Poor motility and poor morphology treatment

[Madeline_1986]

Dear All.

Husbands sperm morphology is 1% and also poor motility. Would urologist help with this kind of diagnosis? I will add photoas well. Xx

[Llizzie]

We found a urologist invaluable. In the meantime, you might want to start hubby on Proceive Max or Proxeed Plus. They are pricey but they can improve numbers. We were also recommended the Mediterranean diet (reduce alcohol to a few a week preferably red wine or ale and cut out processed food to just treats) and loose boxers, plus reduce hot baths. You can improve numbers with lifestyle changes but they take time so if you start them now you’ll be ahead of the game when you start. We budged my husbands motility from 12% to 44% with lifestyle changes alone.

His motility looks on the lower end of normal so definitely not disastrous.

Try not to throw everything at hubby straight away - it’s a hard diagnosis for men to get, they take it very differently to women - which was partly why we saw a urologist. Also do the changes with him so he doesn’t feel like he’s alone. You could also encourage him to check out HIMfertility and follow KnackeredKnackers on Instagram - there is a growing number of male voices on this topic x

[Madeline_1986 in reply to Llizzie]

Hi Llizzie. Thank you for your reply. Appreciate it. You gave me so much valuable information. Is seing urologist helped you to decide on which treatment you chosen?

I am just thinking if we see urologist and get a help can we avoid IVF? My also have low AMH level. So I think it would be better if we get pregnant naturally or with IUI. Xx

[Llizzie in reply to Madeline_1986]

I was hoping we could avoid IVF but my husband had his DNA fragmentation tested (comet test) but the results were very poor (52%). The urologist identified a likely cause - my husband has a large varicoele and two hernias in his groin. So we were told to go to IVF given my age.

Some urologists operate on varicoeles or embolise them. It doesn’t always work but it can. But my husband has a complicated heart condition and damage to his veins so they didn’t want to risk his health. Plus you have to wait six months till after the op to test sperm quality and at 38, nearly 39, I didn’t have that time. So instead we went really heavy into lifestyle changes and we got lucky that our embryo stuck around. We didn’t manage to get any more so I think this will be our only shot as I’ll be 40 when baby is born. But given we thought we’d have to use donor sperm or adopt it’s a lot further than we thought we’d get. xx

[Madeline_1986 in reply to Llizzie]

That's amazing, congratulations. Have you used ICSI or IVF? Our doctor is suggesting ICSI. Xx

[Llizzie in reply to Madeline_1986]

We had ICSI + IMSI (which uses a stronger microscope). x

[Madeline_1986 in reply to Llizzie]

Thank you for all of your help hun. May i also ask please where did you do IVF with ICSI and IMSI ? Would you recommend any doctor and clinic? If you could pm me would be great. Xxx

[soccerkt6]

Hi Madeline

I strongly support Llizzie's suggestion to see a urologist. If your husband's only issues are low morphology and motility, then lifestyle changes and supplements might be enough to improve things to where you can try naturally. But it's also possible that your husband has high sperm DNA fragmentation, in which case you'd want to do further investigations to try to pinpoint the cause and then figure out treatment. A urologist who specialises in male fertility, like Dr Ramsay, will be able to guide you through all of these things.

As an aside, if you don't have it already, I would purchase private health insurance for your husband before you see a urologist, in case the investigations turn up anything like a varicocele. xx

[Madeline_1986 in reply to soccerkt6]

Hi Hun thank you so much for the advice. Did you hubs have had any symptoms of varicocele ? My hubs doesnt have any symptoms at all. But he had in the past laser kidney stones removal. Xx

[soccerkt6 in reply to Madeline_1986]

Hiya, my husband had no symptoms of varicocele so they first time we learned about it was at the urologist appointment. They did a physical exam and thought they saw something, so then did an ultrasound to confirm xx

[Milly2021]

Hi Madeline, we went to see a urologist after 2 failed rounds. Weirdly after spending a fortune on tests including Comet, his results came back good so we think his supplements are hopefully making a difference; vitamin D, bare biology Life & Soul Capsules, life extension Super Ubiquinol 200mg, solgar

N-Acetyl Cysteine 600mg & Impryl. As Lizzie says cutting out / down alcohol, less caffeine, med diet, light exercise & no baths. Wish you all the best x

[Madeline_1986 in reply to Milly2021]

Hi Milly thank you for all the useful information. Appreciate it a a lot. Weirdly we both us a couple don't drink. My husband drinks water or juice when we are out and I used to drink 2 gin and tonic once a months but I cut that too about 3 months ago. My husband trains 2 a day and he takes bath once a in 3 months. I don't know what it's causing his poor morphology and motility.

If varicocele does it show any symptoms? Did you hubs have had any symptoms ? Xx