them with a procedure called TEse (they bascially use a very fine needle into the testicle and get them that way - sounds worse than it is!!)<br><br>Anyway we have just had 3 eggs fertilised and 3 transfered after this, and now its just a waiting game. I'm not saying I'll get pg but at least we got this far , which a few month ago I thought we never would<br><br>We too would consider donor if all else failed - but its a huge decision for obvious reasons, mainly the - would you ever tell anyone question.<br><br>Hopefulyy it wont come to thatfor you<br><br>all the best<br><br>cazx

[caz]

woohoa!! Sorry about all the typos there!!<br>...and we have 2 not 3 transfered for the record!

[SallyP]

Dear Lucy,<br>Doctor are sometimes completely shit aren't they? - At our first appt at one hosp, we were told by one locum doctor that my DH 'wasn't 100%', but when we got a second opinion discovered that his count was low, that he had 70% sperm antibodies and 17% were 'shimmering on the spot'. So 70% were fighting each other and 17% were dithering about what to do next. He was terribly shocked and think it was a huge surprise as previously we'd thought that it was my endo that was the problem. The word 'infertile' is much too generic - my dh's sperm count/motility rendered him 'infertile' and my endometriosis rendered me 'infertile', but after our second attempt at ICSI, obv not infertile any more as I am PG! So modern medicine is so wonderful that what would be impossible 10 years ago, is now the norm. <br><br>When you see your doc on Sat, you need to see what they suggest, to see precisely what they mean by infertile, and ask them what they recommend as the best course of action, as ICSI can be done in many 'infertile' cases. Also, check out the 'Foresight' website as that has some very interesting information re sperm and boosting it.<br><br>I know your information has come as a huge shock, but don't worry - your docs at BUPA should be able to find you a way around it!<br><br>love SAlly xx<br>

[Lucy1]

Many thanks for your kind words, I showed the responses from you all to my husband who was touched and also says thanks.<br><br>He's got an appointment tomorrow to produce a sperm sample and we'll get the results saturday.<br><br>I meant to say in my last note that the reason I ttled the topic as IVF, ICSI, is because that is the treatment that the consultant has told us we would need to have depending on my husbands results this week.<br><br>It is amazing how many people have to have IVF or help with conceiving. It is a bot scary thought to see how the world is turning out, a lot of the articles I have read aswell as the consultants comments all say that scientists think a lot of fertility problems are due to stress and the polutants in the atmosphere.<br><br>Thanks again