[hsk33]

My husband had a SA yesterday and we were told his morphology was 2%. He goes back next week for a more detailed test and I'm headed in for a saline ultrasound.

This was all a big shock to us so we didn't really ask the doc the questions that our heads are filled with now. He explained that the combination of my results and my husbands more detailed test will tell us if IUI is even an option.

I remember his motility was ok - just shy of 50% and I also remember the doc saying quantity wasn't an issue.

Has anyone had success with low morphology - naturally, with IUIs or IVF? How many rounds did it take?

Thanks all

[jenedens6102]

My husband also had very poor morphology. His first SA in 2002 showed his morphology at 1% and we were devestated. Because of insurance we had at the time we had to start with IUI but found no success. When we went back for our IVF cycle in 2006 we did a repeat SA and found his morphology had improved to 8%. However, we didn't make it to transfer as our three fertilized embryos started to degress at 72 hours. We decided at that time to stop trying with our RE and just let happen whatever was going to happen. We planned on continuing to try naturally while saving up for adoption. However, we started taking Fertility Blend (for men and women) in January and found out in March we were expecting. Complete shock! We were told it would NEVER happen because of DH's severe male factor. That pregnancy was ectopic and we lost it two weeks later. We couldn't try again for three months and that first cycle we conceived again. The results....my beautiful baby boy. So don't give up, it is possible. You can improve morphology despite what most doctors believe. Whether it's done through changes in diet and lifestyle or with supplements such as Fertility Blend (that do advertise as improving morphology). Never give up!

[chantalTTC]

My dh has 6% morphology. We did 6 rounds of clomid and one IUI, with no success. We have had 2 pregnancies through IVF (one m/c and I'm almost 15w now with the 2nd). We had great fertility the first 2 IVFs (so morphology was overcome, I guess). The last IVF (with my eggs) we needed to do ICSI and we had good fertilization again. This last cycle with donor eggs, we had good fertilization with ICSI (10 fert eggs of 13 mature).

So I'm unsure if IUI would have worked eventually, but IVF seemed to be the trick in our situation. Best wishes to you and your dh!

[hsk33]

Thanks to both of you! The news was shocking but we're both determined to make it work, if it's naturally we'll count our blessings, if it's IUIs or IVF...that's what we'll do.

Another quick question, did anyone ever explain why your DH had low morphology? We've been researching it and can't find what the causes are for low morphology?

Thanks again...

[AzooDude]

Originally Posted by hsk33

Another quick question, did anyone ever explain why your DH had low morphology? We've been researching it and can't find what the causes are for low morphology?

Here's a paragraph from the best answer I could find with a quick Google search: Teratozoospermia : How Teratozoospermia causes Infertility & its Treatment :

What about the answer to the million dollar question: --- Why do I have low sperm morphology ? Unfortunately, nine times out of ten, the doctor will not be able to answer that question, and no amount of testing will help us to find out - this is labelled as "idiopathic teratozoospermia" which is really a wastepaper basket diagnosis for "god only knows!". We do know that poor sperm morphology is not related to physique, general state of health, diet, sexual appetite or frequency. While not knowing the cause can be very frustrating, medicine still has a lot to study and understand about male infertility, which is a relatively neglected field today.

The good news, as already shared in the earlier replies, is that low morphology doesn't mean it's impossible to conceive. It makes it harder, but not impossible. Morphology is just one piece of the puzzle, and from what you've described, it sounds like the other pieces are in pretty good shape.

Good luck!

[hsk33]

Thanks for the post - it's so frustrating that they most likely won't be able to tell us why my DH has low morphology but all of your posts give me hope!

We'll see what they say this week when I go in for my saline u/s.

[rebekkahlahey]

Hi there. I wouldnt think to much about morphology when your using means to get around it. My hubby has only 3% normal with the strict test. We dont know why but we suspect his deployments. ANy way, we had trouble concieving naturally but IUI corrected the problem. We have done 2 IUIs with gonal-f and got prego both times but we lost both babies. (not sure if its related) But we were told with those numbers our best shot was IVF with ICSI. Good luck and keep trying.