should we get vericocle fixed?

karystos · 10-21-2008, 02:08 PM

3 years of ttc.
me- 39, pco
dh- 46 low everything

numerous failed iuis
3 failed ivf cycles with icsi ...embryos slow down after day 2. Never had an 8 cell on day 3.

RE told us it's dh's sperm quality.
Had all tests done.
DnA is 25%
DH has vericocle...went to Dr. Schelegel....best urologist in US
He told us to get the surgery and then after at least 3 months, we won't even need ivf to get pregnant...it will happen naturally!

Does this sound right?
Has anyone had this surgery done at our age?
Only have one ivf left paid.
How long does it take to get better counts?

pababy · 10-21-2008, 08:49 PM

That's a tough one! I have been following your story, because mine is not that much different. I'm not sure what I would do. I have read that sometimes when they fix those, nothing changes. But, on the other hand, Dr. Schlegel is supposed to be the best. Can you do another IVF, and then after that do the surgery? Maybe have the surgery immediately after the IVF, so that the 3 months go by fast.
Are you planning on doing your cycle at Cornell? I consulted with Dr. Davis at Cornell and I have decided to go with them for my 4th cycle!! I think i am going to start at the end of November. Dr. Davis also recommended that I make an appt with Schlegel because we are male factor. When I met with Dr. Davis, he didnt seem like the male factor was even an issue..even though it is severe male factor....This is so frustrating all together. It's like the never ending nightmare!!

Are you leaning one way or another?

karystos · 10-22-2008, 08:15 PM

We have a meeting with our RE next Monday. I will be interested to see what he thinks the next step will be. I was put off by Cornell's factory atmosphere. My RE is one of two at his practice. But that's just me.
I think your suggestion is probably the best. Do another ivf, then if it fails, do the vericocle right away. I see the impending big 4-0 in July and it feels like I'm racing against time more than ever.

Keep me posted on your journey.

pababy · 10-22-2008, 08:51 PM

That sounds like a good plan. I would literally have the variceale surgery the day after retrieval. That way while you are waiting for transfer and the 2ww, that is time that is going by. Hopefully, this cycle will work and you dont have to worry about any of this. But, if it doesn't, by the time you have to start again, it will be at least 2 or 3 months out. Just my two cents! Good luck!

mk37994 · 10-25-2008, 09:12 AM

I had the micro-surgical repair back in dec of last year. My wife is pg naturally after the surgery. I had started with 1.5 million with less then 2% normally shaped. DNA fragmentation im sure was high. Now its 4.4 million with 18% normally shaped. Overall a 300% increase accross the board in all areas. The surgery does work.

karystos · 10-27-2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mk37994

I had the micro-surgical repair back in dec of last year. My wife is pg naturally after the surgery. I had started with 1.5 million with less then 2% normally shaped. DNA fragmentation im sure was high. Now its 4.4 million with 18% normally shaped. Overall a 300% increase accross the board in all areas. The surgery does work.

How long did it take for you to see an improvement?

mk37994 · 10-28-2008, 04:56 AM

Things started to show improvement at the 3 month mark. They put me on clomid at about 6 months after the positive numbers, and that gave it that final boost. 3 months later my wife was pg naturally. Alot of RE's wont push for the surgery. If you have dna fragmentation of the sperm related to the varicocele it can make most ivf / iui etc procedures to not work which means more money for them.

If your husband is nerveous about the surgery what I did was freeze sperm before the surgery just in case. After the surgery you more then likely wont need it but if it makes him feel more comfortable its something to think about.

MaggieMay · 11-11-2008, 01:02 PM

Hello all,

I just wanted to share our story. While we are not pregnant yet, I definitely consider my DH's varicocele ligation a success! He had the surgery on August 1 of this year. His prior SA showed no sperm at first, but then upon a second look there was ONE in the entire sample (not per/mL, but the ENTIRE sample!). Two weeks after the surgery at DH's post op to make sure everything was healing correctly, our repro. urologist put him on Clomid, which he has taken since. Well, we had lab work done last week and the SA was yesterday right before the appt, and we have a 26% increase in testosterone, and we went from 1 sperm to 480,000 per/mL!!!! Granted, I know that is still ridiculously low, but we are still in shock! He wants to see him again every 8-10 weeks for a year to do lab work and SA because he says it should only continue to increase for the first year.

We feel so blessed that we actually had a dr. tell us that we can try timed intercourse! This after three other doctors (one was even a repro urologist) told us that IVF/ICSI was our only hope. Even TESE wouldn't have worked for us before the surgery though because the testicular sperm were arrested at 50% development and none were mature enough to have fertilized an egg. This we found out with the biopsy that was done during the surgery. Regardless, with the information provided to us by our first three docs, we did four donor IUI's (all failed) but something told us to go back to see what was happening with DH, just one last time after finding out about another repro urologist. We are so thankful right now that we have some hope! DH will take clomid for another three months and in January we will see where the numbers are again.

All I know is if something doesn't feel right, don't question your instinct! See doctor after doctor until you've completely ruled out everything before you lose hope.

Maggie

10-21-2008, 02:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
karystos Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: nj Posts: 168	should we get vericocle fixed? 3 years of ttc. me- 39, pco dh- 46 low everything numerous failed iuis 3 failed ivf cycles with icsi ...embryos slow down after day 2. Never had an 8 cell on day 3. RE told us it's dh's sperm quality. Had all tests done. DnA is 25% DH has vericocle...went to Dr. Schelegel....best urologist in US He told us to get the surgery and then after at least 3 months, we won't even need ivf to get pregnant...it will happen naturally! Does this sound right? Has anyone had this surgery done at our age? Only have one ivf left paid. How long does it take to get better counts?

11-11-2008, 01:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
MaggieMay Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Middle Georgia Posts: 586	Results from varicocele ligation on Aug 1! Hello all, I just wanted to share our story. While we are not pregnant yet, I definitely consider my DH's varicocele ligation a success! He had the surgery on August 1 of this year. His prior SA showed no sperm at first, but then upon a second look there was ONE in the entire sample (not per/mL, but the ENTIRE sample!). Two weeks after the surgery at DH's post op to make sure everything was healing correctly, our repro. urologist put him on Clomid, which he has taken since. Well, we had lab work done last week and the SA was yesterday right before the appt, and we have a 26% increase in testosterone, and we went from 1 sperm to 480,000 per/mL!!!! Granted, I know that is still ridiculously low, but we are still in shock! He wants to see him again every 8-10 weeks for a year to do lab work and SA because he says it should only continue to increase for the first year. We feel so blessed that we actually had a dr. tell us that we can try timed intercourse! This after three other doctors (one was even a repro urologist) told us that IVF/ICSI was our only hope. Even TESE wouldn't have worked for us before the surgery though because the testicular sperm were arrested at 50% development and none were mature enough to have fertilized an egg. This we found out with the biopsy that was done during the surgery. Regardless, with the information provided to us by our first three docs, we did four donor IUI's (all failed) but something told us to go back to see what was happening with DH, just one last time after finding out about another repro urologist. We are so thankful right now that we have some hope! DH will take clomid for another three months and in January we will see where the numbers are again. All I know is if something doesn't feel right, don't question your instinct! See doctor after doctor until you've completely ruled out everything before you lose hope. Maggie

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10-21-2008, 08:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
pababy 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: PA Posts: 91	That's a tough one! I have been following your story, because mine is not that much different. I'm not sure what I would do. I have read that sometimes when they fix those, nothing changes. But, on the other hand, Dr. Schlegel is supposed to be the best. Can you do another IVF, and then after that do the surgery? Maybe have the surgery immediately after the IVF, so that the 3 months go by fast. Are you planning on doing your cycle at Cornell? I consulted with Dr. Davis at Cornell and I have decided to go with them for my 4th cycle!! I think i am going to start at the end of November. Dr. Davis also recommended that I make an appt with Schlegel because we are male factor. When I met with Dr. Davis, he didnt seem like the male factor was even an issue..even though it is severe male factor....This is so frustrating all together. It's like the never ending nightmare!! Are you leaning one way or another?

10-22-2008, 08:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
karystos Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: nj Posts: 168	We have a meeting with our RE next Monday. I will be interested to see what he thinks the next step will be. I was put off by Cornell's factory atmosphere. My RE is one of two at his practice. But that's just me. I think your suggestion is probably the best. Do another ivf, then if it fails, do the vericocle right away. I see the impending big 4-0 in July and it feels like I'm racing against time more than ever. Keep me posted on your journey.

10-22-2008, 08:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
pababy 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: PA Posts: 91	That sounds like a good plan. I would literally have the variceale surgery the day after retrieval. That way while you are waiting for transfer and the 2ww, that is time that is going by. Hopefully, this cycle will work and you dont have to worry about any of this. But, if it doesn't, by the time you have to start again, it will be at least 2 or 3 months out. Just my two cents! Good luck!

10-25-2008, 09:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
mk37994 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 154	I had the micro-surgical repair back in dec of last year. My wife is pg naturally after the surgery. I had started with 1.5 million with less then 2% normally shaped. DNA fragmentation im sure was high. Now its 4.4 million with 18% normally shaped. Overall a 300% increase accross the board in all areas. The surgery does work.

10-28-2008, 04:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
mk37994 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 154	Things started to show improvement at the 3 month mark. They put me on clomid at about 6 months after the positive numbers, and that gave it that final boost. 3 months later my wife was pg naturally. Alot of RE's wont push for the surgery. If you have dna fragmentation of the sperm related to the varicocele it can make most ivf / iui etc procedures to not work which means more money for them. If your husband is nerveous about the surgery what I did was freeze sperm before the surgery just in case. After the surgery you more then likely wont need it but if it makes him feel more comfortable its something to think about.