Mate factor infertility

[Patient-]

Any advice, we just been told icsi or nothing surely there something?

After a 2years of generic/over counter supplements is there any other questions that we should be asking ?

Doubt if we will qualify for any nhs funding

[Chiefy]

We had male factor issues and my partner was able to improve quality and quantity with lifestyle changes (mainly cutting back on alcohol, stress and heavy cardio exercise) and over counter vitamins. If we didn't see improvements then we would have looked into an appointment with an andrologist - is that an option for you?

[Patient- in reply to Chiefy]

Thank you, Was you home testing ? It’s almost like we been told low numbers means icsi only if ever we wanted a pregnancy BUT after only one test

[soccerkt6]

Hi lovely

There are absolutely things you can do to improve male factor! For reasons that I don’t understand, lots of fertility consultants just throw up their hands when it comes to male factor. But there are plenty of evidence-based lifestyle changes you can make and supplements you can take.

What exactly is the diagnosis? (Low numbers, low motility, etc)

[Patient- in reply to soccerkt6]

Low numbers, they not even wanting to do a second test

[soccerkt6 in reply to Patient-]

Are low numbers the only problem? All the other parameters are normal?

[Patient- in reply to soccerkt6]

Yes, it’s really crazy I thought they would prescribe something to him.

Just feel like the GP is just unbothered with us

[soccerkt6 in reply to Patient-]

It's really rubbish how male factor is dealt (or not dealt) with...

For supplements: have your husband start taking Impryl, Vitamin D and cod liver oil (for omega 3s).

As for lifestyle changes: no hot baths/saunas, stop or significantly reduce cycling, wear loose boxers, and eat a healthy diet (lots of fruit and veg and protein, no processed foods, minimal sugar). Definitely no smoking, and minimal alcohol and caffeine.

I would try all those changes for 4-5 months and then re-test to see where he's got to. If nothing has improved by that point, I would go see a private urologist or andrologist as Chiefy has suggested. They’ll be able to advise if there are other things you should test for (like a possible hormone deficiency) or if ICSI is indeed your only option.

Good luck! xxx

[Patient- in reply to soccerkt6]

Thank you

[MammaMia86 in reply to soccerkt6]

I absolutely agree....doctors focus a lot on the woman and not the man.

My husband was sent vitamins and we did another test, but there were no changes. But nobody talked to us about changes on diet or other things that he can do......this was a couple of years ago....and this year we went to a new urologist because he was having some discomfort and the doctor was telling him that he was having chronic prostatitis. He was asked to do some test and I asked if this will be problematic with the fertility treatment.....you should have seen his face light up and then he told us that probably we are having problems with the quantity and motility because this chronic prostatitis affects this area and it is exactly the issue!!!!!

It is just crazy how we keep discovering things.

Don't get too frustrate.... and take things with calm.....if it is not possible with the nhs, at least you know the exact treatment that you need

[KiboXX]

Hey lovely,

What makes you think you wouldn’t get funding?

There are some supplements that can help improve sperm quality, Proxeed Plus or Impryl both helped my husband. Impryl is a lot easier as just a tablet whereas Proxeed is a powder you put in a drink. It takes 3 months to have an impact xx

[Patient- in reply to KiboXX]

I have a child from a previous relationship, so I’m not sure if we would qualify

[KiboXX in reply to Patient-]

Oh I see. Yeah unfortunately you wouldn’t be eligible if you or your partner have any living children xx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Patient- If he has only had one semen analysis done, then he needs a follow up one 2 months after the first. Lifestyle changes can sometimes improve sperm count, so they can be more selective when choosing the ones to use in ICSI. A multi vitamin for men plus extra selenium and zinc will help with the way they swim, but can't alter shape etc. Good luck! Diane

[IvfStruggler]

We were told there was absolutely nothing that could be done at all apart from proceeding with a sperm donor. We did go for a second opinion were this was confirmed. I think in your case you may be able to improve numbers through life style changes or supplements or there is always a chance that you simply get lucky. For us it was really important not to waste too much time as I was getting older as well. In the end we spent 3 years on ivf/icsi (with donor sperm).

It's horrible to hear such news and it really really affected my partner. He had a healthy lifestyle but he's always struggled with the idea that it was his fault. I have seen many stories of men trying so hard to improve sperm count/quality but as it is a medical issue, not all succeed. This leads to even more depression.

I would ask what they think may be the issue. Is it hormonal or something else? Could there be treatment other that Icsi. You could also ask more questions about your own fertility. If you really can't afford treatment I would tell the consultant because it may prompt them to consider alternatives.

Good luck for you and your partner. Take care x

[Patient- in reply to IvfStruggler]

Thank you

[Nicki89]

My husband has extremely low sperm count and we were told ICSI was our only option. We were devastated but now have a 6 month old baby boy. Don’t give up hope xx

[Patient-]

Wow this is the post I needed to read today, thank you !!

Did you go ahead with icsi or ?

[Redsequin]

Hi there. Sorry that you're going through this. We have male factor too and are actually in the middle of ICSI. There are definitely other things you can try but it depends on why the male fertility problem is occurring. Has there been a more detailed sperm analysis/investigation?

[Patient- in reply to Redsequin]

Not really , just perm analysis then blood test and checking for blockages with no real explanation

[LCharlton]

I would really recommend seeing a urologist - you will need to pay privately, but it's unfortunately just not true that ICSI can get round all male factor problems and you need to know what you're dealing with. We were told ICSI was the answer for my husband's low sperm count, but we did three rounds with no success because actually on investigation there was a very serious issue with extremely high DNA fragmentation of the sperm. I still think if this had been discovered and treated earlier we would have been successful and feel like we wasted a lot of time (unfortunately I'm now 42 so we now have egg issues as well)

[Infragilis]

Hi, my husband has been taking supplements for two and a half years. He took profertil and this year switched to another similar supplement. He takes vitamin D, E, C, zinc, magnesium and omega 3. These didn't really make any difference. He even tried clomid which actually made him worse. The clinics we went to never really tried to do anything for him. He is extremely healthy in his lifestyle and food.

We just changed clinics and they put him on 40 days of the antibiotic Doxycycline. His numbers have gone up to 5 times what they were and we are still early in testing as they said the best result would be three months on. We just had a cycle and they used IVF when we previously always had ICSI.

They also carried out a DNA fragmentation test which you could consider.

Another thing he started doing before the numbers went up was daily icing. I'm pretty sure it was the antibiotics which helped but this doesn't hurt to try I guess.

Wishing you the best of luck xx