high sperm dna fragmentation test

[y_ghazaly]

Has anyone tried an ICSI with IMSI? It's when they use a very powerful microscope 2 pick the healthiest sperm. It magnifies up to 12000 times compared to the regular 200 times with a traditional icsi. My dh has a v low count+low or no motility+high abnormalities 98%+high fragmentation all cuz of a drug he needs 2 take "colchicine". Our doctor strongly recommended an IMSI , but he's trying 2 get my dh 2 find an alternative drug 2 salvage any sperms whatsoever :-( we're supposed 2 start the ICSI with IMSI in jan 2011.

[Jillybean]

I have heard of it, but I haven't done it. There was a thread a while back about IMSI (no one had done it, they were just discussing it). I think some of the top fertility centers have it available and it is definitely an accepted treatment.

I had to do ICSI because my husband has between 0% and .5% strict morphology and his count is usually between 2-5 million. His sperm fragmentation test came back at 21%, so the RE did not recommend anything other than ICSI and antioxidants.

[twins2009]

Hello, I just found this thread and thought you could use some hope. My husband was diagnosed with high dna fragmentation in Dec. 2007. His dna frag. was 37%, this was after we had 5 failed iui's. The doctor told us our only option was ivf with icsi. We did our first ivf cycle at sirm st. louis and got pregnant with twins on our first try. I did have 35 eggs retrieved, 28 fertilized, 28 on day 3, and 6 made it to day 5. We transferred two and they both stuck. I do think the dna frag causes problems after day 3, which is why they like to tranfer on day 5(they know which ones are stronger). I was very lucky to have so many eggs to work with. I definately don't want to sound like I am gloating. Just wanted to let you all know that it can work. The website to the ivf clinic we used is haveababy.com.

[y_ghazaly]

thanks twins2009 we also have no other option other than icsi with imsi due 2 severe male factor (frag= 72% ) but it's really interesting 2 know that only 6 eggs made it to day 5 out of 28!! we had 3 icsi trials but the fertilized eggs wouldn't survive after day 3 & none implanted ...........later on i read that it was due 2 the severe fragmentation. Also the clinic didn't give my DH anything 2 improve the frag. or morphology......needless 2 say we changed the clinic to another one that focuses on treating male factor problems 1st before attempting any trials..........my DH was asked 2 lose at least 10 kgs (he's 132 kgs now = 291 lbs) & was given 2 antioxidants for 3 mths & was asked 2 lower his dose of colchicine - which he needs 2 take everyday - b4 our icsi with imsi trial. this is really as far as we can go ...........i really hope it works Also our new clinic has the tri-gas technology that enables embryos 2 survive till day 5 (strong ones that r more prone to grow & implant).

i have so much hope about this whole thing & i'm really keeping my fingers crossed

thanks everyone

[mattiejo]

My DH met with a male infertility urologist this summer and was tested for DNA fragmentation. The test came back 64% fragmentation. He has always had MF issues so we wanted to get the fragmentation tested. Since DH does not have any varicoles to repair, it is a mystery as to what is causing the fragmentation. So the urologist put him on antioxidants along with a two week regimen of antibiotics and some Ibuprofen. He started the antioxidants in August and the antibiotic regimen a few wks back. He took another HALO test last Monday and we just got the results back. His fragmentation went from 64% to 27% and it hasn't been three months yet since he started the antioxidants. I am not posting this to give anyone false hope. After 4 failed IVF's it is hard for me to have any hope, BUT, I am very surprised that his fragmentation went down so much. We are doing an IVF in January with TESE so I will post here with the results. I know there are people who are curious about TESE. We are going to just keep doing the therapy and see if good news finally comes our way.

[Jillybean]

Mattiejo- I think that is wonderful news about the fragmentation. My RE put my DH on a bunch antioxidants without testing his fragmentation. I guess he assumed he had poor fragmentation because his morphology was 0%, .5%, and 1%. DH been on the antioxidants for about ten months. When our new RE tested his fragmentation it was 21% and the RE said that was average. RE told him to stay on the antioxidants. 27% sounds pretty good to me!

Good Luck!

[daisylady]

Hi everyone. I'm new here and not sure I'm on a thread that can help but my question is about SEMEN VISCOSITY. Has anyone's DH been diagnosed with high semen viscosity? How do you treat it? What causes it? Can we conceive naturally or should we keep trying with IUIs???

[court]

We are doing an IVF in January with TESE so I will post here with the results. I know there are people who are curious about TESE. We are going to just keep doing the therapy and see if good news finally comes our way.

Good luck, and yes do keep us posted!

[mattiejo]

My DH had the TESE procedure done on Monday so I wanted to update and let anyone who is interested in TESE to know what happens. I know I was curious and I am sure there are others out there. The urologist first numbed the area with a numbing spray and then used a needle to numb the testicles. My DH said it did not hurt at all. He was very nervous going into this procedure, as was I. The doctor then made an incision that was about maybe a 1/2 inch. I am not sure how he extracted the sperm, as I was not there and my poor DH was staring up at the ceiling the whole entire time praying for it to be over. But as he would take out samples he would hand them to the embryologist from our clinic who would then examine them under the microscope to see if they were viable. Well, all went well and they got enough to freeze for several cycles, thank goodness my DH does not have to do this again! The embryologist then took the samples to his lab and we found out later that day that everthing looked good. My DH said that there was no pain during the entire procedure. He said it was just a little uncomfortable. The urologist told him that it is after the procedure that he will feel like he has been kicked in that area so he prescribed him percoset for the pain. On the way home my DH really started hurting bad and he has a high threshold for pain. But as soon as the pain meds took over he was fine. It has been now 5 days and he is doing really well just still a little sore. So I thought I would let you all know how the procedure went. Our ER/ET part of the IVF cycle will be in January. I will post with the results. Fingers crossed!

[Mondays]

That is really great to hear Mattiejo. Sounds like we will be hearing about a bfp very soon. The best of luck to you.