DES Effects/Male Infertility?

[paranoidpatty]

I was wondering if anyone's dh or dbf was exposed to DES. DES was given to women years ago to prevent miscarriages but ended up affecting the fertility of their children born after being exposed.

Anyway, I'm starting to think my dh was exposed but I don't know for sure.  His mom had several miscarriages and I read up on DES and it would have been during the timeframe when he was born. He's in his early 40's.  I can't bear to ask her if she was and he is touchy about the subject so I can't be too nosy. I also found out that cryptorchidism (undescended testacles) was an effect of that.  He definitely has undescended testacles! They look kinda normal but don't hang as far down as normal guys.  I'm getting worried.  Of course he's not going to see a doctor or anything and is touchy whenever I bring stuff like that up. You know, their "manhood".  

But anybody have any success stories to share?

[paranoidpatty]

I will definitely work on having him do the home test.  If we're unsuccessful next cycle that would be a sound argument to have him test. Especially since it's so inexpensive.  

I have to get up the nerve to talk to my MIL about it.  We haven't told our family about ttc but if it comes to that point we may have to.  

Thanks all for the advice!!  

[mslkpage]

I would just tell your MIL that you need to gather some medical information regarding dh's side of the family, and ask her.

As far as the OTC male fertility test, it's only going to tell you if the count is normal. A SA at a lab wil give you information on count, morphology, motility, volume, etc.

[tina1111]

I saw one on ebay the other day, too. Not as much as rx store, but don't remember $. It had a "buy it now" from a fertility store. Save on tests still beat his opk prices though.

[paranoidpatty]

I saw those in the drug store recently and wondered if he would go for it.  I am just going to have him do it if nothing happens naturally next month.  And yeah, you're right, we dish out all that on tests, so it wouldn't hurt to try it.  I'll think of a way to bring it up to him by then.

Thanks!!

[YvetteY]

We did one of those at home male fertility tests, it was easy .  I've seen at CVS and Walgreens.  You get a blue dot if the sperm count is greater than 20 mil/ml.  

It just gives you info on the count.  He'd probably going to feel comfortable at home and if you "help" him out.  

We laughed about it when we did it.

[pixijal]

mslkpage is right.  It is so quick, easy, and inexpensive to have your husband tested first.  My ob/gyn actually requested it after 6 months of not getting pg.  It gives you A LOT of info, and they do it at HOME.  (after that, you have to put it in your pocket and drive quickly to the lab) They have to analyze it immediately before the little guys die...so results come in rather quickly.  Talk to your ob/gyn about getting a lab order faxed.  Then you won't have any questions.

[tina1111]

I've not heard of DES, sorry. I have seen Male Fertilty Tests that you can buy in drug stores. Seems like around $30. I was skeptical and did some reading. They actually give a sperm count. Kinda like an hpt. Maybe he would try it? Heck for what I blow every month on opks and hpts $30 is nothing lol. I put dh on L-arginine. It is an amino acid that increases blood flow and increases sperm count. Doesn't do anything for quality, just quantity. I don't think he dh has problem, just figured more is better.