How to get the best sperm for ISCI/IVF

[Eeek]

Hi

Just wondering...in preparation for egg collection, does anyone know what the optimum number of days are between ejaculation, for my partner to produce the best possible quality of sperm? Does that make sense, I wasn't quite sure how to word it xx

[genten]

My clinic advised not to do anything for 2 days before but no more than 3.

Good luck. xx

[Eeek in reply to genten]

Thanks, that's good to know. xx

[staceymac83]

My clinic advises the same as genten, they will probably remind u if this as ur approaching egg collection.

Good luck xx

[Eeek in reply to staceymac83]

great, thanks xx

[Billywhizz10]

I was 'lucky' enough to get my corporate insurance to pay for extensive investigations under urology when I told the private doctor through work I had a diagnosis of low sperm count. I was able to get genetic tests on my sperm, ultrasounds on my testes, etc, I was under the care of a top Harley street Urologist.

He told me the way to get best sperm sample and its pretty graphic, so please excuse the language.

If its (for example) the 14th - your other half is due to give his sample, I was told between the 1st and 7th, masturbate every day (yes , every day) then abstain for the week leading up to giving a sample. Also take selenium supplements, of course he should be wearing loose underwear ( boxer shorts) no smoking, give up booze, and generally try and be as healthy as possible ( good BMI, etc).

There is no miracle cure, a super healthy, perfect, young sperm sample and perfect, young egg still might not work, IVF is definitely a case of hoping for the best, planning for the worst.

Best of luck to you xx

[Vero28 in reply to Billywhizz10]

Hi Billywhizz10, thank you for sharing that. Did your urologist find the cause or reasons after all your investigations? Did you only have low sperm? Or is your morphology also affected?

Veronica

[Eeek in reply to Billywhizz10]

Hi Billywhizz10, yes thanks for sharing. That is really really interesting and quite different from the other advice. Is the theory that you 'flush out' the weaker making it stronger ? xx

[Billywhizz10 in reply to Eeek]

I think so. The consultant said if a man abstains for say more than a week, the volume is high, but you have lots of dead sperm in there.

It can do no harm in asking the doctor for their opinion, just tell them a friend was advised this by a urologist consultant and see what their opinion is.

x

[Billywhizz10]

Hi, for me it was the count that was the problem, good sperm but in low numbers. We traced it back to some trauma in testes I had as a child, plus I was taking a lot of steroids for a lung condition that was killing production.

Its very confusing the info out there on sperm production, I can only go on what my urologist said. Interestingly at the nhs and private IVF clinics we've used, the NHS said 2 to 7 days, the private clinic said 3. Neither of them were really that helpful in how to produce the best sample.

But if his sperm sample results were good and he's being healthy, he's doing everything he can do. I'd tell him to pick up some Selenium supplements from the chemists though, and remember any improvements to sperm quality takes 3 months to work itself through to a sperm sample.

Best of luck x

[Hidden]

Its very much and art and I think depends on the individual. Some papers have indicated that the technique of every day release helps to get the freshest sperm with least oxidative damage. However my partner was advised against that as he would likely have no sperm left at all for EC day. Good luck.