Sucess stories with low sperm count and achieving pregnancy without IUI of IVF

[tinkerbell101]

I would like to know if anyone has any inspiring stories regarding pregnancy with a low sperm count to give me some hope!!!! We have been TTC for around 4.5 years, I managed to fall pregnant last year but had a M/C at 14 weeks. Since then we have been trying again but so far not even a whiff of a BFP. I am growing more despondant with each month that goes past. I live in the UK and have 2 older children from a previous marriage and a 5 year old son with my partner. I went for help with TTC after the last M/C but the GP was not interested so went private. The private fertility clinic perscribed me with clomid as I was ovulating too early in my cycle and also informed us that my partners S/A was a low on all 3 factors.

I recently went back to my dr to see if now a year has passed since my M/C if they would offer any help. They have repeated all the tests FSH, HDG, 21 day bloods, repeated scans etc and mine all came back fine (apart from the above issue) however my partner's came back low/abnormal again.

We have been told that without IUI or IVF achieving a pregnancy is not impossible but unlikely. We don't qualify for help on the NHS for IUI or IVF as we already have a child together so the only other option is private which is far too much money and not something that we can afford :(

The advice the GP gave was to adopt/maintain a healthy lifestyle which we already have (no drinking smoking and to stay fit) we both are very active and fit and neither smoke or drink! I also always chart my cyles, use OPKs and CB fertility monitor so know we hit the right days.... the past few cyles we have been abstaining for 2 days prior to the OPK+ to try and increase the sperm count. We use pre-seed, & I take EPO and take care of myself by drinking green tea, lots of water, cutting out caffiene etc etc...... I also take folic acid and magnesium and my partner takes zinc and vit c supplements and makes sure no alcohol around O time.....

I feel like giving up at the moment - I can't bear to see another BFN and feel like I don't have the strength to carry on as it all seems so pointess. Has anyone been in a similar situation and managed to have a sucessful pregnancy?

[kiyakorah]

Hi ladies my name is Krystal. i am 26 and i have two children a 5 & 6 year old from a previous. My fianc'e and i have been tring to concieve for over a year now. We had an early miscarriage in February and absolutly nothing since. After the miscarriage i was totally checked out my the doctor and there is nothing reproductively wrong with me. My fianc'e is about 5 million short on his sperm count. We have tried clomid, pre-seed, and we are currently trying fertile aid. Nothing has worked and all my friends are pregnant and One of  my friends who was pregnant with me in feb is now having her baby. :( It breaks my heart daily. i find myself angry with my fian'ce because he can't seem to reproduce. i just wonder how long this will continue for. Will we ever have a child??? It was soo easy to have my first two. His infertility is totally taking away from fun baby making.  looking at going for IUI. but i will be soo disapointed if or when we spend all that money and it doesn't work. Any advice??? Heart broken

[bam1014]

LOL - yes, if they were beer flavored, it would be less of a problem :)  He goes in streaks where he's really good at taking them and then he'll forget for a week.  I keep explaining to him that it takes 3 months for the sperm to fully develop and that he needs to be consistent!  Oh well, at least he makes an effort.

It was nunu's dr, that recommended they wait the 5 days before BD.  That's what I was trying for last cycle, when I went and O'd a day earlier then I expected!

[tinkerbell101]

Thanks ladies - I will get searching for a copy of the book.

Thank you bny807 for sharing your wonderful story with me... it has given me some hope that miracles can happen. Congratulations on your pregnancy.... xx

I have also had a good look at the links very kindly suggested - It seems they ultimately all point to the same dead end IUI IVF ICSI which is not financially possible for us apart from the advice we are already adhering too... staying fit, stress free, not smoking, drinking, wearing tight underwear, having hot baths etc etc...

I am going to talk to my dr about the supplements vitamins and herbs as he seemed to think this was a waste of money??  I was taking the Fertilaid and FertilaidCM and when I mentioned it to the Dr he said it might make me feel better as it brings hormones into balance but thats about it??!?

Bam - I will try your advice of refraining for more days and yes I am a fan of the softcup - we use those, I have never gone down the route of actually depositing the semen in the cap and inserting it. I know what you mean about your DH slacking off on the supplements, I have that problem.... its so frustrating!! Shame they are not beer flavoured!

[bam1014]

tinkerbell - I hate to see you so despondant :(

I'm sure you know by now, I am a huge proponent of TCOYF, but it seems as if you are following all her advice anyway.  My only suggestions are this, perhaps abstain for more then 2 days, up to 5, before BD.  Also I've done a lot of research on vitamin supplementation.  My DH was taking 1000mg of Vitamin C (good for motility) and 500mg of L-Carnitine and L-Argnitine (good for morphology).  I'm not 100% sure I got the spelling right, as I'm at work right now.  He also took a multi-vitamin and 800mg of Folic Acid.  He's really been slacking on it lately, so I finally compromised and he only takes the L-Argnitine and Folic Acid at the moment.

You can also try googling FertilAid for Men and Fertility Blend for Men.  I've read about them, but have never gone that route.  According to quite a few web sites there are lots of success stories.  And of course there is the pre-seed.

Have you thought any more about using the SoftCup?

[40smama]

I found one more article -

www.drmalpani.com/book/chapter7.html  - you can google low sperm count and find lots more - good luck, jen

[40smama]

I also read that wearing tight underwear (briefs) aren't good for those little swimmers.  Try having your partner wear boxers - I've read several articles about this issue - also don't bd every day; rather go every two days like you're doing.  Continue w/that & as bny said, you could have a miracle.  Google male infertility or low sperm count - you probably will come up w/more ideas about getting through this - best of luck to you - jen

Okay, now I had to do some research and came up w/a couple of articles that could possibly help:

www.babyhopes.com/articles/causes-low-sperm-count.html
www.healthscout.com/ency/68/690/main.html -