I understand you apprehension about going straight into ivf, but you might be just putting off the inevitable if you don't.
We had been TTC for 16 mths when we sought help. My hubby had a sperm count of 7million and morphology and motility that were borderline ok so we were reffered to the FS. When we saw the FS we found out that I also have PCOS. We wanted to do things as natural as possible. Our FS reccommended that we start with IUI and that IVF may be an option. We were reluctant to do IUI and asked if we could just do fertility drugs like clomid. Our FS said we could try this but it probably take a very long time to get pregnant. As were young (me 23, DH 26), we pointed out that we had plenty of time, our FS agreed that we had plenty of time but said that we shouldn't waste the time we have. So we went ahead with IUI and GOT PREGNANT on the 1st go!! During the few months before our IUI I made my DH take a zinc supplement to help his sperm count. I think it helped as on the day of our IUI his count was 11 million.
I think your DH should take the vitamins ( they can't do any harm), and if it were me, I'd go with the IVF now rather than later...... Who knows you may only need the one full cycle of IVF.
Stay Positive
All the best with your journey. It's worth it in the end.
I have read through everyone's comments and they are all very good points - loads of support in BB.
My DH and I have been TTC#1 since 2006. We tried for quite a while naturally, then I had all the tests and so did DH, nothing turned up for me but DH has low/poor count/mobility.
I think his count started about 5mil but has at times gone up to 21mil (varies a lot). FS recommended Menevit which we think has helped his count etc a little as well as giving up the ciggies.
We had a couple of tries with IUI, both BFN but because his samples are always so varied this is why our FS has now reccommended we go onto IVF. But if we hadnt done the IUI we wouldnt have known how varied DH's count etc could be so I am happy we did that first and gave it a shot.
So to cut a long story short, If i were you i would give IUI a go ASAP because everyone is different and it may be all you guys will need - it may work 1st time. And it is certainly a lot cheaper than IVF. It may give you some more knowledge on ART as well and your situation, even if it doesnt work.
Hope that helps. Hope you can make sense of it - im not very good with words.
Whatever your decision, I wish you all the very best and hope you get your BFP very soon!
Thanks everyone for your thoughtful replies. It's such a help to hear your opinions when we are just so confused and in shock still.
Farmgirl - IVF IS a stressful decision and I really have no gut feeling about where to go. One minute I'm thinking, "No, I want to try a bit longer naturally" and the next I'm saying, "Who am I kidding? It needs to be IVF so the sooner we start, the better"
Jellybean - I think DH will take the vitamins no matter what. Congrats on achieving your pregnancy first go!
Loops - Wow, that's a huge variation in sperm count. Maybe DH should have his tests repeated to see if there's any difference??
Beata - I am trying not to blame DH, but part of me does feel it's unfair that I'm the one who'll have to go through all the invasive IVF stuff when there's nothing wrong with me in the first place! It feels unfair and almost wasteful even. And I know that DH feels like everything is his fault, and I feel awful that part of me is upset with him too!
WLB - Yeah, it's so hard just trying to get my head around everything, and it's all happened so quickly and taken us by surprise.
I can't really add a lot to what the others have said except to say that if you do decide to go down the IVF path the better quality the sperm is the better chance of success you have anyway. So no matter what I would be putting him on Memevit right now, and doing a google search on how to increase sperm quality. Things like, stopping smoking, drinking, cycling. Reducing stress levels (IVF won't help that one at all!), not having not showers or baths, ejaculating every 2-3 days (whether you feel like it or not - got to keep the boys moving through the system), stopping playing any contact sport, turning off the electric blanket, getting up and moving more if he sits down all day at work, boxers not briefs, and adding antioxidants to your diet all help - but this is in no way a comprehensive list.
Also, you may not know that it takes about 60-90 days for a sperm to grow - so what happened 2 -3 months ago plays a huge bearing on quality and quantity.
Thanks Muppity - those are all great suggestions. DH could definitely work on the stress part, and he sits down all day, but he doesn't drink (much!), smoke or cycle and has just switched to boxers - though he's complaining that he keeps sitting on/squashing things and reckons he's doing more damage now than before when they were 'contained' !
We've made an appointment with an IVF nurse for next week just to get as much info as we can, so are hoping that will help us make a decision. We still really don't know what to do, though...
hi we were told to look into ivf, my dh count was 8m and the drs were shocked because he was only 29 at the time, doesnt smoke, hardly drinks, wears boxers, eats pretty good, plays sports, got me preg 2 times many years ago,so there was nothing left for him to tell us to try.
i made some calls and he was put straight on menevit, and some vitamin c and a few months later he had another test done and came back 22m and every single part of his test was perfect.
so we arent sure if the vitamin c or menevit worked or if his stress levels were better, but what ever did it it worked wonderful.
now its back to paying attention to ttc.
id say give it a go before doing ivf, u never know.
the menevit seems to be the way men are going these days.
good luck
Jo
DH and I, after much discussion and a long chat with the IVF nurse, have decided to give the Menevit and a few other measures a go for a few months and see where we go from there. I don't think either of us (but me especially) are ready for IVF at the moment. I still have hope that we might be able to improve DH's sperm and fall preg naturally and I don't think I'm quite ready to give up that dream yet. I think that we'll be ready for IVF when we know we've done everything we can (that's less invasive) for ourselves.
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