any successes with Male Varicocele and IUI??

rose54 · 04-26-2009, 04:01 PM

Hello all,
I am new to the forum and after a year of ttc, DH got Semen Analysis and has low count and low motility......on to the Urologist, he has a varicocele. SO off to the RE. He said to hold off on surgery of the varicocele, but lets get started on IUI. So this month I took clomid 25mg. Low dose because I do not have ovulation issues. So we have our first IUI this week and I am just hoping for the best but I am worried that after they wash the sperm, there will not be a lot. Has anyone has success with IUI's and a varicocele? Thanks for any advice

wendellets · 04-27-2009, 07:51 AM

I actually had a similar situation. My RE said not to correct the varicocele and theat there would be enough for IVF. So we went ahead and ended up going throught he whole thing only to find no moving sperm on the day of embryo retrieval. So, no fertilization. So I got a second opinion who said to fix the varicolele and we had 90% fertilization on the second attempt at IVF. It made a huge difference. I kow the repair doesn't work for everyone, but I wish we had done it first...

mk37994 · 04-27-2009, 08:18 PM

We had a similar situation, we did ivf prior to my varicocele repair, and nothing. After the surgery my dw got pg naturally. The re's dont want you to get pg on your own. What I did do as a just in case was have my sperm frozen should the surgery go south. My original count was 1.5 million with less then 2% normally shaped. Post surgery it was 4.5 million and with taking clomid the other parameters went to perfect levels.

Another thing to keep in mind the varicocele repair has about 5 different types of surgeries to correct it. Some have less success rates then others. Check out the following link it goes over the different types and rates.

http://www.maleinfertility.org/new-varicocele.html

I had the micro-surigcal but not by the doc listed in the above link.

MK

rose54 · 04-28-2009, 05:19 AM

Thanks MK
I just wonder why our RE wants us to do IUI first?? It seems that a lot of people on this board with Male IF are going to IVF first. His first SA was 4 Mill and the 10 MIL with a low motility of 20%. Maybe thats in the middle vs low? I just want to do whatever we can to get pg Also, out RE suggested we dont even do the surgery. I am starting to wonder if we are his best interest, its probably the money! How frusterating.

iMama · 04-28-2009, 08:10 AM

I don't know about variocele specifically, BUT, from all of my research on FT and online, I am very wary of Docs trying to get us to do iui when it may not be indicated.

I know iui works for some, but there have been studies that have shown that ivf is quicker and cheaper than doing iui, iui, iui, then ivf. KWIM?

Some people *are* good candidates for iui and those are the people who may want to do it. A lot of it also might depend on how much your iui's cost. 1 of the clinics I saw does iui with clomid for about $600 or less. Other clinics cost over $2000 for iui with injectibles.

This is one of the questions I ask when I interview RE's - "At what motility/count would you reccomend ivf versus iui and why?" I am looking for an honest and aggressive response.

One of the clinics said 5 mill+ motile = iui but said that we may still want to do ivf since the success rate is greater.

Another said 8 mill + motile = iui but that we may want to get a electroejaculation even if the count is not high enough to get more for an iui...

Good luck to you!

mk37994 · 04-28-2009, 03:49 PM

Rose,

The varicocele surgery if the varicocele is large does help and make a difference. I would talk to a male infertility urologist for you dh. They are experts on this matter.

MK

secretv2 · 05-07-2009, 10:00 AM

Hi-
DH just had the surgery two weeks ago.... The Urologist and with the oppinion of the RE suggested the Surgery would greatly help us! DH count was normal/above normal and the Dr's still suggested the Surgery. So will see....

Best of luck,
secretv2

mmi · 05-07-2009, 10:36 AM

Ask about morphology... that is more important than anything, well at least AS important. They didnt' check that in my dh till a couple years into the treatment and we spent thousands of dollars on IUI's that were unsuccessful.

superclam · 08-26-2009, 04:57 PM

My husband has a varicocele. SA results 4 years ago were suboptimal and his urologist said we could not conceive naturally. But we found out I was pregnant the same week of the SA! Now, 4 years later, my RE tells us that my DH SA is just fine. motility is about 47%, but count was very high, so they think no problem. My RE's office did not check morphology so that concerns me, because the urologist checked everything.

We are trying IUI now; I am currently in the 2ww of my 2nd cycle.

What does high testosterone levels in male indicate?

04-26-2009, 04:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
rose54 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 154	any successes with Male Varicocele and IUI?? Hello all, I am new to the forum and after a year of ttc, DH got Semen Analysis and has low count and low motility......on to the Urologist, he has a varicocele. SO off to the RE. He said to hold off on surgery of the varicocele, but lets get started on IUI. So this month I took clomid 25mg. Low dose because I do not have ovulation issues. So we have our first IUI this week and I am just hoping for the best but I am worried that after they wash the sperm, there will not be a lot. Has anyone has success with IUI's and a varicocele? Thanks for any advice

05-07-2009, 10:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
secretv2 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 21	Hi- DH just had the surgery two weeks ago.... The Urologist and with the oppinion of the RE suggested the Surgery would greatly help us! DH count was normal/above normal and the Dr's still suggested the Surgery. So will see.... Best of luck, secretv2 __________________ Me (31) DH (39) TTC Since 04/2005 (1) Failed Adoption 01/2008 DX - Me-PCOS, Rt. Tube Blocked & Stage 4 Endo/ DH-Varicocele Me-Surgery/Laparoscopic 06/08 (2) Complex Choc Cysts & Stage 4 Endo HSG During Surgery DX-Blocked Tube DH-Surgery/Microsurgical Approach 04/09 Varicocele/Varicoceletomy Me-10/09 Endometriosis Back

05-07-2009, 10:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
mmi 5000-9999 post king of hearts Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 6,471	Ask about morphology... that is more important than anything, well at least AS important. They didnt' check that in my dh till a couple years into the treatment and we spent thousands of dollars on IUI's that were unsuccessful. __________________ 3 years and 15 medicated cycles(clomid, injections, iui's, ivf's, fet, you name it) and 2 angels before finally getting princess 1 (1999) 2 injection cycles for princess 2(2002) Truly miracles! "Life isn't measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

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04-27-2009, 07:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
wendellets 300-399 post 5 of hearts Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Manchester, VT Posts: 346	I actually had a similar situation. My RE said not to correct the varicocele and theat there would be enough for IVF. So we went ahead and ended up going throught he whole thing only to find no moving sperm on the day of embryo retrieval. So, no fertilization. So I got a second opinion who said to fix the varicolele and we had 90% fertilization on the second attempt at IVF. It made a huge difference. I kow the repair doesn't work for everyone, but I wish we had done it first...

04-27-2009, 08:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
mk37994 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 154	We had a similar situation, we did ivf prior to my varicocele repair, and nothing. After the surgery my dw got pg naturally. The re's dont want you to get pg on your own. What I did do as a just in case was have my sperm frozen should the surgery go south. My original count was 1.5 million with less then 2% normally shaped. Post surgery it was 4.5 million and with taking clomid the other parameters went to perfect levels. Another thing to keep in mind the varicocele repair has about 5 different types of surgeries to correct it. Some have less success rates then others. Check out the following link it goes over the different types and rates. http://www.maleinfertility.org/new-varicocele.html I had the micro-surigcal but not by the doc listed in the above link. MK

04-28-2009, 05:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
rose54 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 154	Thanks MK I just wonder why our RE wants us to do IUI first?? It seems that a lot of people on this board with Male IF are going to IVF first. His first SA was 4 Mill and the 10 MIL with a low motility of 20%. Maybe thats in the middle vs low? I just want to do whatever we can to get pg Also, out RE suggested we dont even do the surgery. I am starting to wonder if we are his best interest, its probably the money! How frusterating.

04-28-2009, 08:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
iMama 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Northern CA Posts: 58	I don't know about variocele specifically, BUT, from all of my research on FT and online, I am very wary of Docs trying to get us to do iui when it may not be indicated. I know iui works for some, but there have been studies that have shown that ivf is quicker and cheaper than doing iui, iui, iui, then ivf. KWIM? Some people are good candidates for iui and those are the people who may want to do it. A lot of it also might depend on how much your iui's cost. 1 of the clinics I saw does iui with clomid for about $600 or less. Other clinics cost over $2000 for iui with injectibles. This is one of the questions I ask when I interview RE's - "At what motility/count would you reccomend ivf versus iui and why?" I am looking for an honest and aggressive response. One of the clinics said 5 mill+ motile = iui but said that we may still want to do ivf since the success rate is greater. Another said 8 mill + motile = iui but that we may want to get a electroejaculation even if the count is not high enough to get more for an iui... Good luck to you!

04-28-2009, 03:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
mk37994 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 154	Rose, The varicocele surgery if the varicocele is large does help and make a difference. I would talk to a male infertility urologist for you dh. They are experts on this matter. MK

08-26-2009, 04:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
superclam 200-299 post 4 of hearts Join Date: May 2009 Location: California Posts: 206	My husband has a varicocele. SA results 4 years ago were suboptimal and his urologist said we could not conceive naturally. But we found out I was pregnant the same week of the SA! Now, 4 years later, my RE tells us that my DH SA is just fine. motility is about 47%, but count was very high, so they think no problem. My RE's office did not check morphology so that concerns me, because the urologist checked everything. We are trying IUI now; I am currently in the 2ww of my 2nd cycle. What does high testosterone levels in male indicate?