Surgical sperm retrieval- our last option

[elsie15]

Hi,

So we have our consultation next week to decide on two options of SSR. I dint actually know the names of each. I am aware that one is pretty much straight forward and the other is more in depth with a much longer waiting time.

Anyway, we have not been able to obtain any motile sperm. We were supposed to start IVF in Feb but have not been able to obtain suitable sperm, so we have been told that this is our very last hope of retrieving it.

Has anyone ever been through this process with 0% motile sperm and managed to retrieve motile sperm through SSR? I am clinging onto every last bit of hope after a very difficult few years with this.

I am aware his sperm is viable but they can only tell because they have dyed the sperm but it can’t be used once dyed.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

Xx

[Crabonks]

Hi there, my partner had a vasectomy 3 years ago (after having five kids) and he had sperm retrieved in October for our ICSI. On the day, they tried five times to remove what they wanted from his testicles with the needle (again I don't know the exact terms) but failed and so had to 'go deeper' and surgically remove it, then got lots - which is I think the two versions of SSR?

When it came to fertilisation of my 18 eggs, only 4 were fertilised. The doc said it may have been because of (my age, or) his vasectomy as a lot of his sperm was dead. They also dyed it to see the ones alive and moving around but he didn't say they weren't able to then use it - in fact I'm sure they must have done?

We ended up with two 5 day embryos to send off for PGS and one is ready to be transferred in January.

Did they cut him open to get in to the sperm or just go in with the needle?

[Duardo19]

Hi Elsie,

The hospital found no viable sperm at all in my partner's samples, due to him having had chemo as a child. We were told that Micro TESE SSR was our only option and we didn't have much hope at all. We were able to collect a couple of "straws" which were suitable for ICSI (taken from both sides, although only one incision) however not the best quality. My partner said although it wasn't pleasant, it wasn't unmanageable pain. We did actually get pregnant from one egg fertilising, although this ended up ectopic unfortunately.

We then decided to go private and my partner stopped drinking and took supplements etc and he had the procedure a second time, this time resulting in better quality sperm. 10 out of 14 eggs fertilised and we managed to get three five day embryos. The first fresh transfer unfortunately was a BFN but my frozen transfer gave me my baby boy who will be 5 months old on Christmas day.

We honestly never ever thought it would happen for us and still don't quite believe it.

If your consultant has suggested SSR then you have every reason to be hopeful. I really hope you get your happy ending, I know how tough it is but it's amazing what they can do.

Take care good luck and please keep us updated x

[Ladypii]

Hello,

Sorry you’re in this position.

My husband has azoospermia. So he has zero sperm coming out of any kind, motile or not! Worst male diagnosis you can get really. We had a Micro-Tese operation in tandem with an IVF-ICSi cycle in July and successfully retrieved sperm. We ended up with 2 good embryos and im 5 months pregnant with one of them. It is possible and can definitely work. It’s also worth noting that sperm found in the testicles can sometimes be better quality as DNA sperm damage occurs on ejaculated sperm, and patients with high DNA damage are recommended to have a SSR to get better quality sperm. Its definitely worth undertaking some diet/lifestyle changes and taking supplements beforehand though, as it will improve the overall sperm that is retrieved.

Best of luck xx

[Ginny27]

Hi Elsie, I've had a few different experiences with this. My husband had SSR in July and this was using fine needle aspiration and biopsy. Although it was successful and they did get some sperm, none of the sperm was motile. They froze it and when they defrosted it they did the process you described with the dye and used some of it for ICSI. Although we had some fertilisation we didn't have any embryos make it to blastocyst.

We did another round in November and this time they were able to extract sperm using fine needle aspiration and it was motile so they used fresh sperm. We had better fertilisation rate and did have some embryos make it to blastocyst (we are now on pause because I had OHSS so need a break). He was more dedicated to taking supplements and not drinking the second time, so maybe that helped.

I have everything crossed for you that you can have a successful extraction, I know how stressful it is. I didnt want to try again after our first failed round but my husband did and I'm glad we tried. Best of luck and let us know how it goes XX