question about numbers

[FrankieJ]

Hi! I have a question for all you ladies who have done diui. What were your sperm numbers like? motility? just the numbers in general. I have done iui three times now with a bfn each time. each time my donor has only about 20 million sperm with a pretty low motility. (we have tried 2 different donors). This last cycle we had 20 million sperm and 73% motility and i thought that was pretty good but the dr some how averages the numbers and it came to 6.1. he says anything over 5 is what they are looking for. 6.1 doesn't sound that good to me. I think i am just frustrated b/c more than half of sperm die out when it is thawed out and i just don't see this working for us if the numbers are so low. anyone have a success story with low numbers or have i just got two really low donors?????

Thanks
Frankie

[Monkeylove]

I'm not sure what the numbers are like, this is my 1st DIUI but are you using a proven donor? This may help, the donor we chose has 2 pregnancies. Also I have been told by some woman here that if the numbers are low there RE will use more than 1 vial per insem. I'm suppose to talk to my RN at the clinic today, I'll ask her about counts for you. I would also like to know. Hope this helps a bit.
Best of Luck!
Bren

[50/50]

When I was doing DIUI our donors were lower than that. Some were only 3 million and they had to use more than one vial at a time. I'm not sure what the motility was, but our RE said the same as yours anything over 5 million count was good. I felt the same way you did though...how can 5 million be good? But I guess you only need one good one?

Good luck!

[Catherine0404]

I had a donor with numbers like yours and the doctor's office (the RE) told me to ask for a refund and I got it! I used Fairfax Sperm Bank. Go with a proven donor if you can and order 2 vials at a time. Good luck

[FrankieJ]

Thanks guys
We did choose a donor last 2 cycles that did have a pregnancy. And the donor we just used (double i.u.i) also had a pregnancy. I'm getting a little frustrated. My numbers are fine, i had 4 follies this month, progesterone 36, everything looks good. I am going in on Monday for an HSG just in case. I never thought about the double i.u.i at once. that might be an idea. but does anyone know how long frozen then thawed sperm live? i heard 12 hours.

Frankie

[Catherine0404]

Hi Frankie I heard 12 hours as well and I ordered the second vial as a back up vial only. I learned the hard way that one should have a back up! Good luck.

[nzazzaro]

I believe most sperm banks will gaurantee 10 mil MOTILE sperm per vial. We've done 2 iui's so far. The number were 1) 81 mil, 42% motility and 2) 100 mil, 41% motility. I would be interested to know the numbers others have had and what sperm bank was used.
There is another static called morphology. I'm not sure how that comes into play.

[FrankieJ]

Nzazzaro-wow! that is a big number compared to mine. I have done three now and none were really above 20 million. but my clinic adds all of these varables together and somehow i end up with a low number (i think its morphology, motility, and actual number) i use the ca cryobank. how about you?

[Timing4Baby]

ICI vs. IUI

Hi!

I have heard that prepping the sperm for IUI actually will cause many to die or will lose motility.

Some doctors wash the sperm again even though the sperm have been prepped for IUI.....can't believe that sperm will survive a second washing after being thawed.

Have you looked into sperm ready prepped for ICI...they are not washed at all. Also, ICI sperm live longer because they go through the cervical mucus which helps preserve them longer. Whereas, IUI sperm don't go through the cervical mucus so they die much faster.

Write back with your thoughts.

[nzazzaro]

I used CA cryobank and Fairfax. Frankiej , like you said when all the numbers are factored in, total count, motility, morphology I believe my numbers may have been under 20 mil also.