Male Fertility Issues...

FLY106 · May 2015

Hello Ladies!!!!

I decided to open this discussion because although I've read some personal stories about the struggle with MFI, I feel like it hasn't really been discussed that much on here. My husband and I have been struggling with this issue for 3 years. We've had two failed IUI and just don't know what to do anymore. A lot of people have advised us to go the IVF route but right now that just isn't an option for us. What has been your experience? What treatments have u decided on? Supplements? Accupuncture? Amount of abstinence days to improve count and motility? Timing on fertility drugs, trigger shots, procedures? Any success? Please share ur experiences. I know it would be easier to read them on one post instead of searching through them all.

jesselayne8 · May 2015

What do your husbands numbers look like? Unless all his numbers are low in all 3 categories, I would try another IUI or 2. If it's low all 3 then yes IVF would definitely be the way to go. We have MFI and PCOS. I got pregnant on IUI #3 with Gonal-F plus trigger plus progesterone. It was my first cycle with more than one mature follicle. DH has low morph and low motility but a good count.

FLY106 · May 2015

His numbers are low in all three areas. He first had a 800,000 sperm count, after 3 months on Clomid it only improved by 1,000. That is when we were referred to RE. He changed prescription to Femara and after 3 month, his numbers improved to 10M, motility 20% and morphology to 3%. That is when we were given the go for IUI. RE also suggested DH try Fertility Blend to improve motility. On our first IUI count was 15M, 70% motility and 3% morphology after wash. Second IUI his numbers were 7M, 20% motility and 4% morphology after wash. Numbers have improved but they go up and down, depending on time of abstinance. I guess I'm trying to give us better results using supplements and timing things a bit better. I know those numbers can improve, I just need to figure out how.

jesselayne8 · May 2015

Did you take any meds for the IUIs? I would probably try 1-3 more IUIs with the RE if you don't feel emotionally or financially ready for IVF at this point since his numbers improved so much from the femara. GL!

FLY106 · May 2015

I did!!! Took 100mg of Clomid both times. Thank you!!! I def want to try IUI again, just taking some time to figure out if there's something else we could add to improve numbers a bit more. This would give us better odds.

mnj05 · May 2015

We are MFI due to cancer and I'm annovulatory. We went to straight to IVF rather than IUI but no amount of vitamins or drugs would increase DH's numbers; he is low in all three as well. I would say go for another IUI too. Although I don't think anyone can ever really prepare themselves for IVF, you at least need to be as mentally ready as possible before jumping in.

dp21 · May 2015

Can't really add much to alternatives but wanted to wish you good luck and I'd try another IUI too. But we had MFI + DOR. They advised us to go straight to IVF. We have tried to increase sperm count on clomid with no success. We ended up doing IVF with ICSI. Being told you need to do IVF is heartbreaking. The cost, the worry, anxiety all came flooding in. Luckily for us, we did get pregnant first IVF try and now have a beautiful daughter.

CarrieB. · May 2015

My DH was able to improve his numbers to borderline by doing acu, TCM herbs, fertility vitamins and organic foods, however then I was dx DOR and we did IVF w ICSI anyway.

Good luck!

1983Lindsey2 · May 2015

DH had low morphology (2%) and boarderline low motility and count. We started him on Fertility Blend for Men at the max dosage for faster results, which was 4 pills a day, and the next month for our IUI his count was WAY up and so was the motility. I don't remember the exact numbers, but I think IUI #1 was around 7 million post wash, and then after starting the meds it was over 20 million for the rest. It stayed up and he cut back to 2 pills a day way for IUI #2, #3 and #4 (which was ultimately successful). We also put him on CoQ10 for morphology, but I am not sure if that helped or not as that wasn't tested every IUI like the count and motility was. I know IVF does have the highest success rate, but it might be worth trying some of the vitamins and see if they help. Good luck!

ladyteach0505 · June 2015

For what it's worth-

We are Endo and MFI with low count, low motility, and really low morphology.

We were initially optimistic about supplements because we have one of the region's top male fertility specialists in our town and he had a mix of things he puts all of his patients on initially with reasonable success- CoQ10 among them, though I forget the other two now- but they were supposed to help get us to a point of being able to try IUI. Unfortunately, DH's numbers actually got WORSE after taking the supplements for 2 months. We don't know if it was a coincidence, but the male fertility specialist literally had no answers for us and never did really make suggestions for what else we should do. It was frustrating as well as terrifying because here was the male fertility specialist throwing his hands up like, "Well, good luck to you both."

Even as we were working with this male fertility specialist my heart told me we were going to be trying IVF and not knowing how long our process would take to begin if we did do IVF I had begun seeing an RE to get the ball rolling if we didn't get DH's numbers up. I am so glad that I did. When we got the news that there was basically no news from the male fertility specialist we already had an appointment with the RE scheduled the following month, which really gave me something to focus on- a feeling like we were "doing something". When we met with RE he told us we had a 2% chance with DH's numbers of IUI working. With IUI NOT being covered by insurance and costing us 3 grand a pop out of pocket we felt strongly that we had to go "all in" with IVF. The process was daunting. We literally backed out only to jump back in at the very last minute when the doctor called me personally to urge us to do it.

We are lucky. We are incredibly lucky. It worked the first time. Not everyone gets that and I don't want to say IVF is for everyone. But we also participated in a money back program that would have given us 3 fresh and 3 frozen cycles with a 70% refund if we hadn't been successful- it is something I highly recommend if your clinic offers it and you qualify.

Best wishes to you!

SharonB222 · June 2015

We had mild to moderate MFI and FFI - couldn't quite say what the problem was so after 8 yrs IF/RPL we hit it on all fronts (and had saved for IVF by then, pursuing foster/adopt). Previously, DH did TCM (the easy kind, then the boil the roots, filter and drink mud kind) which improved SA for a bit. For IVF, RE prescribed him vitamins and he had his first near normal SA in 8 yrs; sperm DNA integrity was 100% (perfect!). Combined with the procedures to address my FFI, success followed. My story is not very encouraging in that "the journey" was long and awful, but it is in that perseverance was rewarded. FX for you!

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