Is it time to give in???

[Elzi]

Hey ladies, i would really value your input here, TIA.

Been TTC #1 for 21 months.

6 months into TTC my FS ran tests and found:
i have PCO's causing irregular long cycles (which wasmy reason to seek FS help)
DH has extremely poor sperm quality (to the point where i am not permitted to take clomid)
Our only chance apparently is ICSI.

Then i had an early m/c mid last yr (the month i decided to try vitex). 2 cycles later (October) i had an ectopic but didn't lose a tube.

I don't know whether i should keep ignoring our fertility problems and continue TTC naturally - or if it is now time for me to submitt to me FS's treatment plan (ICSI).

Please help i feel lost in a sea of thoughts...

[Queen]

I am sorry for your hard, long journey
I have no advice really I just had to reply.
I hope someone has a good answer for you

[Elzi]

Thanks Queen, everyones just so lovely here... including you!

[Queen]

Thanks Queen, everyones just so lovely here... including you!

Awww

[Liviam]

This is a really tough question that only you can answer. You will see on here some women who have gone through years and years of fertility treatments and are pregnancy or holding their little miracles in their arms and some women who are still trying and waiting for their forever miracle. If you decide to continue on your assisted fertility treatment you will find so much incredible support on here.
Best of luck with your decision and will be praying for a BFP for you in the very near future.

[Muppity]

Hi Elzi

Did your FS make any recommendations about ways to improve DH's sperm quality? I only ask because if you are considering going down the ICSI path then putting in some effort to get the boys well and truly ready is a good idea.

There is noone who can tell you when is the right time to switch to IVF, a bit depends on your age etc but I suppose that given that they are saying that ICSI is the only way but you have had 2 pregnancies I may be seeking another opinion. Usually ICSI is only used when the chance of achieving a pregnancy through even normal IVF is low.

When I was in a position similar to yours I went back and had DH tested again and then FS put him on a high dose antioxidant regime (depends of course on what the DH issue is) and said that it would take 3 months for that to take full effect so go home and have fun in the meantime and see what happens. In our case nothing happened naturally in the meantime but when we then went back to ICSI the super sperm tablets seems to have done the trick.

and goodluck. It is a hard journey this whole TTC thing even before they throw the extra hurdles in the way.

[onthefly]

Yep, me personally I would look into ways to help DH's sperm quality.
There are supplements, as mentioned, that can help.
Also lifestyle changes - ie, diet, exercise, reducing alcohol, stop smoking (if he does), etc
Work out a plan, give it a few months to see if there's any effect, then look into IVF/ICSI.

Good luck!

[Elzi]

Thank you all for your suggestions.

My DH's infertility is apparently genetically caused and FS says there's nothing that could really help. That's why she said she personally would go straight to ICSI. See my DH is majorly below average in most areas tested regarding his sperm.

But i have researched supplements and vitamins that are supposed to help and have my DH taking them.

I think i might just give it a couple of months - and then give it a try...

[onthefly]

Sounds like you've got a plan.
Good luck!

[JBF]

I don't think trying to improve your own health or your your DH's at any time in the TTC journey is a bad idea no matter what the cause of your fertility issues is.
Just to let you know of an ICSI success story we had 7 stim cycles in total and from the 2nd cycle onwards all the eggs were fertilised using ICSI. Despite my husband having very good sperm on the initial testing for some reason when left to their own devices two sperm were managing to get into my eggs (super sperm? more likely not so strong eggs!). So there are many reasons for using ICSI to control this step in the process and it is not always just for those people who have only a small chance of IVF success.

Try not to read too much into all the diagnoses you are given and stick with the things that you can control. Your own health, exercise and attitude and if you decide to do IVF then the support is out there to get you through it.

Good luck

[MummaSue]

Hey,

I'm sorry to hear of all your struggles babes, it's a hard journey.

I agree with what everyone else has said. I also just want to add that being in the right frame of mind to start IVF is really important. It took DH and I 2 years to get into the right head space from when we got our diagnosis of all my issues to when we actually took the plunge and did IVF. But we just knew when it was right and it worked first time for us. But we talked about it to death before we did anything about it - it has to be right for you both.

Hugs and good luck
Sue xx

[JBF]

This is true, you do have to be feeling comfortable with the idea of all the intervention because frankly there is not much that is vary natural about IVF. But if you go into it with the attitude that you now have a really solid game plan and are doing something extremely active towards getting pregnant it can be a positive move forward in your TTC journey I think. This very interventionist aspect appeals to some and not to others.

[Elzi]

Thankyou ladies, I agree with all of you, and really appreciate your input - it has helped me compose my thoughts and begin being a little more proactive, rather than just sitting there being all depressed about my situation...

XXXXXXXX for you all!!

oh, and it's nice to know that there is sooo much support here when i do decide to go for IVF.