AMH/ age anxiety whilst awaiting SSR appointments

[Minniemouse88]

We are three weeks into an eight week wait for our HFEA paperwork appointment prior to my husband being put on a list for surgical sperm retrieval due to Azoospermia diagnosis. According to clinic current estimates,it will be three to four months after SSR before we start IVF so all in all expecting it will be December at the earliest before we start.

The waiting is truly agonizing for us both. We're both anxious about whether they will find any sperm and if so,will it be viable. Then there's my less than average AMH at 14.3 which came as a blow (I'm 34 years old). All I keep hearing about is the stats about age and genetic problems with eggs and embryos and I feel like the odds are low and getting lower by the month.

Trying to keep my thoughts to myself as much as I can to limit my husband's upset but it's difficult at times.

Is there anyone out there who has gone through the Azoospermia pathway to IVF with some reassuring results?Any top tips for helping to get through the waiting?

Thank you,as always and stay cool if you are in the heatwave!

[Sunflower35]

Hi! Is this privately or via NHS? If privately, why don’t you start banking eggs in parallel?

[Minniemouse88 in reply to Sunflower35]

Hi, afraid we're NHS so following the linear process. I don't want to complicate things at this stage but yes, good idea. I might ask whether we could pay for my egg retrieval and freezing part privately in parallel as my clinic does both private and NHS. Have a feeling the wait time will be similar though. Thanks for a good suggestion 🙂

[Orangeflowers]

Hey, don't be disheartened. It's better to have a AMH of 14 at 34 rather than 43! Your eggs should be better quality and you should have more chromosomally normal embryos. Good luck xx

[Minniemouse88 in reply to Orangeflowers]

Thank you 🙂

[RDT144]

Hi Minniemouse88, I’m sorry to hear what you’re going through.

My husband also had SSR and the run up to it was dreadful especially when the fellows kept telling us to think about sperm donor. However once he had the procedure they manage to extract 4 vials worth of sperm. So we wasted all of our time worrying - I know it’s hard not to but please make the most of now.

We’re also on the NHS and things we’re only a little “escalated” for us as I made a few complaints to my the clinic - my husband had a lump in his testes and they had missed this on both of his US. This happened last November and we only found out in April 🙆🏽‍♀️ He had his SSR at the end of May and I’ve started my procedure just last week.

Try not worrying, these things take time - even if we don’t like it. Btw you’re still young! I regret not making the most of the time we wasted worrying and stressing, I became miserable. You won’t get this time back again.

Wishing you all the best!

[Minniemouse88 in reply to RDT144]

Sound advice and thanks for sharing your experiences. Yes, I definitely try to have the mindset of making the most of things but of course there are ups and downs.

Wishing you all the very best for your upcoming treatment and less troubled times ahead.

Thank you 🙂

[Essence1]

Hi Minniemouse88,Just to reassure you about your AMH levels. When I was 34 my AMH was 9.66 much lower than yours and I was classed as a normal responder for my age.

Last year April I had successful IVF treatment at the age of 37 on the NHS and gave birth to twin boys in December. There was no issue with my egg quality.

Please try not to worry, wishing you all the best.