Anyone been referred due to low/poor sperm issue?

[cornishfairy]

Many of you may already know, I'm anxiously awaiting a letter confirming our first appointment at the hospital after being referred by our doc due to low count and high percentage of abnormal sperm. My blood tests seem to show i'm ovulating and I have no reasons to suspect anything is particularly wrong with my fertility.
I'm wondering what we can expect when we go for our first appointment.
If they know hubby's sperm is bad, would there be a chance they'd just go straight for ivf treatment or would they still do all the various tests like ultrasound, laparoscopy etc on me before doing any treatment? It sounds silly after waiting 3.5 years for our baby already, but I'm feeling so impatient I just want them to crack on with it! But at the same time, I'd love to hear from ladies who've been referred for the same reason, because if it's likely they'll go through all the various tests/procedures on me first, I'd like to mentally prepare myself for that. Any help is much appreciated!! X

 

[ScotchEgg]

What's his count like? It may depend on how serious a mf issue it is.

We were the same. Got referred to hospital with count of 0.6M/mil and low motility and morphology. I had no issues and was ovulating.

Because icsi is the only option at that level we were referred for all the remaining tests in one go - all the bloods, ultrasound, hsg, more detailed sa, chlamydia, think that was it at our first hospital appointment. We went back 3 months later to review the results and were referred to another hospital for treatment. We started our first cycle about 3 months after the referral.

I know our area is very quick - very strict about qualifying for treatment but if you do there's no waiting lists. The time from referral to treatment can vary a lot across the country.

 

[cornishfairy]

Oh wow that is quick. We only got results for the first one, the second we just had a letter from docs saying it was still low and abnormal so they were processing the referral. The first test was something like 10million, 40% motility and 97% abnormal. As yet we have no idea if the second one was the same or worse. We were hoping it'd be better as hubby has been on a massive health kick (although he's very into health & fitness anyway) as well as taking his vits religiously. Hope we aren't waiting too much longer for our appointment. Feel a bit in limbo! X

 

[ScotchEgg]

I think it was about 8 weeks from gp referral to hospital appointment for us

 

[cornishfairy]

Cool. It's been 3 weeks since our doc sent us a letter to say we'd been referred, one week since we sent the fertility clinic a questionnaire in the post (which they called us to say they'd received a week ago today). Hope it's not much longer. Just knowing the appointment date would be good so we have a little mini goal Must have a read of your blog! Xx

 

[ScotchEgg]

I always found appointments easier to wait for when we knew what date they'd be. It's so hard when you don't have timescales. I hope you get yours through soon

 

[YvonneM]

Hi there yes my hubby has severe male fertility issues with a count less than two mil. We wer referred to urologist first who did several tests on hubby, I had a chlamydia swab nd day 21 bloods done all fine. My hubby has recently undergone varacocele removal and we hav been referred to fertility clinic I've heard n my area tho it can take about a year to b called up tho so we jus need to be patient we have been told that ICSI for us too is only way forward xxx

 

[cornishfairy]

What's the difference between icsi and ivf? I've read up so many times but can never remember! Is icsi where they 'filter' the sperm and inject it when you're ovulating? X

 

[cornishfairy]

Oh I've just realised I'm confusing it with iui. So many terms to try and remember!! Sounds like icsi is what we'd have to do then. Sorry the wait is so long in your area Yvonne
Someone we knew went through ivf in the same area as us, they aren't close friends so we don't know much but they did say it all happened pretty fast but they had to hold off due to illness. Not 100% sure what their fertility issue was or how many ivf rounds they did but the fact they said it could have happened faster if they hadn't postponed it gives me some hope.
Another question you ladies may know the answer to is - if we are offered, for example, 3 rounds of icsi, and the first round results in more than one blastocyst so they freeze some, if we were unsuccessful first time round and had to go back to try some of the frozen ones, does the transfer of the 'defrosted' blasts count as your second round? Or is that all included in your first round?
Sorry, I know I'll get answers to these questions from the clinic eventually but I'm so impatient!! X

 

[ScotchEgg]

Our area offers 3 fresh cycles and up to 2 frozen transfers per fresh cycle if there are embryos available.

in ivf they mix sperm and eggs in a dish and leave them to find each other but with icsi they select sperm and inject them directly into the egg. I can't remember what the cut off is in terms of healthy sperm numbers between the two though.

 

[gemmainthesun]

I had all tests, although we are Spain so maybe different x

 

[FBTTN8079]

Hey hon my OH has low counts and percentages so we are waiting for the consultant appt after my hsg in October

The spermies doctor said that iUi would be unlikely to be successful and would recommended going straight with Ivf

So guess we just have to wait and see x


BabyDust *****

 

[cornishfairy]

Thanks, so they are putting you through some other tests first then just to make sure you're ok before they do the ivf? When did you have your first appointment with the clinic after your doc referred you? Xx

 

[FBTTN8079]

Well because my bmi was high they wouldn't do the hsg but now that's down they've booked that but consultant wont see us till that's done x

It was about 3/4 weeks after gp referred us x


BabyDust *****

 

[gemmainthesun]

i had quite a few tests even once they knew the problem was with DH

 

[cornishfairy]

We've had the letter arrive with the appt date of sept 24th - something to aim for at last! I'm wondering what will happen at this first appointment, it's all so nerve wracking!! Glad I have you ladies here to talk to! X

 

[FBTTN8079]

Ah well that's great Hun not too long to wait, is this the first appt with fertility or have u been before? X


BabyDust *****

 

[cornishfairy]

This is the first one. Before now we've just had bloods and SA done via the GP. Not sure what to expect from this first appointment. X

 

[FBTTN8079]

Hey hon how r u? Not long to wait now till your appointment x


BabyDust *****

 

[cornishfairy]

I'm good thanks, now it's getting closer it seems quite surreal!! Just interested to find out what happens at this first one and if they'll give us an idea of timescales for tests/treatment. Will keep you posted!! X