Retrograde Ejaculation

blingbling0828

 I posted this on a different board and was told to come here.

 Hi ladies,

I am recently married. I know at some point in the future my husband and I will want to have kids. He now has retrograde ejaculation from a procedure he had done last year. Do any of you have any experience with this or had success with an IUI or IVF? I would really love some input. Thanks!

TJ1979

No experience, but I had success with IUI. GL!

Dragonfly1226

I don't have any experience with this either, it it seems to me that you are a good candidate for both treatments. We are unexplained, and IVF #2 brought us DS. I am ow pregnant as a result of a FET. Good luck!!!

jesselayne8

I would guess it depends on how much sperm can be collected.  If a TESE is needed to get sperm then I am guessing IVF you be a better option.  

TXwife9

DH has retrograde ejaculation due to diabetes. He also has low motility and count. We had two cancelled IUI's because post wash numbers were just not good. We did IVF and got DD, and now I am pg from IVF #2. DH was on a regimen that included imipramine and sudafed taken multiple times per day for about 7 days before ER, which enabled him to provide a sample no problem. He used this regimen for both IVF cycles and for several other semen samples. If you want more information you can PM me.

KLMidwest

Yes, I do.  My husband has this.  We tried 5 iui's without success, but then did "home insemination" on our own and the fifth time worked.   Our first child is due in February and so far, everything with the pregnancy is normal.

 Know that it can take a while, and I suggest seeing a urologist to check sperm count and any other issues.  My husband had low testosterone and they put him on clomid.  We also tried taking extra supplements - with all this, his sperm count tripled in 3 months (and it was in the normal range to start).

It may not work, but it's worth a try.  Worked for us and saved us from having to do IVF!

blingbling0828

Thanks for the responses! This gives me hope! He does go to a urologist. He just had his testosterone level checked and I believe it was 340. I know thats within the low side of normal. He was on clomid for a while but we switched urologist and he didn't want to put him back on clomid unless the hubs still feels tired and all the other symtoms of low testostorone. He goes back in 3 months. Okay I may sound like an idiot but how do they test sperm count for someone who has RE?

KLMidwest

He has to void his bladder after an orgasm, since the sperm is in his bladder. The RE we went to had DH take sodium bicarbonate pills (they're OTC at the pharmacy) the day before and morning of each attempt, to help neutralize the acid in the urine.  My DH would void his bladder right before, then we just BD'ed (since it doesn't come out on its own anyway!) and after that he would ejaculate into a cup.  There is a post ejaculate void as well that the RE had him use a second cup to collect separately (they had to combine the two samples one time for an IUI attempt, but most times we just used the first one).  The urlogist or RE should be able to give you instructions on what thet prefer you do. 

 I completely understand about needing hope,  it took us a year to get pregnant after starting infertility treatments, and were shocked that we were able to do it on our own in the end.  We never thought it would actually work, but I did find a few other case studies from medical journals so we figured we had nothing to lose.

Look up vitamin supplements as well, there's plenty of information in books and online.  DH did that took extra vitamins for about 4 months with the clomid.  We're not sure what ultimately worked, but the fact I'm pregnant with a healthy baby is proof that it's worth trying! 

Aura lee

My DH has this as well.  The dr would have drink a mix of water and baking soda the night before and morning of, then pee into a cup after ejaculating.  We were able to get sperm for IVF, not IUI.  We tried the sudafed route but I was scared he was going to have a stroke from the high dose they had put him on.  It also prevented him from sleeping, and he felt really jittery. Not worth it!

 However, I'm now pregnant with twins!  There is totally hope.  I married my DH knowing this was going to be an issue for us, and while it wasn't the easiest path to take, it was totally worth it. 

blingbling0828

Aura Lee! Congrats to you! We have an appointment 2/25 to make an action plan with the specialist!. I am little scared about the sudafed route as well! Thank you for replying! I am hoping by the end of this summer I will be saying I am expecting!