Acromegaly Support Group
Acromegaly (from Greek akros "high" and megas "large" - extremities enlargement) is a hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone (hGH). Acromegaly most commonly affects middle-aged adults and can result in serious illness and premature death. Join the group to discuss symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.
My husband and I have been dealing with infertility since January 2013. We have lost two pregnancies (naturally conceived), one at 6 weeks and one at 12 weeks. Our last pregnancy ended January 8, 2014 - then for the past year and a half - nothing.
We did minimum stimulation iVF and froze our three perfect graded 4AA embryos in April. In May we transferred one and on May 17, 2015 we found out it didn't stick.
On July 6, 2015 my husband was diagnosed with acromegaly. He had surgery two days ago on July 17, 2015 to remove his pituitary macro adenoma. Obviously it is too early to tell whether it worked.
Pre-surgery his IGF-1 was 909 and Total Testosterone was 129 and Testosterone Free was 19.7. Our neuro-endocrinologist at UCSF said these low testosterone levels are likely the cause of our infertility.
My first questions is whether any other males with acromegaly have experienced "unexplained" infertility with healthy female partners?
My second question is whether anyone has done IVF and the sperm generated while IGF-1 levels were too high and testosterone levels were too low didn't create healthy embryos. I ask because we have two frozen embryos and we don't know whether to use them or not.
Thank you for any insight!
Hugs,
Samantha
We did minimum stimulation iVF and froze our three perfect graded 4AA embryos in April. In May we transferred one and on May 17, 2015 we found out it didn't stick.
On July 6, 2015 my husband was diagnosed with acromegaly. He had surgery two days ago on July 17, 2015 to remove his pituitary macro adenoma. Obviously it is too early to tell whether it worked.
Pre-surgery his IGF-1 was 909 and Total Testosterone was 129 and Testosterone Free was 19.7. Our neuro-endocrinologist at UCSF said these low testosterone levels are likely the cause of our infertility.
My first questions is whether any other males with acromegaly have experienced "unexplained" infertility with healthy female partners?
My second question is whether anyone has done IVF and the sperm generated while IGF-1 levels were too high and testosterone levels were too low didn't create healthy embryos. I ask because we have two frozen embryos and we don't know whether to use them or not.
Thank you for any insight!
Hugs,
Samantha
Keep in mind there are very few areas in the body's function this condition doesn't effect. In non medical terms, the tumor whacks out the pituitary...the pituitary is the "processor" of the endocrine system. If the "processor" is faulty the system is faulty.....it can and usually does effect the thyroid, the adrenal gland, the "baby factory" and just like the sewer system...it all rolls down hill.
Throw in the mental effects and this Beast usually brings those too.......depression is common and can be a constant battle as well. All of which can and usually does have an impact on fertility.
In my humble opinion....you and your husband have been hit with one of those "haymaker sucker punches" from out of nowhere. Both of you are being bombarded with "stuff" (treatments, information, issues, etc., etc.) from all sides. Your journey has just begun......many a fighter has lost the bout because they didn't take the time to recover from some "haymaker" punch enough to clear their head before jumping right back in to fight.
I'm sorry to hear that you've had two failed pregnancies. It must have been devastating for you both.
Your endocrinologist is likely not specialised in fertility treatment. Testosterone, for example is not even measured by IVF clinics and is not routinely used here in the UK (where IVF was pioneered) as a diagnostic measure in infertility investigations.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Infertility/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx
On the upside, however, it does show that your husband's acromegaly has not overtly affected his virility/fertility in getting you pregnant. You conceived twice, which is absolutely brilliant.
Your husband's sperm did the job perfectly well in getting you pregnant. I don't think his acromegaly can be a reason for you losing your two pregnancies at six and twelve weeks.
Once the egg is fertilized, then it's only the DNA of the original sperm that passed on to the dividing embryo and blastocyst.
DNA damage in sperm is called Sperm DNA Fragmentation. This would result in the the embryo failing well before implantation - so you would not have had a pregnancy. So this was not the case in the two conceptions you had.
As he's had his operation then it will give you both hope that things will improve generally.
Trys
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