Hello, I am 40 and my partner 39 and we are desperate for a baby. But we both have fertility problems.

We just recently had some tests. Fertility tests and I have a blocked tube and he has a sperm count of 72 million but significanlty reduced progressive motility. Taking our conditions and age into account , the consultant said we really have no option but IVF. I was wondeirng if anyone had experience of similar problems and would have any advice for us? is there any chance we could pregnant naturally.? Thanking you in advance.

[Becky29forever]

Hi there

I have PCOS and am 37. We have been trying for a baby for the past 5 years. I feel like we wasted a lot of time in hoping that we'd be successful naturally before seeking help. It took me so long to admit that it wasn't likely to occur naturally & for me to come to terms with how that made me feel.

If you want advice, if I were you, I wouldn't put off starting treatment by trying to conceive naturally. From what you have said your chances of conceiving must be reduced by your blocked tube & your partner's low motility. There is nothing stopping you continuing to try whilst you see about the IVF and how quickly you can begin the treatment. I presume that they have said that the drug clomid wouldn't be appropriate for you (they sometimes give this to people with tube problems and it worked for a friend of mine who only had one working tube)? That would certainly be less intrusive but it's success rates aren't as good. Also, without wishing to be blunt, it is a sad fact that the older we are the lower the success rates for any treatment become.

I don't know how much they told you but with IVF they can give you hormones to produce eggs and your tubes won't be needed as they extract the eggs directly themselves from your ovary. Egg fertilisation could be by ICSI (which is what they use for sperm problems) all it means is that the sperm is injected into the egg directly rather than waiting for the sperm to fertilise the egg in the dish by itself. It will probably give you the best chance of success.

I wouldn't be afraid of taking the IVF route. Once you get your head around it, it isn't hard to follow. We are on our first round of treatment. The hormones haven't been too bad all things considered and you soon get the hang of injections! Friends of ours were successful on their first round of treatment and our clinic has indicated a success rate of around 40%, so we are keeping positive. At the end of the day, all IVF is, is a treatment which is putting you in the best position to get pregnant and have the baby you so desperately want.

Hope you don't mind the honest (blunt) answer. Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

Take care

Becky

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Thank you so much for the reply Becky- I really appreciate it.

I am open to IVF because realistically I know its not going to happen naturally. He went for DNA sperm fragmentation test on Monday and I have a 4D scan in a few weeks - then we wait to see what the consultant says our next move is . We are in the early stages, so I have not been recommended Clomid. Your so right about the age and that's what has me really worried.

We have only recently found out our problems so it has all come as a bit of a shock although I did know in my heart there was a problem!

Becky, Best of luck with your treatment- I really hope it works. (if you can let me know)

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Hi there, it is always difficult to say for certain whether you have a chance of natural conception or not, but there is always a very slim chance. Considering your age though, it would probably be best to go with the advice you have been given and try IVF or ICSI as soon as you can, as your egg production will be depleting now, making it harder to conceive naturally. I do you with you both well with the outcome. Diane Arnold

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Thanks so much for your reply Diane. Appreciate it.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

My pleasure! If I can help at all, or talk anything through with you, do get in touch. Alternatively, you might like to have a look at our website infertilitynetworkuk.com and see how we can support you at this time.

Diane Arnold