New to MF issues...questions

cvpis4me · 04-15-2009, 03:59 AM

I saw my new doctor for the first time yesterday. I had been taking Clomid which didn't work so I was ready to move on to IUI with injectables. We knew DH's sperm count was low but he told me it was so low that he didn't recommend IUI at all. He recommended we move straight to IVF with ICSI. DH had two SA's done, I know the first count was only 6 mil with decent motility and a little high on the pH. The second SA had a higher volume and count but a lower motility. We froze two samples before he deployed and those were 8.46 mil and 1.92 mil post-wash and freeze. The doc said even if we combined the two samples it wouldn't be enough because we would still lose more once the samples were thawed. The problem is, because he is military and we are going through the military there isn't an opening for IVF until June 2010! I know this thread is a little long, but he has an appt with urology on the 27th to see what they can do. IF this problem is treatable, how long does that usually take to get things up to par? He comes home this week from his deployment but he leaves again in 3 months so we don't have a very long time at all. Is 3 months long enough to get his sperm count up so we can freeze better samples, or should we just skip the freezing and IUI altogether and wait to do IVF?

iMama · 04-18-2009, 11:01 PM

Hi, you should probably research the statistics on percent effective rates for iui for your sperm analysis numbers. I know the re I saw at sher said all stats on iui assume you have at least 5 mil motile and that being said this only causes a max of 15 percent effective rate, so you should count on doing this a few times. From this info, I gather that I may as well do ivf, which costs the same as a few iui's and has a higher likelyhood. If your iui's are cheap or free, maybe you should try it anyway though. I am pretty sure, though, that it is possible for iui to work with low sperm counts, there is just a lower statistical probability, but who cares about that once you beat the odds and get pregnant, kwim?

It takes 70 days to make a mature sperm, so you may be able to make that work. Also, I've read of women with husbands who get deployed and have fertility probs, timing their cycle with birth control pills so that they are fertile when he is with them. (Dr greene's book on hormones and pregnancy)

Good luck and keep us posted!

cvpis4me · 04-19-2009, 06:51 PM

Our IUI's are only about $200 vs. $7000 for IVF so I would rather go that route. He's considering doing acupuncture and he's taking vitamins so I hope that can help. Hopefully he can get his sperm count up so we can freeze better samples before he leaves again. Thanks for the info!

iMama · 04-20-2009, 04:55 PM

re: "Hopefully he can get his sperm count up so we can freeze better samples before he leaves again" I think that's a great idea. I plan to do that, too for my DH while we are trying to get a good diagnosis and save money for treatments. I did read that natural forms of zinc and C are good for sperm, as are oysters and other foods containing a lot of zinc. Folic acid is supposed to be good for sperm, too. Maybe be we can share tips on what works or new resarch we find on improving sperm count. I am thinking of buying proxeed. I've also been trying to feed DH more anti-oxidant rich foods.

04-15-2009, 03:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
cvpis4me 200-299 post 4 of hearts Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Silverdale, WA Posts: 269	New to MF issues...questions I saw my new doctor for the first time yesterday. I had been taking Clomid which didn't work so I was ready to move on to IUI with injectables. We knew DH's sperm count was low but he told me it was so low that he didn't recommend IUI at all. He recommended we move straight to IVF with ICSI. DH had two SA's done, I know the first count was only 6 mil with decent motility and a little high on the pH. The second SA had a higher volume and count but a lower motility. We froze two samples before he deployed and those were 8.46 mil and 1.92 mil post-wash and freeze. The doc said even if we combined the two samples it wouldn't be enough because we would still lose more once the samples were thawed. The problem is, because he is military and we are going through the military there isn't an opening for IVF until June 2010! I know this thread is a little long, but he has an appt with urology on the 27th to see what they can do. IF this problem is treatable, how long does that usually take to get things up to par? He comes home this week from his deployment but he leaves again in 3 months so we don't have a very long time at all. Is 3 months long enough to get his sperm count up so we can freeze better samples, or should we just skip the freezing and IUI altogether and wait to do IVF?

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04-18-2009, 11:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
iMama 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Northern CA Posts: 58	Hi, you should probably research the statistics on percent effective rates for iui for your sperm analysis numbers. I know the re I saw at sher said all stats on iui assume you have at least 5 mil motile and that being said this only causes a max of 15 percent effective rate, so you should count on doing this a few times. From this info, I gather that I may as well do ivf, which costs the same as a few iui's and has a higher likelyhood. If your iui's are cheap or free, maybe you should try it anyway though. I am pretty sure, though, that it is possible for iui to work with low sperm counts, there is just a lower statistical probability, but who cares about that once you beat the odds and get pregnant, kwim? It takes 70 days to make a mature sperm, so you may be able to make that work. Also, I've read of women with husbands who get deployed and have fertility probs, timing their cycle with birth control pills so that they are fertile when he is with them. (Dr greene's book on hormones and pregnancy) Good luck and keep us posted!

04-19-2009, 06:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
cvpis4me 200-299 post 4 of hearts Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Silverdale, WA Posts: 269	Our IUI's are only about $200 vs. $7000 for IVF so I would rather go that route. He's considering doing acupuncture and he's taking vitamins so I hope that can help. Hopefully he can get his sperm count up so we can freeze better samples before he leaves again. Thanks for the info!

04-20-2009, 04:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
iMama 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Northern CA Posts: 58	re: "Hopefully he can get his sperm count up so we can freeze better samples before he leaves again" I think that's a great idea. I plan to do that, too for my DH while we are trying to get a good diagnosis and save money for treatments. I did read that natural forms of zinc and C are good for sperm, as are oysters and other foods containing a lot of zinc. Folic acid is supposed to be good for sperm, too. Maybe be we can share tips on what works or new resarch we find on improving sperm count. I am thinking of buying proxeed. I've also been trying to feed DH more anti-oxidant rich foods.