We have recently found out my husband has azoospermia and will need a consultation/ blood tests with a urologist, followed by (hopefully) a surgical sperm retrieval for icsi.
However, the wait for the urology consultation is 5 months and then potentially same again or longer for actual procedure. Meaning it's going to be over a year before we can even try icsi.
Is anyone else having this issue??
Hello! Not in same boat re waiting but I wanted to reach out as no one had replied yet.
We too have been diagnosed with Azoospermia, NOA to be specific. We found out at the start of this year and since then have been in the cycle of having tests, going to a consultation, tweaking meds and then waiting for the tests to roll back round again.
We're hoping that next month my husband will have FNA Mapping and then following that (if we have good news!) SSR timed with ICSI.
We've gone private by default as we had been ttc for under a year so decided to have some tests done privately. Following the results we were referred to a Urologist who no longer works for the NHS and so we've just continued down the private route.
I've not been on this forum long but finding it hugely comforting just knowing that we are not alone with the challenges we are facing! I hope you get some answers soon. I'm finding the unknown probably one of the most stressful things! xx
Thanks so much for getting back to me! Sorry to hear you're going through similar, it's such a rubbish (and unexpected!) diagnosis, but hearing others experiences definitely helps feel less alone.
I think, based on hormone tests and GP examination, my husband has OA but waiting to see urologist to have that confirmed. Totally agree, the waiting and unknown is the absolute worst! We are going private route too but had no idea this would involve so much waiting.
It sounds like you have made quite a lot of progress since the start of the year, which is great. I really hope the mapping goes well 🤞🏼 x
Thank you, I hope you get your diagnosis soon so you can start to move forward with the next steps! xx
Hi! My husband was told he was bordering azoospermia when we were first referred to a fertility consultant. He was referred to a urologist but the urologist has been a bit useless and a year later just told us we needed IVF. Needless to say we already knew that and were already going down that route! We did our own research while waiting to hear back from the urologist so he started taking Impryl. We're now waiting to start our first cycle of ICSI and the Impryl has made enough of a difference so that he doesn't need SSR anymore and can produce his own sample.
Are you eligible for NHS funded IVF? If so I'd ask to get the wheels in motion now to secure funding asap so that atleast that is happening while you're waiting for your urologist appointment. Xx
Wow that's brilliant your husband had managed to avoid SSR! What a relief for you both. Can't believe how slow your urologist was though 🙄 it seems like we have to know as much as we can to ensure everything keeps moving - such a fine line between advocating and being pushy.
We are in Scotland so are eligible for 3 rounds but haven't even had first consultation after being referred in January so going to have to stick with private for now. Definitely going to get on NHS list asap though x
Hi E-MD I'm sorry to hear about this long wait you have! It is so bloody frustrating! Especially when your just ready to start the process. Not the same but similarly my husband waited 5 months for his urologist consultation in 2019, booked in for varicocele surgery feb 2020 which was cancelled then covid happened and we have just been told hes still on the list for surgery but they don't know when it will be because of a back log. Your procedure is different so I hope it won't be as much as a delay for you! But seems like delays with urologist across the board. With covid now calming down in hospitals I hope it will speed up the process for you! Weve taken the time to try and get as fit and healthy as possible ready for the next steps but only so many avocados I can eat 😂 before covid, once he had the consultantation things did move quicker I hope its the same for you both. X
Hi thanks for getting back to me. I can't believe how long you have been waiting for varicocele surgery 😱 is that NHS? We have been referred to urologist both privately (5 months) and NHS (no indication of timescales - not promising 😂). It's so frustrating!!
Things are looking a lot more promising with covid now so hopefully we can all start taking some positive steps. I really shouldn't be complaining, it must have been much worse this time last year when things were being cancelled and there were no signs of covid going away. Back then I was blissfully ignorant still thinking we would conceive naturally.
I do wish I could go back and train as a urologist though - clearly this is where the money is 😂 x
Haha you have a point there it definitely is! I was so mad last year because it got cancelled before covid due to 'not having specialist equipment'. We are doing ivf whilst waiting for the surgery but I'm hoping the surgery will help us conceive naturally! We are with NHS, unfortunately I'm not surprised they have said dont know a timeframe with NHS as our local hospital said the same in 2019 but one further out had space for him. If your going private I'm hoping it won't be too long for you! We have thought about private but now we have waited so long might as well see it through! As hes on their year long waiter list now. Honestly as soon as it is was viewed as a 'male factor problem'seems like its just not as straight forward at all! Our fertility clinic seems to think the surgery won't help but at this point we will give anything a shot. I miss being blissfully ignorant!
Hi there, my husband has never even seen a urologist! He was diagnosed with azoospermia and has had 2 successful surgical sperm retrievals. We had the blood tests done through NHS, and one ssr. But we didn't have success. Through our own research and moving to a private clinic, his second ssr on the same day as egg collection was vastly improved, through lifestyle and supplements. We joined the clinic in the February and he had would have been going ahead in March if it wasn't for lockdown, but we didn't have to wait at all. Perhaps it's worth asking if a urologist is necessary, perhaps a consultant can do all of the necessary investigations for you. Wishing you lots of luck xxx
A date for M-TESE (surgical sperm retrieval)
Successful sperm retrieval!!!
Surgical sperm extraction or donation? 
SPERM RETRIEVAL TOMORROW 😱
Sperm retrieval 
