[a103war]

My wife and I have been trying for about a year now (last June/July). I believe that I'm the major reason for our inability. I had a varicocele repair when I was younger (my pediatrician had caught it when i was in middle school). I decided to be proactive a few months after we started trying (sept 06) and my physician ordered a SA. The results were borderline (19 million concentration). He recommended that I see a urologist. The urologist had me wait 3 months before another SA. The second SA I had in December 06 was much improved (70 million concentration) and he did not see any evidence of the varicocele upon examination. I believe my motility was around 30% - 35% for the two SA's, but I'm not sure as I only remembered the concentration. Regardless, my urologist was not concerned.

Last May we decided to see a fertility specialist. We had our first IUI treatment a week and a half ago. My count has drastically gone down. The pre-wash concentration was 7.6 million and the motility was 31%. Our fertility specialist now wants me to see a specialized fertility urologist. We are meeting with our fertility specialist next week (we have received some info from her nurse). I was wondering if anyone on the forum had a similar experience (drastic differences between SA results)? My hormone levels are normal (tested last fall and earlier this week). Could my varicocele have returned and be causing such drastic differences? Otherwise, I'm in decent shape, not overweight, don't smoke, and don't drink in excess. I have started taking a daily vitamin and I have a tendency to take long-hot showers, which I have stopped. I have avoided hot tubs/steam rooms, and saunas.

[a103war]

My wife and I met w/ our fertility doctor today. She advises that we move directly to IVF ICSI due to the low sperm count (low morphology as well) I had two weeks ago. She is questioning my previous SA results from last year. Also, wants me to see an urologist that specializes in fertility to find the cause. A few questions for members:

What type of tests might a urologist perform to see if my varicocele has returned?

Due to anxiety I went on an SSRI (anti-depressant) in mid July. Experienced a sexual side effect and stopped taking. Has anyone read or been told that a SSRI can affect sperm quality? The urologist specialist that our fertility doctor recommended actually wrote a study on how SSRI’s can impact sperm transport (not production), which can impair sperm quality. Wondering if other members have come across this.

Thanks!

[jencat215]

a103war!!! I am sorry that I don't have any answers for you. What are you currently doing for your anxiety now that you stopped your meds? I know a lot of anxiety/depression drugs can effect fertility and cause m/c's, but I didn't know the same effects occured in men. Did your RE mention anything for increasing your sperm count/motility levels?

So, from your first post you had just done IUI. Did it not work for you and DW? I am sorry. Are you going to jump right into IVF/ICSI?

Also, you mentioned (first post) that you are in good shape, don't do hot tubs... make sure not to ride a bike (that can decrease sperm counts) or exert yourself too much where you raise your body temp. When DH and I went for our IUI, even though my DH doesn't have sperm issues, they told us to make sure both of us kept our body temperatures normal (don't let them go up too high).

Keep us posted on how your urologist visit goes.

[a103war]

Working with a therapist on the anxiety. Unfortunately our RE did not mention anything for increasing sperm count/motility levels.

No luck on the first IUI. It will take at least 6 weeks to get insurance approval to move directly to IVF/ICSI, which our RE thinks we have a good chance of getting. We will try another IUI cycle this month with my wife on Clomid. I hope that I can see the urologist before the IVF cycle to get a better understanding of the root cause of my problem.

[Angelwithhope]

My DH had vericocele surgery in the past as well. His you could see and feel (sorry TMI lol) and his counts were 8 million with low motility and morphology as well. The doctors did tell us that they can come back even with the surgery.

They checked them by exam and ultra sound the last time my DH went through it.

I wish you luck with everything. Don't give up too much hope! We were told IVF with ICSI was our only chance and we've gotten pregnant on clomid twice, no IUI just BDing at home. (both pregnancies ending in miscarriage though.)

[jencat215]

I hope your wife reacts better with clomid than I do, for your sake, not hers!!! (I am a big witch on it!!!).

I too hope you can see the urologist before the IVF. It would be great to get some feedback and understanding of what is going on with you.

I wish you lots of luck on this IUI cycle. Hopefully you won't have to go to IVF!!!

[MIRANDA12503]

Just wanted to wish you luck and send a

W e l c o m e

your way.

Miranda

[Angel0226]

First of all welcome! We went through IVF in 2003 and were successful. A urologist discovered my husband had a variocele prior to that. We decided to go straight to the IVF... as we were growing quite impatient and just wanted to try and have a baby at this point. Fast forward a couple of years... Dh had a variocele repair done, and lo and behold about 8 months later we discovered I was pregnant... without fertility treatments! I have my own set of fertility problems, but obviously his repair is how I was able to get pregnant. We later lost the baby, but the fact remains... we did get pregnant on our own.

I know that when dh when back for a repeat semen analysis about a year later, the urologist suggested that maybe he had a variocele on the other side now. What??? I just assumed this would all be taken care of. But, could it be that maybe you have one on the other side as well. I think a few simple tests were all dh had to endure to find the variocele. We opted to not repair a second time and just jumped back into the IVF game again. Right or not, I don't know... but we are currently expecting our second child. I don't for once, regret going through the IVF cycles, but I do wonder if we tried to the variocele repair again how things would have turned up. Best of luck to you whatever you may decide.