Vasectomy reversal and low SE count

[bbs4us]

Hi ladies. I'm hoping its ok to come to this side of the forum as my husband and I are having fertility problems after his vasectomy reversal. We had our hopes up with a good initial SE counts at 120 million swimmers and now sitting at under 1 million. we are no longer actively trying because of this major decrease in count and the fact that its just plain disappointing to get my hopes up month after month with the likelihood of actually falling pregnant being so low.

I find myself trying so hard not to think about the low SE. If I start to think about it I will just break down in tears and lose it (which has happened a handful of times already).

To me at this point, IVF is not an option as I would like natural selection to take place and would not want to risk multiples. Please no offense to those going that route.

OH has been put on steroids to open the flood gates back up. We will have another SE in a month so we will hopefully get good news then.

Does anyone else have male infertility or low sperm count problems?


Effie

 

[LouiseB]

Hiya bbs4us Sorry about your situation

I haven't taken offense and only address what you said because cutting yourself off from what will very likely be your only option to conceive (IVF) will probably add a lot to your stress unnecessarily.

The simple fact is that natural selection does happen in IVF, even in ICSI.

It isn't a guaranteed baby. If nature dictates that the sperm and egg combination isn't right, there will still be no baby. Sure, the embryologist selects which sperm are offered up for nature to consider but ultimately the embryologist does not control the outcome - nature does.

You situation sounds like your partners antibodies have kicked in and started to kill off his own sperm cells in a huge way, so i'd start working on getting your head around IVF.

My husband has severe infertility and it's hard but you just have to get over all your little preconceived idealisms and suck it up if you want your own children with your partner.

I really do hope that the steroids help, but it isn't very likely xx

 

[bbs4us]

Thanks Lou. I know that It's very silly of me to feel this way about IVF and thank you for your kind words. I am trying to have a more open mindset about it. But its really hard to when we were told 92% success rates on the vasectomy reversal. His antibody binding had dropped at one point and we got our hopes up that it would keep dropping. We were also told that 60% of VR patients go through the count drop and that the steroids usually help. We will see.. We had such high hopes for this expensive procedure that we really want it to work as it has for so many other VR patients.
In the future, IVF is not completely out of the question but I cannot give up on the VR just yet as it was only May when he had the surgery.

 

[Kay Kay]

Hi Effie, I'm not in the same situation but just wanted to say hi and offer a hug.

I'm over 2 and a half years ttc and have been through every emotion and it's such a rollercoaster. And that's with 'nothing wrong' with either of us

Hope you don't have to go down the IVF route hun and feel free to post in here as the ladies are lovely and offer good advice xxx

 

[bbs4us]

Thanks so much Kay Kay. Yes, its quite an emotional rollercoaster and I feel bad for my OH having to deal with me... Especially after yesterday's bad breakdown. :-/ I really needed to vent and hear some kind words so thank you very much. I can't wait until October 17th when we go back for testing. Fingers crossed!

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[Kay Kay]

I know how you feel, I got AF today and my oh looked gutted I could have just burst in to tears but after all these months I can't even muster tears now. I'm numb to it in a way even though I feel.quite emotional? Don't think that made any sense!

Getting some support from the ladies on here can make such a difference cos its such an isolating and lonely thing to go through. But you're not alone in this hun. Just stay strong and hopefully our dreams will come true soon xxxx

 

[bbs4us]

I know how you feel, I got AF today and my oh looked gutted I could have just burst in to tears but after all these months I can't even muster tears now. I'm numb to it in a way even though I feel.quite emotional? Don't think that made any sense!

Getting some support from the ladies on here can make such a difference cos its such an isolating and lonely thing to go through. But you're not alone in this hun. Just stay strong and hopefully our dreams will come true soon xxxx

Thanks hun. I'm sorry to hear the witch came for you today. It's so frustrating to get her month after month. But your time will come just keep your chin up. I know exactly what you mean about the numb feeling but still feeling emotional. I used to be that way from my ex husband emotional abusing and an MC. I'm hoping I don't get there again as I just recently discovered I can cry again (or maybe its better not to have the puffy eyes from crying).
I'm trying to stay as positive as possible but its so hard with the added stress of our wedding on October 13th.... Eek! I feel like I need a break from it all!

It's so hard to hear about women who have been trying for a month who get pregnant right away. I feel like I can't even read the threads anymore that BFPs are announced on.. like the October thread. It's devastating to read one after another and feel a bit of that numb feeling setting in...

Well off to distract myself with work and maybe sneak a chapter in of Fifty Shades of Grey.

I too hope our dreams come true very soon! Xx

 

[JJ Mum]

bbs4us - sorry your having sperm issues since the VR. I was really anti IVF, knew it was an option but never was what I wanted, and so I think I had put it at the back there. Until the consultant I went to to dicuss Tubal reversal for me, basically laid it all on the table and said tubal reversal wouldn't work and IVf was the only real chance for me! I burst into tears, cried all the way driving home and some more!
Then suddenly three days later, I rang them back and asked to be refered for ivf and have never looked back since. What i'm trying to say is, I hope you don't have to use that route, and that the steroids get the sperm count back and sorted and natural conception happens soon for you, but it's amazing how different things look once other options are removed.

I have a friend on here who's hubby has had a TR (sure she won't mind me saying) ,after thinking she would have to go down other avenues, concieved naturally and had a lovely baby boy.

Wishing you lots of luck with the ttc and the upcoming wedding X

 

[Kay Kay]

Wow good luck for the wedding & congrats! That is so exciting! Something else to focus on is always good, esp.something as exciting as your wedding! The last few weeks were quite panicky for me too before my big day. I didn't get my dress back from the alterations lady until 2 days before the wedding! Ah well, it all worked out we had a fantastic day and at the end of the day we did what we set out to do and got wed

Sorry to hear you've gone through such hard times in the past. That is terrible hun. I think when you go through such bad times it changes you forever. I've certainly 'hardened' in the last few years. I used to be mega emotional and cry over anything. Now I see that as a luxury if that makes sense? Sometimes I wish I could go back to the innocent me who had never felt all this pain. I've got to just keep telling myself its making me stronger not breaking me.

All the best to you hun, let us know how the wedding and hubbys SA goes xxx

 

[bbs4us]

Well my hubby is now at 2 million sperm as of Oct 17th. His previous count was under 1 million. So while its not much of an improvement, its still better than it was. They say the swimmers that are present are strong. He is still on steroids and icing every night as they recommended. We go back in November for another analysis so we will see if it goes up even more. I'm trying to stay positive. It's so tough sometimes. Do any of you ladies think this little increase is much of a good sign?

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[hayes]

Hi hun dont know much about sperm counts but just wanted to say good luck and fx for a bfp for you real soon.

Michelle. x

 

[bbs4us]

Ty hun. Xx

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[bbs4us]

Hey ladies. Just and update -

Hubby is still under 3 million sperm and 1 million motile. I just can't believe this is happening to us. He hasn't responded to the prednisone so now he is going to take methylprednisolone pack. I am so completely upset with all of this. I just want to be a mommy.

life is cruel.

Another reversal is NOT what we expected to have to go through. Vasectomys should NOT exist!!!

I'm sorry... I had to vent. I am just livid and depressed about all this.