WWIFVD? (long)

illinigal

Ugh? so frustrated.  Not sure if you recall my latest story.  Dh started taking clomid 6-7 weeks ago.  We planned to do IVF 5 in July, but decided to push it back to Sept to give the meds time.  The MFI uro said we couldn?t repeat SA for 3 months.  Dh had bloodwork on Fri 7/6 to test testosterone and other hormone levels.  We finally got the results of that today.  The nurse said testosterone went up to 8.08 which is good.  (I don?t recall number before clomid.)  However, nurse said dh?s Estradiol/estrogen is higher than we would like, which is bad.  (She didn?t give me the Estradiol number.)  She said this means extra testosterone is being converted and stored as estrogen.  Thus, we need to block this conversion from happening.  Therefore, they prescribed a new prescription of Anastrazole (generic for Arimidex) for dh to take with the clomid.  Dh needs to have bloodwork again in 4 weeks to see if the Estradiol is where it should be.

I asked the nurse about the SA since we had to wait 3 months and I thought it was 3 months from starting clomid.  She said no, it is 3 months from when we get Dh?s hormone levels where we want them.  If the Estradiol is good in 4 weeks, then nurse said we can use today as the start date of the 3 month window.  Otherwise, if it is not good, then they will need to tweak the meds or something and who knows how long that will take.

IVF 4 in Feb was a bust since we had ER but didn?t make it to ET.  At that time, dh and I agreed to try IVF again and if it worked, I would continue be a SAHW/M.  Otherwise, we agreed I had to look for a new job before we could afford to try IVF 6.  We figured cycling would be easier if I wasn?t working, especially if I got a new job that it would be hard to justify wanting time off right away.  DH was busy at work in April & May, so we planned to do IVF 5 in July, which we pushed back when dh started seeing the new MFI uro and they put him on clomid per above.

Now, I don?t know what to do.  I need to talk to dh, but am interested in your opinions.  Do we continue to wait to see if the clomid & new med helps dh, do the repeat SA in 3 months and cycle after that.  We are hoping the SA improves, but what if it doesn?t?!  If SA doesn?t improve, we will do IVF anyway, which would now be Oct-Nov at the earliest with the 3 month wait for SA situation.  If SA improves dramatically, we may consider IUI or TI.  I hate to spend the money on IVF if we don?t have to.  However, we have the money and I?m sick of waiting.  I feel guilty being home without kids and not having a job and I feel like it keeps getting pushed back further.  Should we do IVF asap (which would probably be Sept at this point anyway since I?m mid-cycle now and they want me on BCP beforehand) and just hope it works since he doesn?t really need good count or morph for IVF with ICSI?  Then, if IVF doesn?t work, dh will still be on the meds and we can try on our own while I look for a job and maybe find one.

Sorry this is so long.  Feeling sad and frustrated today.

PrettyAccountant

Hey Sweetie. I would have to say wait (I know easier said than done). DH was also put on Clomid and the same thing happened. He was put on Arimidex and when they found sperm I thought we were home free. We were told by the uro to wait another couple of months after that but we were so eager we just couldn't. Well needless to say that IVF was a bust - we only had one egg fertilize. The drs said the sperm would get stronger and better - and it did.

I know waiting is so hard. Good luck. I wish this was easier on all of us.

mtlaurel

I would probably wait (though it would be hard), if it seems possible for improvements that could lead to IUI instead of IVF. If such improvements do not materialize, then all you've done is delayed IVF a few extra months, as opposed to putting yourself through a cycle under potentially less than optimal conditions. Good luck making a decision.

Gregermis

I'd have to agree with PP and wait.  Maybe look for an easy part time job now to help keep you busy?  Hen you'll feel better, but not so overwhelmed when you do cycle again?

AmCheri

I don't know anything about MFI, but I would say that Pretty Accountant's advice seems solid.  Big hugs sweetie.  

Jlynn3

mtlaurel:

I would probably wait (though it would be hard), if it seems possible for improvements that could lead to IUI instead of IVF. If such improvements do not materialize, then all you've done is delayed IVF a few extra months, as opposed to putting yourself through a cycle under potentially less than optimal conditions. Good luck making a decision.

This exactly. Big big (((hugs))) 

blueberries8

I know very little about this, so take what I say with a grain of salt, but a few thoughts --

1) I know 3 months is ideal to see if there is an improvement and probably before 3 mos. it is hard to say much of anything if there isn't an improvement, but would it be possible to do a S/A monthly just to see what's going on? That way if there is an improvement before 3 months you could presumably cycle sooner.

2) Does your RE think DH's MFI has played a factor in your failed IVFs? If it's neither here nor there and the hiccups seem to be more in your response, then I think that gives some support to just proceeding along with IVF sooner rather than later. If the RE/DH's uro think that an improvement in DH's sperm could increase your chances of a successful IVF outcome in a big way, that would definitely support waiting to see if the Clomid will help.

To simplify the decision-making I might take the possibility of IUI/TI out of the equation..it would be amazing if that becomes an option, but I think it will be really disappointing if holding on to that possibility is the only thing encouraging you to wait and then it doesn't pan out.

GL, illingal - thinking of you guys!

reb259

Jlynn3:

mtlaurel:

I would probably wait (though it would be hard), if it seems possible for improvements that could lead to IUI instead of IVF. If such improvements do not materialize, then all you've done is delayed IVF a few extra months, as opposed to putting yourself through a cycle under potentially less than optimal conditions. Good luck making a decision.

This exactly. Big big (((hugs))) 

I know it is hard but I would wait too...

amethystgrrl

Gregermis:

I'd have to agree with PP and wait.  Maybe look for an easy part time job now to help keep you busy?  Hen you'll feel better, but not so overwhelmed when you do cycle again?

I agree here, would you have any interest in a low-key p/t job? Good luck to you...

LaLe09

I'm so sorry that you are having to plan whether or not to get a job dependent on your IVF success and/or sperm sucess. That sounds very stressful and I honestly feel like you and your hubby probably know what it best based on your own financial situation. Although I will say, I got a new job earlier this year and it has really improved my mood. So I think your emotional well-being should be a factor as well. Like you said- you don't feel good about being at home without kids. I kind of feel that way too when I get home from work to an empty house. I feel like kids should be there, it can be very depressing.

As far as the sperm factor goes. I agree with you that clomid therapy is a much longer process than advertised! We were given the 3 month line too. It took 5 months just to get DH's testosterone up after several dose changes. His sperm count hasn't improved yet, but when we tested it, it was right after his hormones were where we wanted them at. So we are retesting this week actually to see if there is any improvement. We decided that we will cycle no matter what in September (at that point, it will have been about 8 months of clomid). We also just added arimidex last week too. Also, our new uro actually wants to try a TESE this time since we have not had success yet with ejaculated sperm. We may fertilize half eggs with TESE sperm and half with ejaculate. This is still kind of up in the air, but is currently what we are discussing. I'm up for trying anything at this point.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Delta04

I am so very sorry that you have to go through this.  I cannot imagine how frustrating this is for you.  But I agree with the ladies above, I would probably wait.  Lord knows it is easier said than done.  When DH had his surgery and started meds, it felt like an enternity.  GL in your decision.  ::hugs::

Kitttkattt

I would do IVF ASAP. I don't understand the concern over the sperm. Honestly. My H had a vasectomy and we had to do a sperm retrieval and only 500,000 were retrieved. That's cause he refused to keep getting stuck, they wanted a million. We were told using icsi that 500,000 was plenty for 3 fresh cycles. Your eggs are only getting older too. I don't want to sound mean, I just want you to have the baby you deserve, as one loss lady to another. I say IVF with ICSI ASAP.