Teratozoospermia

[onelifeonechance]

Hi all,

I have posted in the conception thread but have been advised to post here to see if anyone is going through the same thing or can share some wisdom.

I'm 32 my husband is 34, we've been ttc #1 with no hint of bfp and currently on cycle 9. I got fed up with the emotional roller coaster of it all and went to gp who has done bloods on me and SA on dh. My bloods have come back fine and show I'm oving (day 21 p was 80.1) but dh's SA has shown he has teratozoospermia. No antibodies, Count was good at 60million+ and progressive motility was 70% but the morphology was 1%. GP admitted he didn't know much more and has referred us to the fertility clinic.

I've obviously come home and googled like crazy, everything pointing to ICSI. Is this others experience or am I getting carried away? Others have suggested a retest which seems a good place to start and presuming that will be done at the clinic??

Basically I have no clue and we are a bit shocked about all this so any thoughts/info welcome. Thanks

[Happilymarried155]

It's always good to have a retest in three months. My dh results have varied drastically. He too has low morphology. We are currently doing our third iui. The first did work but ended in miscarriage so other options do work.
I have also researched it a lot and it seems that we don't know about morphology, my doctor says that if count is ok you should still be able to conceive but that hasn't happened so far!

Good luck x

[onelifeonechance]

Thanks Happily. Sorry to hear of your miscarriage, that must be so hard, fingers crossed for you for this cycle, third time lucky hopefully hey?

So is there a reason they offered you iui over ICSI? And if it's not too nosey a question is the NHS funding it? I've had a look at what my CCG funds and it says 1 cycle of ivf but doesn't mention iui or ICSI.

[Happilymarried155]

I think they thought that it was worth doing as that was the only thing they could find wrong with us. It depends on factors such as age as well I guess, we are 29 so they think we have the time to try the less invasive methods first. If time is on your side iui is very simple and stress free.

We had three funded iuis and then we have an ivf meeting booked if this last round doesn't work. We will get one round of ivf funded too.x

[onelifeonechance]

Thanks for that and glad to hear it is not too stressy a thing! Does iui involve drugs at all? I'm not bothered with them poking me or scans or bloods or whatever it takes, it's the medication I'm not so keen on. But if that's what it takes....

Really hope you don't need to go to your ivf meeting then Best of luck x

[Happilymarried155]

I was exactly the same as you, I never even take a paracetamol! It varies from different clinics at mine I have clomid from days 2-6, and then injections on days 7, 9 and 11. I go in for a scan on cd5 and cd11 and then normally I have the iui on cd 13. It sounds a lot but you get used to it, plus it's all over so quickly! I know some people do get a few side effects but I've been pretty lucky and only had a few hot flushes!

Good luck in whatever you decide to do xx

[onelifeonechance]

How are you getting on happily?

Af got me yst so on cycle 10 now. I'm still waiting for clinic letter but have spoken to the secretary and have been told it should be sometime before end of March so not too long to wait in the grand scheme of things I suppose!

[Happilymarried155]

We had a successful iui in August but it ended in miscarriage at 10 weeks :(

Just done our third and final iui and in the 2ww if this fails we start ivf in the next cycle. I've got all my fingers crossed that this iui works! It did before so no reason it won't again!

How are you? X

[Happilymarried155]

Just re read your post-the waiting is the worst part isn't it-I feel like I'm constantly waiting for something! X

[onelifeonechance]

Aw good luck with it, got my fingers crossed for you. And yes you're quite right, it has worked for you before so that is a very good sign and more reason to be positive that it can happen again. Whereabouts in the 2ww are you? Hope it's not dragging too much. Let me know how you get on. And you're right, the waiting is always the hardest part, but the thing I always try and keep hold on to is that once we finally get there and we're holding that baby in our arms, all the waiting will be more than worth it Good luck!

[Happilymarried155]

I'm half way through at the moment, my last cycle got cancelled as I had too many follies but this was a pretty perfect cycle so fingers crossed!!

What's your next step in March? X

[onelifeonechance]

Ooo you're on the homeward straight now then, best of luck!

No idea! It will be our first fertility clinic appt in March so suppose just see what they say and go with the flow!!!! (She says breezily as if it's that simple!!)

[Shellster52]

My hubby has 100% abnormal morphology. About to embark on our 4th IVF. Like you, when we first got that diagnosis, I googled like crazy. Gave him all the supplements in the world for 3 months and retested. His count and motility but morp remained 100% abnormal. I believe diet and exercise is the only thing that can improve morph but frustratingly, hubbies habits haven't improved. Have a friend who's husband was overweight and sperm was also 100% abnromal. He then got a health scare and went on a health kick, lost weight and exercised and his morph improved. So my belief (with no scientific proof) is that diet and exercise plays a big role. Can I ask about your husbands diet and wieght. Just curious if you can add to my theory that this is the cause.

It's a bit of a shock when you first get that diagnosis. I actually didn't ovulate for 3 months after we found out and can only put it down to the stress of that result and knowing that we would need IVF. But I think better to know as we at least know the problem so we can work around it.

[onelifeonechance]

Hi shellster. Course you can ask, I've asked far more personal questions on here!! We'll I'm not sure whether I help your theory, although I do think diet and exercise are a contributory factor regarding morphology - based purely on my extensive google research over the last few weeks, now feel I am an expert in sperm ;) My dh eats a really good diet, loads of fish, fruit and veg, he nearly always picks the healthy option out (I'm sat there with steak and chips, he with white fish and veg!!) At home we mostly have whole foods, make own cakes etc. Drink wise he's not a big drinker, likes a beer but is happy on a night out with 2-3 pints tops (and we're not out loads). He's healthy weight, cycles to work (I was wondering if this may be a factor but it's not a long cycle and he's not keen to stop unless he really has to because he enjoys it) So since we've got the results we've started him on male fertility vits, and we've both agreed no drinking at all at home but we can have a glass if we fancy it when out with friends (just so life doesn't become too sad and we have no idea how long this is all going to take) I initially said no booze at all, but think that feels bit much at this stage, although I argue with myself about this daily, can't decide whether to cut it out completely or odd glass of wine couple of times a month prob not going to hurt and makes the waiting slightly nicer!
So because of all this I was shocked with our results as I think of him as v healthy. I'm presuming the clinic will recheck him in a few months so I'll let you know the results, but biggest thing we're doing differently is the vitamins but I don't feel overly confident about them....

Is your dh receptive to making changes? Or is it just that he did but now it's slipped with time? I think all of this is so difficult, I really wish someone could just tell us when it is going to happen as it's the not knowing that's hard to take. How have you found the ivf? Hope you're getting along ok, sounds like you're having a rocky ride with it all. Hang in there and best of luck for this round

[Happilymarried155]

That's the same as my husband he is the healthiest person I know! It's so annoying when there doesn't seen to be anything you can do to improve it! X

[Shellster52]

Well that blows my theory right out of the water chance. I guess that is a good thing so that I am not so resentful towards my husband for his junk food and no exercise habits. Interesting that you mention he cycles to work and wonder if that could be the cause. My husband pulled our bathroom apart 4 years ago so we have been forced to have baths ever since. I try to encourage him to finish the renovation as I wonder if him soaking in hot baths is the cause but he STILL hasn't done it (a side effect of the laziness I speak of!). I plan on saving for someone else to do it but right now can't afford it as all my money is going into IVF. Ironically, perhaps if the bathroom was fixed, we wouldn't need IVF!?!

IVF is exactly as you say... it's the not knowing that is tough. As each one passes and fails, it makes it more of a reality that it might never happen. All the injections and operations are nothing in comparison to the emotional stress of not knowing.

[onelifeonechance]

Shellster, I think that sadly is a very good description. I obviously haven't experienced ivf yet but I just know it's not the physical bit of it that I'm worried about, it's the emotional side of the whole process. Hang in there and I'm wishing you lots of luck with it all

PS if it's any consolation our bathroom is in need of repair too!!!