Infertility Support Group

In vitro fertilization is one of the most common and utilized ways of treating conception problems. This support group is dedicated to those beginning their journey with IVF and needing support. Join the community and share your experiences, advice, and story with people going through similar challenges starting a family.

2,817 Members
29,973 Posts
0 Online
Women's Health
/ Infertility Support Group

Male Infertility and IVF - odds for success???

jmorrell
jmorrell
I have been a silent member of DS for almost a year, and have finally been driven to break my silence! So, my DH and I have our first IVF appointment this Friday and I am TERRIFIED!!! I suppose that there are many reasons for this, the main reason being that we have been putting off this first consultation for 7 months out of fear that they would look at our test results and tell us that it is impossible for us. We figured that we might as well live with hope for those months, since we had to save up for IVF anyway. We have finally saved enough to try IVF, and I have suddenly realized that I should have reached out to this group earlier, to help me figure out whether there is really any hope for my DH and I...

Our issue is that my DH has low motility, VERY poor morphology, and a low sperm count. Does anyone know if poor morphology can result in mutated/messed up DNA? The percentage of normal morphology sperm is below .5% (it always just shows up as 0% on lab results, which is very discouraging!!!). Has anyone had success with using sperm with messed up morphology? We also did a Hamster Penetration Test with VERY poor results (I think less than 3% were able to pass through the barrier thing), so ICSI is definitely going to have to happen.
Courage2010
Courage2010
We are male factor as well- I forget if it's low count, morphology, etc- we were just told that IVF was our best chance. We had a scare if his DNA was fragmented- he actually tested positive for DNA fragmentation but we retested with a special laboratory in South Dakota of all places. This laboratory is the only one of it's kind in the US- had to send away sperm- that was an experience! But, with their special testing, his DNA came back fine. Maybe do a little googling or ask your RE about this. My RE told me that if his results came back bad from the special lab that we shouldn't even attempt with his sperm- so maybe you should do that before you do the big IVF leap? We went on to IVF with multiple rounds, it was a long journey, but ended up with two boys- both singleton births- and have two more frozens. (It took me 12 embryos to get my first son, transferred another 3 to get my second) We also did ICSI. If DNA looks good, ICSI will take care of everything else! The embryologist will choose the very best sperm to inseminate. Funny, those genes must be strong from ICSI because both of my boys look EXACTLY like their dad... :) Message me if you have any questions :)
Courage2010
Courage2010
I believe this was the place:
https://www.scsadiagnostics.com/home
Courage2010
Courage2010
Oh yeah, I should add that the sperm numbers were NOT good at all for us. Now that I think of it, I think that everything was a bit off- but I think his numbers were 100,000 sperm when it should have been 10 million or something... Gosh, sorry about the lack of numbers!!!
jmorrell
jmorrell
Courage2010, thank you so much for your response!!! Just letting you know on here that I sent you a message. Also, I can never remember all the numbers from the lab results either - so no worries!! Haha
fsugrad05
fsugrad05
My husband had the same issues and I have low egg counts so we got it from both sides. I just finished my first round of IVF and I had 13 eggs retrieved, 11 of them fertilizing. I had my transfer today and they were able to put 1 back in and freeze at least one. They are watching the 9 remaining embryos to see if they can freeze them as well. So my point is, there is hope for you guys! The while point of the ICSI is so that they can pick the good sperm out of the bunch to fertilize! Good luck!
kDeezy
kDeezy
My husband's morphology is ZERO and my eggs are shit thanks to severe endo. It took 8 embryos, but I am 14 weeks pregnant with a baby girl whose DNA is absolutely perfect. She's my ICSI pixie!
Mendolove
Mendolove
Hi Jmorrell...
That is great that you have saved up enough money to do IVF, that is a big part of it!! My husband was at 5% normal sperm as well, my clinic likes to see numbers at 15% to do natural fertilization, so they recommended and we did ICSI and I am no 19 weeks pregnant with twins, ICSI is my best friend!! So don't let loos hope, your clinic can pick the best of the best of your hubbies swimmers!! Good luck!!
jmorrell
jmorrell
Wow - thanks for all the responses!!

fsugrad05, SO exciting that you just had your transfer today!!!! Prayers and baby dust your way!!! I hope they will be able to freeze lots of embryos for you guys!!

kDeezy and Mendolove, Congratulations to you both on your pregnancies!!! That is so awesome!!! Prayers for easy pregnancies and healthy babies!!

Thank you for your words of encouragement! You all rock!! It is so great to hear success stories :)
KathleenS9713
KathleenS9713
I can relate as well, my husband tested low mobility, abnormal, and a low count. I also had some issues as well pertaining to my Fallopian tubes, in which I had one surgically removed and the other rid of scare tissue. I am currently in the process of IVF in which we had to do ICSI as well. I have my egg retrieval this weekend and then it goes from there! I wish you all the luck and you can find that there is still hope! We were ecstatic when we found out that we could have a baby that was both of ours! Hoping that it goes well and keeping my fingers crossed!! Good luck to you as well, and obv you have come to the right place to get encouragement and advice !