Dealing with Male Infertility - Week of Sept. 11th

[Deleted User]

<p>This group is for those of us dealing with male factor issues. Anything from azoopsermia (zero sperm count) to oligospermia (low sperm count) and all the motility and morphology in between. Whether you are recently diagnosed and trying to make sense of it all or you have been dealing with it for years, this can be a place for everyone to share experiences, vent, ask questions etc. I personally have found IF forums more helpful than my doctors have been this far, so MFI ladies (or men! Men are welcome too!): let's come together to discuss all the issues we face such as: how to support your partner during this journey, how you are coping yourself (or not), if you are considering/using donor sperm or adoption, if you have started IUI or IVF w/ ICSI etc. etc.</p><p>Trying this out as a weekly thread.</p><p><b>Diagnosis (if you have one):</b></p><p><b>How long have you been on this journey</b>?</p><p><b>Where are you right now in your treatment</b>? </p><p><b>Any Questions??</b> </p><p><b>GTKY:</b><b> What is your favourite makeup or beauty product you swear by and cannot live without? </b>  </p>

[Deleted User]

<p><b>Diagnosis (if you have one):  </b>Azoo</p><p><b>How long have you been on this journey</b>? 27 months, countless cycles....</p><p><b>Where are you right now in your treatment</b>? We just finished IVF No. 1 and got 3 beautiful frosties!!!</p><p><b>Any Questions?? </b> I am leaning towards repeating another IVF retrieval cycle before moving onto transfer... now if I could just have a conversation with my doctor!!!  :#  It's 10 or so days past retrieval and I'm spotting, so I feel like AF could be any day now.  Then I go in for CD3 baselines.  Currently the plan is to start BCPs and wait for polypectomy and FET, but I don't really want to have to go on bcps if we can convert the cycle in time to just start stimming... not really a question, more of a rambling rant lol</p><p><b>GTKY:</b><b>  </b>I really miss my Chanel dual perfect compact and concealer - maybe for Christmas ;) I always get the maybelline pink/green brown/black mascara, no matter what other fancy mascara I happen to have in my bag at the time.  I just love it for every day, erasing the powder from my lashes, or lightly doing the lower lashes, plus the non waterproof kind washes off without any theatrics.  Great stuff!</p>

AlohaKumu

Hi, friends. I'm going to come back this week. I think the main IF board is still too overwhelming for now, but I'm going to be lurking around everywhere as I get my footing again.

Diagnosis (If you've been): AZFc, unsuccessful TESE

Cycle/CD: 16? 17? who knows

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) After a much-needed break, we are going to be pursuing IVF with donor sperm for an October retrieval. I'll be starting BC when AF shows up.
 

How are things going? It's been quite the roller coaster. We were devastated when DH's surgery was unsuccessful. There were no sperm found, even after they did the tissue biopsy. Originally we considered pursuing the mTESE procedure, but DH doesn't want another surgery. So, we are working with a known donor and trying to get everything organized for next month. I may still need little breaks on the board, but I'm hoping we are ready to move forward.

Any questions? I don't have any questions, but I wanted to thank this wonderful community again for its support. All of you ladies kept me going during some very dark times.

GTKY: What is your favorite season and why? Spring. I love the cherry blossoms around the world!

KristoKekerooni

Diagnosis (if you have one): OATS/DNAF

How long have you been on this journey? TTC since 2014, Diagnosed since Jan 2015

Where are you right now in your treatment? WAITING FOR IVF. Guys, I know it's no guarentee, but I can't help but get hopeful. 

Any Questions?? Does anyone know how to tell if scripts are covered? My medical insurance is through BCBS, and covers some IF treatment, but not IVF. My script insurance is through CVS Caremark, and I went to the website to see the formulary, but when I type in random IVF names (Gonal, menopur, lupron, whatever) It just says "pre-authorization needed." So I emailed them and asked if I get a pre-auth, would it be covered for IVF. And they just said I needed the script first, they won't tell me. It's annoying. I just want to know how to prepare.

GTKY: What is your favourite makeup or beauty product you swear by and cannot live without?   Probably a hair tie? Ha. I only wear makeup maybe half the time and I am allergic to everything under the sun. I have long, thick hair, and work in a lab, so it's thrown up 99% of the time.

Also confused because the two PP answered two different questions.

KristoKekerooni

@ELeighMay - how bout you pull yourself over to this week's thread, so we don't have two active threads?
So, so sorry to hear your diagnosis. You are correct, it's not the end of the world, but I know it hurts, nonetheless. Morphology is the one area that changes SO much sample to sample and is most affected by lifestyle and vitamins. Don't give up hope and keep on pushing the healthiest living possible!

@LeilaK9288 - I just saw your update and I want to cry for you. damn it. This is not how it is supposed to be! To jump through the hoops you have and to be here, facing this wall anyway, is just... devastating. I wish I knew what to say to make it better for you. 

AlohaKumu

@KristoKekerooni That was my fault on the questions. I think I copied from the wrong thread from having a million tabs open this morning! I'm excited to hear how your cycle goes and I hope that BCBS/Caremark will cover your scripts.

safire3

Diagnosis (if you have one): Oligospermia

How long have you been on this journey? Over 1.5 years

 Where are you right now in your treatment? We are doing IVF. Retrieval was last week and we got 5 embies although they were frozen on day 1 due to the hurricane. Currently waiting for the next cycle to arrange FET.

 Any Questions??

 GTKY: What is your favourite makeup or beauty product you swear by and cannot live without? I'm not big on makeup. I use bare minerals foundation because it's one of the few that doesn't make me break out.

 @KristoKekerooni that is so annoying that they won't just tell you. Maybe you can ask for a breakdown of exactly what your plan covers in relation to IVF or call to ask specifically if IVF meds would be covered.

 @AlohaKumu happy to see you back here friend (well not here specifically but you know what I mean). We are rooting hard for you and take all the time you need to jump back in.

 @LeilaK9288 I missed your update before. I am so sorry. Please take time to be good to yourself and your H. This is beyond heartbreaking and I hope you can support each other through this.

*edited because TB sucks and just messed up the formatting after I posted

[Deleted User]

@safire3. How are you guys holding up down there???  Hope everything is okay and the worst is over... ((((hugs)))) how many days past retrieval are you now?  Did they explain how the FET will work since they were frozen so early?

@LeilaK9288. You are in my thoughts, luv. ❤(((all the hugs and kitty snuggles)))
<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/tp/84gcy9kb3482.gif" alt="">

@Alohakumu. So excited to see you back here, and with a great plan in place!  I know it must be nerve wracking the the added factor of someone else travelling out there, but it'll be okay.  That is an amazing gift your friend is doing for you, and I'm really happy for you, both. ❤❤❤  send my love to your H as he recovers.  I don't blame him for not wanting to repeat. :/

@KristoKekerooni. Omg!!!
<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/4b/gh2w5bilb7gv.gif" alt="">
Okay, see that is weird to me that they told you that.  Because when I called them, they told me they had like a dummy plan even tho my insurance wasnt active so I didnt have a number yet?  And they me could pull that up and run the meds and tell me my copay that way.... BUT. I'm not sure now if technically my doctor had already sent over the script at that point??? :/ it's worth another call tho maybe, idk.  Or if that doesnt work, see if the doc will just order you a sample protocol so something comes up in their system?

AFM - we are doing another cycle!!!  I am so happy and relieved.  Still eaiting and hoping the insurance processing comes through on time that I can just start right up here on CD3.  Eep!
<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/9b/v025e8c30laa.gif" alt="">

safire3

@BusinessWife the worst is definitely over and we did clean up today. Had some water come into the house but otherwise no damage so I'm happy for that. I have no idea how the transfer will go. Just waiting to meet with the RE. I want to discuss maybe transferring 2 now since we have no idea about the quality of these embies or how long they would have survived if not frozen so early.
Hope everything comes together quickly so you can start your second cycle on time!

JuneRoseRuby

Diagnosis (if you have one): Virtual azoo, Robertsonian Translocation

How long have you been on this journey? Jan 2016

Where are you right now in your treatment? WFAF after ER. 2 frosties with donor. None made it with MH sperm. Moving onto IUI with donor next cycle.  AF should be here in the next day or so. 

Any Questions?? 

GTKY: What is your favourite makeup or beauty product you swear by and cannot live without?   Mascara. I have super blond long eye lashes and I need mascara to bring them out. I also have started this weird thing where I am using aquaphor around my eyes at night because I feel like the super thick vaseline nature of it is going to hydrate the hell out of my under eyes and magically erase wrinkles. 

I shared this story in IF thread, so feel free to skip about my crazy MIL if you already read it. 

We told my MIL this weekend about the results of the ER and that we are only moving forward with donor.  We never told her about the donor until yesterday because we had hoped we wouldn't need to use it. It went so much worse than I could have expected.  She's  a ridiculous person.  She turned it all around on her and how all of these things in life happen to her and her life is hard and terrible... Then she told me about a friend that went to Russia and got donor eggs and it broke up her marriage and the husband reminded the wife all of the time that the child wasn't even hers and how we will need counseling and that we are going to break up and that I can't steal the baby and it will be half of my husbands.... We left her house pretty soon after that. 

@AlohaKumu Welcome back! I completely understand the need to take things slow. Does your doc think you need IVF for donor? Why can't you just do an IUI? That is my plan now. 

@KristoKekerooni We also have BCBS and IF coverage but nothing for IVF. I called the number on the back of the card and talked with a rep and asked my list of meds to see if there was coverage. You can look online but it was impossible.  My Office gave me a moc list of meds and quantities so I could ask more specifically.  I can find the paper and let you know what the orders were for just to see if you have any coverage. I know once the doc called the scripts into the pharmacy, they double checked and ran the meds for me. It was all still zero coverage though.  You can also look into Compassionate Care and DesignRX programs to see if you can get some coverage through them. 

AlohaKumu

@JuneRoseRuby Gosh, that sounds like a nightmare with your MIL! Talk about an overreaction and creating an unrealistic, catastrophic scenario. I don't know if I could have held my tongue, even if I knew it was the result of a mental illness outburst. I guess just don't go to Russia

We definitely had the option to try an IUI and were looking into it, but we will only be able to have limited number of samples from our donor (probably only 2). If we did do IUIs, it would have been with frozen sperm and I know the numbers are even lower than with a fresh IUI, even medicated. We also have a limited window of time before my husband is going to be finished with his current job (that covers our meds and treatments prior to IVF), so we want to just jump into IVF to have the best chances possible.

LadyMillil

@ELeighMay  My DH also has 2% morphology. If count and motility are good than low morph may not have a huge impact on fertility if the sperm are able to swim in a forward direction and fertilize an egg. Your RE might be able to do a fertilization test to determine if the sperm are able to fertilize an egg, which means IUI could be an option. In my case my DH had good count and motility so we did 3 medicated IUIs, because my RE thought we'd have a good chance of it working but all were BFNs and we ultimately had to do IVF+ICSI. I saw a couple of different REs at 2 different clinics over the course of my treatments and they all disagreed on if morph mattered and if lifestyle changes could help. Besides big things like quitting smoking and avoiding hot tubs, it seemed like there wasn't much you could do to improve morph, and even those things might not actually help.

KristoKekerooni

@JuneRoseRuby - @businesswife-  See, I figure they won't cover anything, but I would just like to know either way so I can prepare. I will call them and see if I get a better response, I guess. 

JuneRoseRuby

@AlohaKumu that makes a ton of sense. And yeah, moral of the story, don't go to Russia  to get a  donor. Such a  moron. 

zwink1

@AlohaKumu welcome back, I'm happy to hear that you guys have picked a path that's best for you. I'm so sorry that the surgery didn't work for you. 

@JuneRoseRuby, your MIL...wow. I have no words. Kudos to you for handling that situation better than I would have.

@ELeighMay my experience is a bit different than @KristoKekerooni's in the morph area, which is a common theme with morph. My H also has 2% morph, and it is the one number of his that's never moved over repeated SAs despite lifestyle changes and supplements. We're not sure how much stock to put in his first SA now because the count has been so different from the rest, but that could be due to the lifestyle/supplements. Anyway, from my experience and reading, like @LadyMillil said, morph is a tough one to pin down. For some people, it's no problem if the morph is low because their count is good and the sperm can still fertilize. For some people, morph bounces around and is easy to impact. For others, it's a real issue and it doesn't move around. We have a variety of factors at play on both sides of the aisle, so it's hard for me to say whether H's morph is a source of our problems. But hey, lifestyle changes and supplements are easy to try out at least. Good luck going forward, and we're here if you need anything.

Diagnosis (if you have one): OAT

How long have you been on this journey? 2.5 years. This month is my TTGP 1 yr anniversary, so that's fun...

Where are you right now in your treatment? Sort of at a standstill. We've decided we're not doing H's surgery (at least, I think we've decided, last time I thought that he threw a curve ball). We both agree that IVF is the best next logical step...now it's just a matter of getting that going. There are some non-TTC life factors that are fiddling with timing, but I'm hoping that we're able to get an ER scheduled within the next six months at the latest.

Any Questions??  Not at this point.

GTKY: What is your favourite makeup or beauty product you swear by and cannot live without?  I almost never wear makeup, so there's not really a makeup product that I can't live without, but I llooovvvveeee face masks. I also subscribe to the Yuzen box, and if you can count a subscription box as a single product, I pick that!

JuneRoseRuby

update- CD1 today. First monitoring appointment tomorrow for IUI with donor

ELeighMay

*runs to catch up*
Sorry ladies,  i didn't even think about the date when i posted in last week. 

Diagnosis (if you have one): Oligospermia and Teratozoospermia

How long have you been on this journey 19 months

Where are you right now in your treatment? DH's Dr. called and wants to do Clomid to see if he can increase our chances

GTKY: What is your favourite makeup or beauty product you swear by and cannot live without?   I'm terrible in the makeup department.  My entire makeup kit contains eye liner,  mascara,  and chapstick.  I can replace my entire makeup bag for about $6. That being said I swear by Oil of Olay lotion.  I have used it daily since about 15 years old,  as did my mother, and I am to this day wrinkle free. *knock on wood*. Part of it is obviously genetics,  but I swear moisturizing daily has helped.  Either way I guess I'll stick with it as long as I can to make myself believe it helps. 

@Businesswife I'm super excited for your IVF potential,  that's awesome!

@AlohaKumu That sucks your DH's surgery was a bust,  but hopefully the donor will help and you'll have a BFP in no time. I have a BSC MIL myself, so I feel your pain with the crazy overreaction.  What was your DH response to that?

@KristoKekerooni I'm excited for you,  that's awesome news! When will they do the IVF?

@LadyMillil My DH is extremely health conscious and is on all the recommended supplements. Beyond that they have been very clear that there's very little the medical field knows about Morph. It sucks,  but they have no idea why it happens and have no fix for it.  The call this morning requesting to put him on Clomid is thinking if they can at least increase his count it'll also increase his number of "good" ones helping our odds. I need to find out the cost of Clomid for us.  All of this is out of pocket for us so our options are very limited as to whst treatments we can try and the duration.

@Zwink1 We had a fluke BFP that resulted in our recent loss, but that means nothing going forward.   They have no idea if that'll happen again.  All of this is so frustrating. Like you said Morph is such a weird thing and different for everyone.  He said they could do another SA in a couple weeks, but they think our best odds would be too just jack up his count and hope it helps. 

Sorry if any tags don't work or spelling/grammar errors, TB mobile sucks. 

WitandWhimsy

Diagnosis (if you have one): 

Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia - I think this is the correct terminology but holy fuck what a long word.

How long have you been on this journey?

33 long ass cycles 

Where are you right now in your treatment? 

We are back NTNP for at least a year. It was a tough decision but ultimately we will probably need to IVF with ICSI in the future and I have a lot of weight to lose in order to do that plus we need to save actual $$.

The most DH can do right now is probably get back on the vitamin bandwagon and maybe there will be some improvements but I'm not holding out hope. It's so hard to get him to take a vitamin sheesh.

Of course a lot can happen in a year. We may go the donor route again.

Any Questions?? 

@AlohaKumu you mentioned using a known donor sperm. Just curious but are they testing through a clinic to have this done? 

GTKY: What is your favourite makeup or beauty product you swear by and cannot live without?   

Well I was in love with MAC's tinted moisturizer with SPF 30 but when I went to get some they said there was a recall?? But it looks like it's still for sale online.

AlohaKumu

@WitandWhimsy Our situation is atypical, since we are working with military docs for part of the testing/retrieval and a local fertility institute for the other stuff. It involves a ton of paperwork and we still have to have our donor do the FDA-required infectious disease test within seven days of the sperm donations. (The sperm donation and the infectious disease test will be at the fertility institute.) However, we can choose to have the results of that waived (not that I anticipate that there will be an issue) and the psych eval can also be waived. Some states/clinics require a mandatory six-month wait for known donors who are not current intimate partners. Our docs are willing to allow us to waive that in our particular situation, as long as we still get that FDA test done.

@ELeighMay I'm tagging @JuneRoseRuby, since it was her MIL situation that I referenced in the earlier post. (I hope your monitoring appt is awesome tomorrow, @JuneRoseRuby!)

ELeighMay

AlohaKumu @JuneRoseRuby - Sorry ladies, I was worried I'd missed a tag in there somewhere!

millpe

Hey guys! Sorry I am late this week I actually wasn't going to post in this thread since I feel like we aren't doing anything, but this is definitely where I most relate. 

@BusinessWife So happy about your three frosties!!! Thinking about family planning is a smart choice, especially while you have the coverage. 

@AlohaKumu  I'm so sorry about the situation, but so glad you are back and have a plan to move forward. 

@KristoKekerooni  I'm so hopeful for you! Sorry I'm no help with your insurance question. I haven't even looked into what mine covers. I got a letter that it has a separate $500 deductible and I know it covers IUI but I should probably look into IVF coverage since my Dr already mentioned that might be where I'm headed. 

@safire3  So happy about your embabies! Do you know when your FET will be scheduled and if anything changes because of the early freeze?

@JuneRoseRuby So to hear none of DHs sperm made it. That's such a hard reality to embrace, for both of you. I am furious at your MIL for you. This is a time that she should be giving both of you all the support and love you deserve.

@zwink1  this whole process seems to be hurry up and wait. I hope you and MH can stay on the same page and things work out to move forward. 6 months seems so long, but hopefully it will pass quickly  

@WitandWhimsy It sucks that you have to put off having a baby a year because of financial reasons, but I may be right there with you if we get to that point. 

@ELeighMay  Hopefully the clomid works for YH. 

Diagnosis (if you have one): low count (never even saw the actually numbers) 

How long have you been on this journey? Just a couple weeks  

Where are you right now in your treatment? waiting for DH to reschedule his urologist appointment. He also had knee surgery this week so I don't really know how that plays into this. I know they don't want a repeat SA until he is off narcotics. I don't know if he should also wait for the appointment in case they want to do bloodwork or anything?

Any Questions?? Not unless you know how his recent surgery would affect a urology appointment?  

GTKY: What is your favourite makeup or beauty product you swear by and cannot live without?   

Like others on here, I don't wear makeup. I guess mascara is my one "go to" thing if I need to look presentable, but I don't even have any right now  I need to get better about moisturizing though. 

safire3

@MrsMiller8588 I am waiting for AF. I will have my FET with my next cycle hopefully. I have no idea what they will do about the embies being frozen so early. I called to ask and I was told that since it is a special situation the RE and embryologist need to 'have a meeting' to decide. Hopefully I will get more info when I go in after AF starts.
I hope you and your H get some useful info from the urologist. If your H is up and can move around without pain then he should be ok for the appointment. They can always order the BW to be done at a later date. 

@ELeighMay my DH did clomid as well. Unfortunately it didn't seem to help his count much but it was about $50 for a 1 month supply OOP.

@zwink1 Sorry about the anniversary. Those really suck so hugs to you. I'm glad you guys have made a decision on what to do next and hoping you get the ball rolling soon!

@JuneRoseRuby hope your appointment goes well tomorrow. I am super excited for you!

@BusinessWife, @JuneRoseRuby Was the time from retrieval to AF the same as your usual LP? I'm just getting really impatient already I think. 

ELeighMay

@safire3 Thanks for the heads up,  that's less than I was expecting. 

[Deleted User]

@safire3 for me it was shorter. I'm usually 14 and this was more like just 10 days or so.... :/  I hope AF shows her stupid face sooooon!!!  Fx you wake up with it tomorrow ;)

@JuneRoseRuby Heeey, cycle buddy!!!  I have baselines tomorrow too, but it'll be cd3 for me. Lol. Fx so hard for this iui cycle!!!

*I hate autocorrect 

[Deleted User]

@ELeighMay we were OOP for our Clomid too, and I think it was not bad.  Maybe $18 for a month supply?  If memory serves???

ELeighMay

@BusinessWife $18!!! Now we're talking!

[Deleted User]

@ELeighMay ooh!  Don't forget to check goodrx, too.  You never know!

These deals are on 30 tabs of 50mg, which my H was only on a 1/4 tab a day.
<div class=" Spoiler"><img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/rr/ahf4uk276l8w.jpg" alt="" title="Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/rr/ahf4uk276l8w.jpg"></div>

ELeighMay

I'll do that. Anywhere we can save on meds I'm all over it. I know some people that order their meds online from other countries to save money, but I personally am way to skeptical of what you'd actually be getting to do that. It may be perfectly fine, but as I'm consistently the 1% in all things life, I would totally get rufied or some nonsense.

millpe

@safire3 I will start bugging DH again to make his appointment. He's already started PT so he has no excuse to not be up and moving Anxiously awaiting AF for you so you can move to FET! So exciting! 

JuneRoseRuby

Hey all, so US didn't go well. Ovaries are still enlarged from the retrieval. The doc gave me the option of canceling this cycle now, or waiting until after BW results from today as well as BW and US on Monday. So I chose to get BW and US on Monday before we determine we are out this month.  Booo

millpe

@JuneRoseRuby So sorry to hear about the appointment 

ELeighMay

JuneRoseRuby I'm sorry for the crappy news. FX you'll have better news Monday.

AlohaKumu

We just booked our sperm donor's flight!!!


@JuneRoseRuby I'm really sorry to hear about the continued ovary enlargement. I hope Monday brings better news!

ELeighMay

AlohaKumu 

[Deleted User]

@AlohaKumu. Omg that is so stupid-exciting!!!
<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/nj/do01zpxwz01q.gif" alt="">
<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/cj/6u04yo4ci0m0.gif" alt="">

[Deleted User]

@JuneRoseRuby.  Oh jeez.  I'm sorry about the hangup.  Fx the labs look good and Monday you are gtg.  I felt bad for my poor lil ovaries this morning too.  One 17mm cyst filled back up with fluid, and a 12mm hemmhoragic cyst!
Ivf is not exactly easy on the girls. :/
<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/yq/tux0dwpiesob.gif" alt="">

JuneRoseRuby

@AlohaKumu yes!! donor in flight!! 

AlohaKumu

@BusinessWife Dang those cysts! How frustrating

[Deleted User]

@AlohaKumu I know, I feel badly, like I know it's hard on the body.  But I'm hoping this will be the worst of it, and then it will all be worth it!!  I started my meds last night and I was totally exhausted still this morning.... I guess that means it's working!

AlohaKumu

@BusinessWife Is it weird that I'm kind of bummed that I didn't get to stim with you? (But, I am excited that my cycle is back on track from last month, so I can start my BC tomorrow.) I hope your energy returns soon!

[Deleted User]

@alohakumu  not at all!  I guess @adirat starts tomorrow, but here I thought we were all starting on like, the exact same day lol. How long will you be on BCPs for?