[Purpledta]

My DH is about to be put on HCG and it would be encouraging to know that this might help.

Thank you

[jivey]

What is the issue that he is on HCG
How much is he on.

I am taking it too 1ml evry 3 days
have zero sperm do to Pituitary failure from a blood disorder.
The HCG makes your tests make there own testosterone
and sperm

[KK128]

Purple: How's it going with the HCG? It's much better for his fertility than TRT, which can shrink the tissue down there, cause sperm to be slower, and kill them if the dosage is too high.

Jivey: Have you had any improvements? Is it working for you? Are you planning on doing it long term?

My DH is on it for low T. and has been on it since April. He got off T replacement in January after a year and a half of it and worries it could be hurting his fertility. They started him way to high on HCG, 2000 units 3x/week. We're finally at the right dosage for him 300 3x/week and we've been there about two months. No luck yet.

We've been trying for #2 since May 08. We had one chemical pregnancy when he was on TRT in Oct 08 and a M/C at 8 weeks in Jan/Feb when he was off of everything. I'm 36 and beginning to think it might be secondary infertility on my end.

[jivey]

yes, I am now on 5,000 units every 2 days. they boosted me up because my testicles showed some good growth.
i am on my 2 month and will start Pergnol after my 3rd month. Then we hope i will be ready for sperm extraction.

I hope this helps i am in a bit of a hurry. i am in a game contest. but, wanted to reply

[KK128]

Originally Posted by jivey

yes, I am now on 5,000 units every 2 days. they boosted me up because my testicles showed some good growth.

That sounds really high. How's your T and estradiol levels doing? Are you having side effects? That's good you're responding.

DH found that high T made him irritable in a similar way to low T. He has a pituitary disorder causing the low T (Empty Sella Syndrome).

[Purpledta]

My Dh had a pituitary tumor as a kid and now we are working on the HCG. Our RE said it was working too well and reduced the dose. It use to be 5000 units 2ce a week and cuz the RE said it worked too well, he was reduced to 2500 2ce a week.
We did and independent SA and found no sperm at all which just crushed me.
Now we have sent the results to the urologist and are waiting to hear back. It's been a week now that we have heard nothing, so i guess we just have to keep waiting.
We started with clomid and it just messed my Dh's number up so bad that it made DH weak.
That's why we were moved to HCG.
We want to know if the swimmers are immature or there wasn't any at all.
The lab just never gives the right details.
We are not hoping that the urologist will ask us to do another SA and have a better result this time.

Ola

[KK128]

Originally Posted by Purpledta

It's been a week now that we have heard nothing, so i guess we just have to keep waiting.
Ola

That must be frustrating. If the Dr has the results and isn't waiting for them, you should let him know that this is important and time is of the essence.

Was the SA after the HCG? How high is his Test? If it's too high that could be what's causing the 0 sperm. We were worried that was happening when DH was on the high dose, but we didn't do a SA test to see for sure. If the testicles are ok and it's just the brain not sending the signals to create the T and sperm, then a much lower dosage of HCG may be needed to achieve the proper T levels.

It takes about 70 days for the sperm to form, so it's important to get on the right protocol asap.

We'll be doing a SA test later this cycle for IVF. Our Dr gave us a list of things to take and I just went to the vitamin store to pick them up:
Take:
one 500 mg V C, two times a day
one 400 IU V E, daily
Men with compromised semen parameters may benefit from:
2 g Acetyl L-Carnitine per day
30-60 mg zinc per day
200 mg CoQ10, two times a day

One thing on the HCG is it says in the packaging instructions to take the dosage 3x/week for 3 weeks and then 2x/week for 3 weeks. We haven't tried that yet, as our Drs didn't prescribe it that way, but we may try that soon. I think with the whole HCG for men it's a lot of trial and error and taking of blood tests to see how things are going. I think you've got to be really proactive, because at least the Drs we're seeing aren't as it's not their expertise.

[TTBPatient]

My DH is starting HCG injections this week. They have him on 2000 units 2x a week to start with. His Testosterone levels were in the 200s this last bw, and FSH and LH normal range. We are encouraged since his testosterone was in the low 100s last year.

It's good to hear of others going through this and hopefully hearing good news soon!

[Purpledta]

Well the doctor called my DH and told him that he will take a look at the tests and he should come in 1st week in Oct after the blood test that will be done in 2 weeks.
I am going to acupuncture. I need the relaxation and that should help me be strong for my DH.
KK128, thanks for the cocktail, i've told my DH about everything you suggested and will go out to get everything.
The SA was done after the HCG. His test was a little on the high side and that is why the dose was reduced from 5000 2ce a week to 2500 2ce a week.
We will wait till next month before we do another SA.

that something +tive happens soon so we can go ahead and try to have our and .

[KK128]

Good luck. I know waiting is hard. My Dr just suggested acupuncture for me, so I'm going to look into that. She also said I should take the C and E vitamins (in addition to prenatal and DHA), so I'm starting that too.

[dkhrbh]

My DH urologist is suggesting HCG to increase his testosterone (178) and sperm count (2 million). I was wondering how much HCG cost and where is the best/cheapest place to get it.
Thanks

[Purpledta]

Originally Posted by dkhrbh

My DH urologist is suggesting HCG to increase his testosterone (178) and sperm count (2 million). I was wondering how much HCG cost and where is the best/cheapest place to get it.
Thanks

I'm not very sure how much it cost but i will find out from my husband and let you know the pharmacy we used.

[KK128]

Originally Posted by dkhrbh

My DH urologist is suggesting HCG to increase his testosterone (178) and sperm count (2 million). I was wondering how much HCG cost and where is the best/cheapest place to get it.
Thanks

The cost varies a LOT. When DH started it wasn't too expensive and a recent refill they had to switch companies and it was nearly twice as much. You've got to call around and do some searching. Specialized fertility pharmacies will probably have the best prices and there are some online/mail order ones that have comparable prices.

I think it's worth it. My DH's T level was in a similar range and now he's on HCG, 300 3x/week and his T is now more ideal around 700. He just had a SA test today and it came out "good/normal" with "excellent count and morphology" I've been waiting to get the fax with the specifics, but it looks like they didn't get to it today.

Don't have his Dr start him at too high a dose (DH started at 2000 and it raised his T too high, well over 1000, which probably wasn't good for him). Also if you go too high for too long the cells can become desensitised and it won't be as affective.

Also, the vile only lasts 30 days once mixed. At his low dosage, DH still has left over HCG he's got to throw out and they don't make it in smaller doses