[Christeena]

Hi all ! i am new to this forum and so glad I found you =)

My husband & I started seeing a Fertility Doctor one month ago. All my tests are normal. My husband got his semen analysis back and the count was FIVE !! just 5.

He goes for blood tests next week to test hormone levels.

Im scared. My husband is against adoption or sperm donors. I am probably getting ahead of myself because there are so many tests they are going to run on him.

My question is,, Does anyone think we have a shot at conceiving??? I am all for IVF.. but with a low sperm count is IVF possible????

thanks so much for reading this....

Chris

[amyinohio]

You do have a chance of conceiving! You can do IVF with ICSI even if you have very low sperm counts. They may have to do a TESE procedure on your dh which is a procedure that extracts the sperm from the testicles. It is a good sign that sperm was present!

My dh SA numbers went from 3 to 0 (many times). We were able to conceive through IVF/ICSI and a TESE.

Hope that your dr appts go well. Be careful with urologists they can sometimes not be aware of all the options that are out there. Make sure you talk to someone with a bakground in male infertility issues.

[Christeena]

THANKS AMY !! You made my day..
This whole process is so scary.. i have some good hope now =)

[CaribbeanQueen]

Hi Christeena--

Our situation was similar to Amy's... My DH had a sperm count of 4 on his first SA. There were other sperm as well, but they were all DOA. His diagnosis was severe oligospermia.

We also conceived (twice!) through IVF/ICSI/TESE. Please feel free to PM me with any questions that you may have or write them here... There are many folks on here who will be happy to share their experiences.

I am sorry for the d/x--it's tough for both of you, I know.
Thoughts are with you!

CQ/Leigh

[Christeena]

Thank you Leigh !

I mentioned to my DH about all the new techniques available today like TESE! He totally FREEEAKED about having needles or getting biopsies perfomed on his junk. I am trying to give him space and time to think because he definitely knows how important this is to me. I know he wants kids too, but he would be OK if we were childless. I really thought it was MY FAULT we haven't been able to conceive. Now I feel like its up to him to make these important decisions and I am so scared.

Tomorrow (4-17) we have the final consult with our RE,, who is the sweetest doctor on earth and I am really depending on him to gently convince my DH that its up to him now.. ARRGH!!

All we know so far is that he wants to send him for hormone testing on Monday.

SORRY THIS IS SO LONG! Thanks for letting me vent.

Chris

[CaribbeanQueen]

Vent away!

How was your RE consult?

DH and I took the approach that infertility was OUR issue. And yes, while he had to have the TESE, I also had to have injections and an ER... We both tackled everything together. My guy is my hero for going through 3 TESEs... He had some scar tissue and pain after the first one, and to ask him to do it again really took a lot. After we had our first daughter, we weren't sure if we'd even go through IVF again, but after a miscarriage, we gave it one last go last April and got pregnant with DD #2.

You both should find a reproductive urologist that you're comfortable with who can answer his questions about the TESE. For my guy, he had to lay low for a couple of days, but he did not have lasting effects from his procedures. Fear of the unknown is tough, though...

[Christeena]

Well, we had our final consult with our RE this past Friday. Even though the sperm count is super low, and we haven't gotten results from DH hormone blood test, RE wants us to proceed with May IVF cycle!! Of course we are doing ICSI..

In the meantime, we wait for blood results..

RE also said he just wants to get a sperm sample the day before & the day of ER.

Does this sound normal? My husband is thrilled because our RE didn't really focus on possible TESE.

Im just hoping for the best and loading up DH with vitamins and keeping him out of the hot tub. lol

[CaribbeanQueen]

In our case, we knew that we had to go for the TESE, so DH didn't have any subsequent SA's.

for good results for your hubby so that you can move ahead with your cycle!

[jenfagan]

Hello there, I am new to all of this too and don't know what all these abreveations mean. I guess DH means husband!?

Anyways, my husband got a 5 on his sperm count. Dr. said a 20 was normal. When I dropped off the analysis I read instructions that he was supposed to abstain from sex for at least 1-2 days. We had sex both days prior to his dropping off his semen. Doctor never gave me any instructions!

So , the doctor said to retest since we did not abstain before we gave the sample of semen. My question is...if we are having sex every day around ovulation then his sperm count is low no matter what...

So if that is the case what are our options. I am looking good (tubes, FHS all great)...he has not had a blood test...is he supposed to?

I am 36 and he is 40. Would insemination work?...what is " IVF/ICSI and a TESE?" I have heard of IVF but i suppose that is very pricey and we don't have a lot of money.

Thanks , any advice would be helpful.

Jen

[Christeena]

Originally Posted by jenfagan

Hello there, I am new to all of this too and don't know what all these abreveations mean. I guess DH means husband!?

Anyways, my husband got a 5 on his sperm count. Dr. said a 20 was normal. When I dropped off the analysis I read instructions that he was supposed to abstain from sex for at least 1-2 days. We had sex both days prior to his dropping off his semen. Doctor never gave me any instructions!

So , the doctor said to retest since we did not abstain before we gave the sample of semen. My question is...if we are having sex every day around ovulation then his sperm count is low no matter what...

So if that is the case what are our options. I am looking good (tubes, FHS all great)...he has not had a blood test...is he supposed to?

I am 36 and he is 40. Would insemination work?...what is " IVF/ICSI and a TESE?" I have heard of IVF but i suppose that is very pricey and we don't have a lot of money.

Thanks , any advice would be helpful.

Jen

Hi Jen,

Most of the abreviations are listed just above all the threads under "ACRONYMS" click on that to see them. DH is dear husband =)

I am sorry you have to go through this, it truly sucks. Our first try at IVF was a bust. As far as IUI and if you are a candidate, I cannot say! Its mostly up to your doctor because each case is unique. You should definitely call a fertility specialist and find out if they have FREE seminars. Consultations can run 200-300 bucks but seminars are great because usually someone stays behind after and you can bend their ear a little with your particular situation.

You said your husband had 5 on his sperm count and 20 is normal? I think your doctor meant 20 MILLION and your husband had 5 MILLION. That is not bad. My husbands first count was actually FIVE, one two three four five. but later he had a count in the millions! yay! thank god because the TESE is pricey and painful.


GOOD LUCK!!!!