Is this really unexplained?

[amymike]

Not sure how to start this because there is so much information to sort through, so I will give the easiest details. Basically, we have been TTC since August of 2009 with no luck. In 2010 my husband saw a urologist who did a basic exam with sperm count and it was on the low end of normal. Dr. said it was no big deal and to keep trying. 2011 we started to price out clinics. Saved up enough to take out a loan and in 2012 started the treatments. As for me, I am in the clear, no blockages, get a period every month like clockwork and always ovulate.
Had our first IUI last month, (5 follicles on left side, 7 on the right) took my trigger shot when they told me to and was on Clomid for 5 days. Didn't need the Crynone gel b/c prog levels were 22 within a week of the procedure. Got a message Monday that my blood test came back negative and I was not pregnant. Told me to contact them when AF came to start again.
After looking at my husbands levels, I noticed that his levels were very low compared to what I have seen on the internet. 1.5 mil with 90% mot and then 1.5 mil with 97% mot but I see that anything under 10 mil is a waste of time. Now im scared that I am wasting money for something that wont happen with an IUI. Am I crazy to keep up hope that with his low count we can still do this? All the doctors say that his sperm are normal just low but that's not what I have been reading.
Does anyone have an advice or knowledge about this sort of thing?

[jenga12576]

It's not unexplained b/c u have a male factor diagnosis. The only thing not mentioned is what is the morphology of normal "shaped" sperm...this is important, u can have all the sperm in the world, if they are shaped wrong " specifically head" then they can't penetrate the egg even if they can swim great. find this out. The fastest way to success is ivf. IUI success rates are only a few percentages above natural conception, not a huge increase in chance of success. Jen

[amymike]

I have no idea is this is just bad or REALLY bad. They seriously just keep telling me, oh his sperm are fine, you are young, it will happen. But not according to what I read.

Test Two Test One
Turbidity normal normal
Viscosity >5 cm normal
Volume 0.8 mL 1 mL
Total Count 16 Million 26 Million
Motile 9 % 14 %
Non Motile 7 % 12%
% Motile 56% 54%
Total Motile Sperm 7.2 M/mL 14 M/mL
Post Processing Analysis
Volume 0.5 mL .5mL
Total Count 3.1 Million 3.3 Million
Motile 3 M/mL 3 M/mL
Non Motile 0.1 M/mL .3 M/mL
% Motile 97 90
Total Motile Sperm 1.5 M/mL 1.5 M/mL

[jenga12576]

they don't mention anything about the morphology which is important.... the post wash counts are low but have great motility.... it only takes one... but it can take a very long time doing iui/ or naturally trying... and may not ever happen..... no way to know.

Jen

[amymike]

I was able to find some past test results when he first tested back in late 2010 and the morphology was categorized as Enlarged heads, abnormal necks and pinheads. Not a clue what that means.

[TTCyears]

BTW - we are "unexplained" even though DH has mild MF and I had mild FF because although both may inhibite pg, they should not have completely prevented it. My DH improved his sperm count (permanently) with a Multivitamin, diet change and exercise. As I mentioned on my other reply, it took different vitamins "prescribed" by an RE to improve his sperm morphology (temporarily?).

[Robyn Nazar RN]

Hi,

I am so sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility.
It is a frustrating diagnosis, as you are left with so many unanswered questions.
Although 30% of women with infertility receive this diagnosis, it is often a misdiagnosis Have you considered changing your specialist?
Sometimes unexplained infertility is misdiagnosed in the place of endometriosis, tubal disease, premature ovarian aging and immunological infertility. Getting to the root of your infertility is important, as it can drive the direction of your treatment.

Best of Luck,
Robyn