Sperm Quality

mk37994 · 09-10-2008, 05:21 AM

I had a varicocele repaired in dec of last year. My prior stats were 1.5 million with less then 23% morph, less then 2% normal shaped, and 0% type 4 / fast swimmers. All were 3 or below. Post surgery 4.4 million, 50% morp 11% normal shaped, and 35% fast swimmers / level 4. We did ivf with icsi last year with a brief success on an fet which ended in a m/c.

Does the sperm quality make a huge impact on the outcome we are about to start again in dec with another round of ivf. From what I have read it does esp with my old stats. What has other people with similar situations found?

mmi · 09-10-2008, 05:40 AM

I would have to say in our case, yes sperm quality was extremely important. DH also had a varicocele, but we chose not to fix it. Counts were 18-20 million, morphology was 6% and motiity was normal. We did countless IUI's. I also have mild pcos... after all negative IUI's we moved to IVF. We did two fresh and one frozen cycle.... all negative. We were about ready to give up as we has spent about $30,000 and over 2 years in treatment, when we RELUCTANTLY went to donor, just so we didn't ever look back and say, what if? We were starting to think I was the major problem, not male factor.... but I got pregnant very easily with donor(first donor IUI cyle), so in hindsight, our major issue was male factor. I know there are tons of other stories out there with worse male factor than we had that got pregnant, we were just not one of them. Wishing you a quick success.

mk37994 · 09-10-2008, 09:56 AM

Thats what I have been reading that ivf with icsi is not a gurantee of success if the sperm has issues.

karystos · 09-10-2008, 10:53 AM

My DH has 3% morphology which decreased from 10% last year.
RE has no answers as to the terrible decline. low everything else too.
This last ivf/icsi (our 3rd),
was the worst sperm ever....to the point it was treated as a biopsy!
They couldn't find enough good quality sperm for my 11 eggs. All 11 did fertilize though.
His hormone levels are normal. DHEA is low probably from chronic stress.

Our embryos never made it to 8 cells on day 3 because of the sperm quality.

At this point, RE told DH to STOP taking fertility supplements....not FDA approved.

and check back in 3 months....I'm 39 and even though I have "perfect" eggs, time is essential. Will have a Y chromosome test also.

ANyone can take a guess as to why his numbers are plummeting?
Afraid this might affect my marriage...we have no children and donor sperm is out since we are both only children and need a biological chid.

mk37994 · 09-10-2008, 10:57 AM

It can be the suppliments some people it works against them. Has his urologist checked for varicoceles or dna fragmentation?

karystos · 09-10-2008, 01:57 PM

My Re brushed off DNA fragmentation saying that there's nothing to improve it,so why bother doing it. Vericocle was so small they said not a factor.

mk37994 · 09-10-2008, 03:39 PM

Did they do a scrotal ultrasound on the varicocele. They thought it was small for me too after they found it was a grade III large one. DNA fragmentation can be corrected, some causes are varicoceles, and ROS which anti oxidents can help.

karystos · 09-11-2008, 05:55 AM

They did not do an ultrasound....
I will demand a DNA fragmentation test from my RE today.

mk37994 · 09-11-2008, 05:58 AM

I would ask for the scrotal ultrasound if the varicocele is really larger then they think it maybe the real root cause.

mmi · 09-12-2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karystos

Afraid this might affect my marriage...we have no children and donor sperm is out since we are both only children and need a biological chid.

We too wanted a biological child, spent three years trying to get one. Finally went to donor, extremely RELUCTANTLY>... once your miracle is in your arms, you won't be as concerned about biology.. the baby will be 100% yours and you will be a family. We really wish we would have gone to donor much sooner.

09-10-2008, 05:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
mk37994 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 154	Sperm Quality I had a varicocele repaired in dec of last year. My prior stats were 1.5 million with less then 23% morph, less then 2% normal shaped, and 0% type 4 / fast swimmers. All were 3 or below. Post surgery 4.4 million, 50% morp 11% normal shaped, and 35% fast swimmers / level 4. We did ivf with icsi last year with a brief success on an fet which ended in a m/c. Does the sperm quality make a huge impact on the outcome we are about to start again in dec with another round of ivf. From what I have read it does esp with my old stats. What has other people with similar situations found?

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09-10-2008, 05:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
mmi 5000-9999 post king of hearts Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 6,471	I would have to say in our case, yes sperm quality was extremely important. DH also had a varicocele, but we chose not to fix it. Counts were 18-20 million, morphology was 6% and motiity was normal. We did countless IUI's. I also have mild pcos... after all negative IUI's we moved to IVF. We did two fresh and one frozen cycle.... all negative. We were about ready to give up as we has spent about $30,000 and over 2 years in treatment, when we RELUCTANTLY went to donor, just so we didn't ever look back and say, what if? We were starting to think I was the major problem, not male factor.... but I got pregnant very easily with donor(first donor IUI cyle), so in hindsight, our major issue was male factor. I know there are tons of other stories out there with worse male factor than we had that got pregnant, we were just not one of them. Wishing you a quick success.

09-10-2008, 09:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
mk37994 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 154	Thats what I have been reading that ivf with icsi is not a gurantee of success if the sperm has issues.

09-10-2008, 10:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
karystos Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: nj Posts: 168	My DH has 3% morphology which decreased from 10% last year. RE has no answers as to the terrible decline. low everything else too. This last ivf/icsi (our 3rd), was the worst sperm ever....to the point it was treated as a biopsy! They couldn't find enough good quality sperm for my 11 eggs. All 11 did fertilize though. His hormone levels are normal. DHEA is low probably from chronic stress. Our embryos never made it to 8 cells on day 3 because of the sperm quality. At this point, RE told DH to STOP taking fertility supplements....not FDA approved. and check back in 3 months....I'm 39 and even though I have "perfect" eggs, time is essential. Will have a Y chromosome test also. ANyone can take a guess as to why his numbers are plummeting? Afraid this might affect my marriage...we have no children and donor sperm is out since we are both only children and need a biological chid.

09-10-2008, 10:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
mk37994 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 154	It can be the suppliments some people it works against them. Has his urologist checked for varicoceles or dna fragmentation?

09-10-2008, 01:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
karystos Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: nj Posts: 168	My Re brushed off DNA fragmentation saying that there's nothing to improve it,so why bother doing it. Vericocle was so small they said not a factor.

09-10-2008, 03:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
mk37994 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 154	Did they do a scrotal ultrasound on the varicocele. They thought it was small for me too after they found it was a grade III large one. DNA fragmentation can be corrected, some causes are varicoceles, and ROS which anti oxidents can help.

09-11-2008, 05:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
karystos Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: nj Posts: 168	They did not do an ultrasound.... I will demand a DNA fragmentation test from my RE today.

09-11-2008, 05:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
mk37994 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 154	I would ask for the scrotal ultrasound if the varicocele is really larger then they think it maybe the real root cause.