SA Results and Help Interpreting Please :)

BunnyBerry

DH asked that I not let him know his SA results today until he finished an exam...but they were so much better than expected!

The nurse called and was really weird/rushed/pissy about giving me the results. It was quite strange, and she was trying to get me off the phone after 5 seconds, so this is what I managed to get out of her:

Only problem - morphology - 2% instead of the 5% they look for

Motility - 71% (YAAAAYYYY!!)*

"Total motile sperm" - 38 million (Boo-yeah!)*

I feel so relieved that IUI might be a good option for us, unless they start thinking I have serious egg quality issues or something.

1. I have a question as I'm trying to compare this to previous (thorough) reports from another doctor. How do you think they count total motile sperm? Is it per milliliter (like I've always seen it) or per his total ejaculate? The numbers are so good compared to even January, it's hard to imagine that is per milliliter. I was thinking, maybe the office just wants to look at the total amount because that's what matters for IUI?
   
   
2. Does anyone have knowledge of this morphology thing? I feel like I'm looking at it two ways - 3% less than expected out of 100% sounds like NBD, but 40% of the desired level makes it sound pretty terrible. Does anyone's RE give them very reduced chances for IUI based on morph like that?

I also want to share that the only thing DH did differently between January and last week was start vitamins (most days he remembers - C, D, E zinc, selenium). And if you ask him, he thinks that starting to drink whole milk before workouts instead of so much red meat or protein powder helped!

*See siggy for an explanation of our excitement, lol!

KT416

Woohoo! That's awesome about the motility!!! That's crazy that your numbers have changed so much!

Not too much help with the morph, but I thought I heard others say on here before that's the best one to have a problem with because it matters the least (but still important), but don't quote me on that. Is he going to an urologist?

BunnyBerry

@kt416 Thanks, isn't that crazy?? Well, he visited one in China (his home country) for some kind of check-up/exam, but I'm not sure how thorough it was. I know he didn't get any imaging done, although I'm not sure if that's part of it? I guess we'll find out at our post-testing cycle consult Monday if the RE wants him to see one now. Has your DH's uro given any good ideas about what to do about his blockage?

sundaybrunch

That is an awesome improvement!  Congrats!  I just wanted to say that I have also heard that lots of REs don't pay much attention to morphology.  DH's last SA showed a specific morphology (I believe narrow heads) that I am impatiently waiting to discuss with a Urologist.  I'll try to remember to post what they say about morphology in general if DH is ever able to schedule an appt. (his work has been crazy lately).

KT416

@BunnyBerry Yeah, he may not have to see a urologist if it is just morph. Hopefully you can just move forward with the next step soon!  

Our uro said that nothing could be done about the blockage due to the location. He said it may clear up itself naturally or could get worse. He currently has 0% motility (everything else was good) but 15% are viable so we are going to move forward with IVF with ICSI and hopefully we can use some of his sperm without directly trying to get them.

BunnyBerry

@kt416 I'm glad you are able to move forward with IVF! Sounds like a great plan.

@princesskatie22 Thanks, that is really helpful! I am glad to hear it.

Lillovebug79

I think they get the total motile sperm but multiplying the amount per ml with the amount of mls and dividing it by the percentage of motility. For example we had an IUI with 22 million per ml, 4.4mls, and 37% motility. That gave us about 35 million total motile sperm but we only had 8.9 million after the wash. For some reason you lose a lot. Also my DH's morphology is 3% which my RE didn't really care much about. She said they expect low morphology when the motility is low. I'm glad your H's numbers improved!

BunnyBerry

@lillovebug79 Thank you so much, it's really helpful to see how they measured the total motile count! But wow, I have to say I'm surprised how much was lost in the wash. I was definitely hoping that we wouldn't need to see a uro and then wait 3 months for meds to work...guess we'll just have to see. That tempers my excitement a bit. And it's really helpful to hear what your RE said about motility and morphology.

MissEm15

I'm so happy for you guys!! Doesn't it make you so happy to give good news to your DH! Gives me hope to see increasing numbers at our next IUI.

My DH has low morph.. ranging from 3-2%. The RE said that the average is 4%. I've read tho if your DH has higher sperm count and motility, it can make up for the low morph. Sounds like you are in a great range for IUI!

** Loss mentioned

I'm not sure how everything is calculated but our last IUI my husband had 25Mil pre-wash and 6 mil post wash. I think when you have low morphology, you lose a lot more in the washing bc of the abnormal forms. Don't be discouraged tho bc DH did get me pregnant w/ those numbers (loss).

kushie77

I don't have any words of wisdom, but Hooray for good results!!!

BunnyBerry

@missem15 Thank you! You know, I had never learned that low morph causes more to be lost in the wash. I guess that is a really great thing as it could concentrate the good morph that much more! I'm sorry for your loss in February. Hoping you see great #s, since you've got an IUI again!

@kushie77 Thanks

lebradford

Yay!!

theholmanherd

I'm sorry your nurse was a bitch, but yay for good numbers!

Lillovebug79

@BunnyBerry‌ don't be discouraged by losing a lot in the wash, what is left is the best of the best! I think our motility after the wash is usually around 90%. And according to my RE, 5 million good ones can be enough to get the job done. I really think I've been unlucky so we are moving on but those number definitely could work for you!

BunnyBerry

@lillovebug79 Thanks, that sounds really great! Hope IVF takes care of the issue and you get your BFP.