Semen analysis

lentilcat · 03-24-2006, 01:37 PM

I just wanted to post her because 5 years ago when we first started ttc my husband was tested by my regular obgyn and had no problems. We tried several iui's with his sperm and clomid. I was already 36 so we went to a RE after about a year at my obgyn. Well...when they tested his sperm it turns out he had low morphology and no chance of fertilizing an egg without icsi! I was so angry to lose a year trying. Make sure the lab that tests the semen is using the best tests because otherwise you could be wasting a lot of time and money. I did get an apology letter from my ob! I still am trying , but now I'm 41. I hope this warning helps someone else. You have to be a smart patient.

AMF · 03-25-2006, 05:14 AM

I just wanted to "bump" this one...because we were very close to making the same mistake...my OB/GYN...said IUI "shouldn't" be a problem...DH did labs etc...
Well, as it turns out in the middle of trying to decide what to do..IUI seemed possible, we had to change insurance....new GP told us, let's do another SA....
When my DH called for results...
Him: This is so and so...calling for the results of my SA...
Her: "Oh, right...you had the vasectomy right?"
Him: CLICK...
Umm...ya think IUI would have worked? I think NOT!
So applause for you for being smart, lentilcat! You go!

stephhuck · 03-27-2006, 02:50 PM

Were you told there is no chance of his sperm fertilizing an egg? My hubby also has very poor morphology (1-3%) but good motility and good count (121 million). They told us iui is definitely worth a try. We did 3 natural iui cycles w/ no success and one cycle w/ me doing FSH/trigger injections - no success. I worry about going through all of this and it never working. Of course everyone says ivf w/ icsi is our best bet, but we're not ready nor do I know if I'll ever be ready for that. 1% of 121 million is still 1 million - you'd think one spermy could do it's thing!!! It is very frustrating! I'm always so afraid of wasting time. I'm still fairly young (34) but time moves fast! Good luck to you and please let me know what you were told. Thanks.

AMF · 03-28-2006, 07:48 AM

Hi there Steph,
No, we were never told that IUI wouldn't work, but we didn't meet the criteria for success with IUI, due to low count...(2 million) and low morph (13%). RE said, "It would be a waste of time."

They seemed to be most concerned with the count...and that doesn't seem to be your issue at all.
With your numbers, I probably would have persued IUI.
It took me a year to decide on the whole IVF/ICSI thing, a year I am glad to have not wasted hoping IUI would work, as our GYN to alluded to, only to be told by a specialist, it would not...

One thing RE did mention, and was very direct with us, is that IVF w/ICSI is the only treatment for MF...
(I assume he meant with the numbers he has to work with.)

I still have not received a satisfactory answer as to why or how it works, or in this case why it has not worked....
considering we were all told, "it only takes one..."
Remember in High School... when we were warned about an unwanted pregnancy back in the day? Anyway, I am very curious as to why that is....

Anyone else care to make an attempt to get through my thick skull?

belle3 · 03-30-2006, 11:11 AM

its hard to get all this info straight, especially since we are all individual cases.

we have MFI with less than 1 million, good motility, and unknown morph because there wasnt enough sperm to tell (which i still question, because another center was able to tell us with still less of a count)....anyway....

it was almost no question that they sent us straight to ivf with icsi. she told us there wouldnt be enough sperm to weaken the egg. it takes many million to come up to the egg and try to get in. normally, working as such a big army they weaken or "beat up" the egg enough for ONE lucky spermie to get in. We didnt have many million. so, icsi takes that entire process out.

it still didnt work for us, but i think icsi has a 30% success rate, and then theres the 50% chance of it attaching. dont quote me on these %s....for some reason these numbers are in my head. so even still by cutting out the middle man, theres lots of finger crossing to be done.

thats the way i understand it anyway

AMF · 03-30-2006, 01:41 PM

i didn't know that belle, about "beating up the egg" That makes so much sense!
thanks

Emily A. · 04-07-2006, 04:49 PM

Hi all, just reviewing your threads on SA. We just got ours back today IN THE MAIL, with no explanation of all the numbers on it...the word that stand out is abnormal to us...

if anyone can help I will post some of the numbers?? I have to wait till Monday to get the Doctor on the phone to help me interpret what this means. Any help would be appreciated.

Mom2BSomeday · 04-07-2006, 09:04 PM

They mailed you your results????? What kind of place are you going to???? Geeze our RE's nurse called us and explained all of our numbers to us. I'd have that doc on the phone giving him and earful if I were you. That seems way unprofessional to me. Especially if something says abnormal.

belle3 · 04-07-2006, 11:59 PM

hi emily,
i thought it was odd that they mailed it without having discussed it with you first. now you will be making up your own "abnormal" definitions all weekend!
some of our numbers were under the "abnormal" column...and for us it meant that the numbers were under the "average" amount they like to see. its my understanding that the "norm" for the actual count is at least 20million, motility should be at least 50%, and morphology should be at least 30% (WHO) and 14% (Kruger). i got these numbers from my dh's last SA chart. i dont know if it differs between labs.

i hope all turns out well. dont forget that you are not alone in this journey.

Emily A. · 04-08-2006, 06:10 AM

Hi guys-
Let me clear up that this is my primary care Dr.'s office that mailed me the results. After a year of TTC he said he wanted to start with the SA and then refer me to a specialist. Still, I think that they should have called and help explain. I did look all over the net, and feel a little better about the results. I posted them under BBT Question thread. It looks like all is ok till it gets to the viscosity and all this other stuff. If you can, look at the results and give me any input that you have. I would really appreciate it. I don't know what I would do without you guys...I just started coming to the site and it is a God send.

03-24-2006, 01:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
lentilcat Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 84	Semen analysis I just wanted to post her because 5 years ago when we first started ttc my husband was tested by my regular obgyn and had no problems. We tried several iui's with his sperm and clomid. I was already 36 so we went to a RE after about a year at my obgyn. Well...when they tested his sperm it turns out he had low morphology and no chance of fertilizing an egg without icsi! I was so angry to lose a year trying. Make sure the lab that tests the semen is using the best tests because otherwise you could be wasting a lot of time and money. I did get an apology letter from my ob! I still am trying , but now I'm 41. I hope this warning helps someone else. You have to be a smart patient.

04-07-2006, 09:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mom2BSomeday 300-399 post 5 of hearts Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 369	They mailed you your results????? What kind of place are you going to???? Geeze our RE's nurse called us and explained all of our numbers to us. I'd have that doc on the phone giving him and earful if I were you. That seems way unprofessional to me. Especially if something says abnormal. __________________ Married to my heart's song and my soul's melody. Me 32 DH 36 Back to TTC#1 Financing our journey by selling AVON

VISIT OUR SISTER SITES:
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar	eHarmony Advice Dating Advice	Project Wedding Wedding Songs	Weddingbee Wedding Blog

Currently Active Chat Room Users: 0 \| Scheduled Chat Room Events
	Users in Chat Rooms: No one's chatting right now!

03-25-2006, 05:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
AMF 5000-9999 post king of hearts Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In the Village Posts: 6,144 Blog Entries: 837	I just wanted to "bump" this one...because we were very close to making the same mistake...my OB/GYN...said IUI "shouldn't" be a problem...DH did labs etc... Well, as it turns out in the middle of trying to decide what to do..IUI seemed possible, we had to change insurance....new GP told us, let's do another SA.... When my DH called for results... Him: This is so and so...calling for the results of my SA... Her: "Oh, right...you had the vasectomy right?" Him: CLICK... Umm...ya think IUI would have worked? I think NOT! So applause for you for being smart, lentilcat! You go!

03-27-2006, 02:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
stephhuck Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 58	Were you told there is no chance of his sperm fertilizing an egg? My hubby also has very poor morphology (1-3%) but good motility and good count (121 million). They told us iui is definitely worth a try. We did 3 natural iui cycles w/ no success and one cycle w/ me doing FSH/trigger injections - no success. I worry about going through all of this and it never working. Of course everyone says ivf w/ icsi is our best bet, but we're not ready nor do I know if I'll ever be ready for that. 1% of 121 million is still 1 million - you'd think one spermy could do it's thing!!! It is very frustrating! I'm always so afraid of wasting time. I'm still fairly young (34) but time moves fast! Good luck to you and please let me know what you were told. Thanks.

03-28-2006, 07:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
AMF 5000-9999 post king of hearts Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In the Village Posts: 6,144 Blog Entries: 837	Hi there Steph, No, we were never told that IUI wouldn't work, but we didn't meet the criteria for success with IUI, due to low count...(2 million) and low morph (13%). RE said, "It would be a waste of time." They seemed to be most concerned with the count...and that doesn't seem to be your issue at all. With your numbers, I probably would have persued IUI. It took me a year to decide on the whole IVF/ICSI thing, a year I am glad to have not wasted hoping IUI would work, as our GYN to alluded to, only to be told by a specialist, it would not... One thing RE did mention, and was very direct with us, is that IVF w/ICSI is the only treatment for MF... (I assume he meant with the numbers he has to work with.) I still have not received a satisfactory answer as to why or how it works, or in this case why it has not worked.... considering we were all told, "it only takes one..." Remember in High School... when we were warned about an unwanted pregnancy back in the day? Anyway, I am very curious as to why that is.... Anyone else care to make an attempt to get through my thick skull?

03-30-2006, 11:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
belle3 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 180	its hard to get all this info straight, especially since we are all individual cases. we have MFI with less than 1 million, good motility, and unknown morph because there wasnt enough sperm to tell (which i still question, because another center was able to tell us with still less of a count)....anyway.... it was almost no question that they sent us straight to ivf with icsi. she told us there wouldnt be enough sperm to weaken the egg. it takes many million to come up to the egg and try to get in. normally, working as such a big army they weaken or "beat up" the egg enough for ONE lucky spermie to get in. We didnt have many million. so, icsi takes that entire process out. it still didnt work for us, but i think icsi has a 30% success rate, and then theres the 50% chance of it attaching. dont quote me on these %s....for some reason these numbers are in my head. so even still by cutting out the middle man, theres lots of finger crossing to be done. thats the way i understand it anyway

03-30-2006, 01:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
AMF 5000-9999 post king of hearts Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In the Village Posts: 6,144 Blog Entries: 837	i didn't know that belle, about "beating up the egg" That makes so much sense! thanks

04-07-2006, 04:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Emily A. Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Eastern Shore, MD Posts: 64	Hi all, just reviewing your threads on SA. We just got ours back today IN THE MAIL, with no explanation of all the numbers on it...the word that stand out is abnormal to us... if anyone can help I will post some of the numbers?? I have to wait till Monday to get the Doctor on the phone to help me interpret what this means. Any help would be appreciated.

04-07-2006, 11:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
belle3 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 180	hi emily, i thought it was odd that they mailed it without having discussed it with you first. now you will be making up your own "abnormal" definitions all weekend! some of our numbers were under the "abnormal" column...and for us it meant that the numbers were under the "average" amount they like to see. its my understanding that the "norm" for the actual count is at least 20million, motility should be at least 50%, and morphology should be at least 30% (WHO) and 14% (Kruger). i got these numbers from my dh's last SA chart. i dont know if it differs between labs. i hope all turns out well. dont forget that you are not alone in this journey.

04-08-2006, 06:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
Emily A. Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Eastern Shore, MD Posts: 64	Hi guys- Let me clear up that this is my primary care Dr.'s office that mailed me the results. After a year of TTC he said he wanted to start with the SA and then refer me to a specialist. Still, I think that they should have called and help explain. I did look all over the net, and feel a little better about the results. I posted them under BBT Question thread. It looks like all is ok till it gets to the viscosity and all this other stuff. If you can, look at the results and give me any input that you have. I would really appreciate it. I don't know what I would do without you guys...I just started coming to the site and it is a God send.