Should I delay ICSI cycle due to illness?

[LittleL3]

Looking for some advice and experiences as to how illness might affect IVF. We are about to start a second cycle which will be ICSI this time. We went away for a week and were both a bit ill with a cold/sore throat and then my partner also got food poisoning (vomiting and diarrheoa for 2 days last week) and I am wondering if this is likley to have a negative impact on the cycle? In our first IVF cycle we experienced low fertilisation (1 out of 10 mature eggs leading to 1 day 5 embryo) despite good sperm parameters and nobody could really explain why and just advised to do ICSI next time, but one doctor did mention that something as small as a cold could affect it, so I'm now anxious that this recent food poisoning could cause an issue. Also reluctant to delay as it feels like we are constantly delaying for one reason or another! Would you go ahead and start the cycle or delay and by how much? Has anyone been in this situation and has it affected things or not? I will ask my clinic for their view but wanted to draw upon the wisdom of this community as well. Thanks for any advice.

[MiniCeeCee]

hi LittleL3 best of luck with your next cycle! From what I understand about the impact sickness might have on sperm, is that it’s connected to body temperature. Ie if your other half had a temperature when he was sick, this could have impacted sperm quality. As good sperm quality needs cooler temperatures. If there was no real raised temp connected to his sickeness , then it may be ok to proceed and the quality may have then remained the same.

[LittleL3 in reply to MiniCeeCee]

Thanks for your reply, that's helpful. I don't think he really had a temperature so hopefully it hasn't had a negative impact.

[MiniCeeCee in reply to LittleL3]

Yeh I would say it will probably be fine then, also I follow Dr Tim Child’s on insta, and he posted this today about covid - not exactly what you’re facing, but some relevance / crossover Id say… instagram.com/reel/C4qm5vns...

[LittleL3 in reply to MiniCeeCee]

Great thanks. I follow him as well but hadn't seen that.

[Babybaby321]

it’s hard but maybe delaying a month or two might be good. I had lap surgery (not quite the same I know) and then tried ICSI 2 months after - lowest number of eggs collected and they were poor quality - I think my body was just not ready. Best wishes

[LittleL3 in reply to Babybaby321]

Thanks for your reply. It is hard to know but will see what clinic thinks.

[Heyaaaa]

Hi , I don’t know which clinic you are with , but I highly recommend trying abroad , I had 1 cycle in uk with 8 mature and 5 fertilised however clinic abroad tried sperm sorting and 10 out of 10 fertilised, so I would if you can try abroad or else get into the best clinic in Uk which unfortunately are not many , all the best for whatever you decide and for your next cycle too

[LittleL3 in reply to Heyaaaa]

Thanks we're in a multi-cycle deal at the moment but would consider abroad in future.