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Varicocele Surgery or Straight to IVF?

kaneann24kaneann24 member
in Trouble TTC
Hi ladies, my DH has a varicocele and two urologist said his low sperm count is probably do to the varicocele.  Both urologist suggested surgery but said that there is only a 70% chance that his counts will improve after the surgery and it could take 6 to 9 months to see a change.  One urologist said that if the sperm count does not increase, the surgery will at least help him produce healthier sperm.   My RE said that we can forget about the surgery and move straight to IVF.  Our insurance covers some IF treatments including my DH's surgery but not IVF.   One part of me says to have the surgery and see if we can conceive naturally or at least with IUI.  The other part of me says go for the IVF because who knows if the surgery will even work.  Have any of you ladies faced this situation and if so what did you do. 
TTC since Jan. 2012. DX =low AMH level. 1st SA=within normal range. SA for 1st IUI = low count Jan. 2013: 150 mg clomid + IUI = BFN
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Re: Varicocele Surgery or Straight to IVF?

  • jebretzjebretz member
    No personal experience, but a good friends DH had the surgery, and she was unexpectedly pregnant 2 or 3 months later. I would give the surgery a go before spending money on IVF. I feel like it is a relatively easy surgery where IVF is really hard on your
    TTC since May 2011
    Provera x3 late 2011, no natural response. (Previous BCP for 12 years).
     Dx PCOS April 2012. 
    Clomid x 4 - no response.
    First FSH/Ovidrel cycle early Aug 2012 - 18 days of injections, slow growth, erratic estrogen levels, triggered Aug 21st. 
    BFP Sept 4th and Sept 7th! 
     7wk US Sept 28th - triplets! 
    Perfect triplets lost at 20 weeks due to incompetent cervix. Allison Grace, James Alexander and Colin Gregory forever in our hearts!  
    IVF #1 10/11/13 -  canceled before retrieval.  
    IVF# 2 11/28/13 - retrieval on Turkey Day! Hyperstim - no transfer
    FET #1 2/4/14 - miscarriage @ 9 weeks (Trisomy 6) 
    FET #2 6/8/14 - healthy normal baby! Due date 2/25/15
         Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers
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  • babydreams13babydreams13 member
    I would go for the surgery.  Then there is a chance you can conceive naturally or with IUI.  For me IVF is the last resort.  
    ***SIGGY WARNING***

    DX: Unexplained
    6 Failed IUIs (Clomid and Gonal F).  
    IVF #1 began August 2013- BC, 4 days of Estrace, stimmed with Gonal F and Menopur, Ganirelix, 9R 5M 5F, Medrol and Doxycycline, 5 day transfer of 2 early blastocysts- good quality, Progesterone, Estrace, and baby aspirin, BETA on 9/20 BFN,   IVF #2 began September 2013, stimming with Gonal F (higher dose) and Menopur, Ganirelix, 18R 14M 9F with ICSI, 5 day transfer of 2 BBs one was starting to hatch, 2 frosties: 1  BB and 1 AC, BETA on 10/21, BFN BETA was a 5- chemical 
    Getting some more testing and trying to figure out what the issue is before FET in December, started acupuncture on 11/10, RLP and some other BW nothing major to report except slightly high Prolactin. Prolactin was slightly high when I started with my RE and I already had an MRI which was Neg.  Endo biopsy=negative.  WTF is wrong with us???
    12/18/13 FET of 1 BB and 1 AC.  Hoping for a miracle.  Beta 12/26 Low BETA-8 2nd BETA 5- chemical
    After 3 failed transfers IDK where to go from here.  Still no real answers as to why this isn't working.  Getting a second opinion in February and looking into immune testing.  
    2/14- NEW RE- Immune testing showed a partial dq alpha match with DH- On prednisone and did intralipids prior to transfer.  3/14 Lupron, gonal f, menopur, HGH.  ER 15 mature all 15 fertilized!  5dt of an early blast grade 1 and an expanded blast grade 2.  BETA on 4/21.  1 grade 2 embryo frozen
    BETA #1 59 BETA #2 148 BETA #3 283 BETA #4 2,783! US at 6w2d shows 1 bean measuring right on track! HR 121.  US at 8w3d measuring on track HR 177. Released form my RE.  EDD 12/28


    All Welcome
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  • kaneann24kaneann24 member
    Thanks ladies for the advice.  I really appreciate it. 
    TTC since Jan. 2012. DX =low AMH level. 1st SA=within normal range. SA for 1st IUI = low count Jan. 2013: 150 mg clomid + IUI = BFN
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  • happygirl1013happygirl1013 member

    We did the surgery in February 2013 and are waiting until may 2013 for the follow up analysis to see if it worked.  We decided to do the surgery because the urologist said because my DHs varicocele was severe (20+ dialated veins) we had a higher c

    IVF #1 Oct 2013- cancelled 
    IVF #2 Mar 2014- success.... baby girl born 11/28/14
    FET #1 Mar 2016- baby boy due 12/16/16


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  • katib77katib77 member

    The question of age can come in to play when considering this.  I've seen several woman's husband's on this board in the past three years get the surgery.  Some have seen improvements, some have not.  None have improved greatly


    TTC since July 2009. Dx MFI & LPD. 
    IUI#1&2&3 (2011 & 2012) BFN
    IUI#4 1/23/13 on 75iu x9 Follistim = BFP then chem preg m/c (Feb 2013)
    IUI#5 BFN (April 2013)
    IVF w/ICSI Oct. 2, 2012 - 13R, 11M, 7F, 1 frozen blast 4BB grade - - - FET Nov 15, 2013
    BFP! Beta 1:104 @ 10dp6dt, Beta 2:178 @ 12dp6dt,  beta 3:366 @ 14dp6dt
    Saw heartbeat twice before missed M/C at 8w3d on 12/27/13, missing my little angel boy
    JUNE 2014 IVF#2;  5R, 2M, 1F Three day transfer 6/7.  Beta 6/18 - BFN
    Child Free Now?
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  • Peanutz21Peanutz21 member

    We are in the same boat. The ultrasound said the varicocele was mild and small. We talked about it with the RE to get his opinion: surgery vs no surgery. At the end of the day because his numbers are on the lower end we felt that a surgery to fix a sma


    TTC#2
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    Our little IVF miracle born 5/7/2014
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  • candrew05candrew05 member

    I've read several posts now about getting varicocele surgery done or not.  Has anyone else heard that it can also be fixed by an interventional radiologist?  When we first heard that my DH had a moderate-severe varicocele and his count was at

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