A partial answer, but poor DH :(

[Liz]

Well, the ever so serious hugs that I was coming in here to give you and your DH are now spoilt by me laughing at your last post! I remember reading that story too. It was a short story.. think we might have even done it in English at school! ETA: I just looked it up... it was Roald Dahl! I remember those stories! haha.

I really hope, as devastating as the news is, that it's actually a big step forward for you. Now you have more info to work with and can start trying to boost his numbers. *hug*

[nothing2lose]

I love it N2L!

I do my best

[Hollybolly]

Guarantee you won't turn into a bee, lol!!! That's hilarious!

Do you have any Go Vita health food shops where you are? They're the most common place you'll find it... Or any other specialty health food store.
From what I know it's not really in chemists. I have seen small vials in one chemist and they were crazy expensive... They have shots of ginseng etc in them, they're more for body builders etc... So don't get those

It should come in a small glass jar (a little like a pot of lip gloss) and will be in the fridge. You can also order it online. The jar should cost you around $20, it's only a small jar so seems a little pricey, but you only have a teaspoon a day so it's not really

Otherwise, the capsules are fine!
I took the fresh but I got DH the capsules because I knew he wouldn't stick to the fresh because of the flavour.. It's not that fabulous
I broke open a capsule to see and it was actually the fresh liquid inside... So not much difference really. Ive recommended it to heaps of girls since using it myself, some used fresh, some capsules.
It worked just as well either one

When I had my eggs collected on our last cycle, the scientist was amazed in the improvement of my egg quality... She asked me what I'd done differently and couldn't believe it when I told her.

If you search royal jelly here, all of my original threads about it should come up... There's some fantastic info Limeslice posted in one of them.

[kass]

Hi keike
My dh also has less than brilliant sperm (and also didn't take it super well ) unfortunately unless there is a physical problem (eg veins) there isn't much that can be done to drastically change things, however if any of the following apply he could get improved results by making changes:

Avoid:
Long periods of sitting - truck drivers and taxi drivers are 'high risk' jobs
Lots of cycling
Working with chemicals
Being over or underweight
Smoking
Eating soy products
Too many beers

You probably know this already but just in case, some factors that influence the test:
How many days abstaining before hand (should be 3 or 4)
Any recent illness ( it takes about three months for them to develop)
Time between collection and testing

General things that are meant to help are:

Zinc and folate to increase numbers
Selenium, Vitamin C and E to promote forward movement
Regular, um, usage - no saving up!

Hope something in that is helpful - and get retested in 3 months - you never know - things could be a lot better!

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

I'm learning so many things you'd think I would've known after 4 1/2 years! I didn't realise he had to have 'regular usage' - it's not months, but we frequently go up to a couple of weeks with nothing, because I bleed a lot. Not lots of bleeding, but enough to stop any action. He used to be a 3 day guy, but I've broken him of that, which is probably not something to be proud of. We make the effort when I feel like I'm ovulating, but we've never actually been tested to see if I'm releasing an egg or just feeling like I am.

[teresa]

i cant imagine what you are going thru but couldnt not read this and not post

my best friend is going thru all of this at the moment. over the last 4 years they have had several miscarriages and tests to try and rule out what the cause was. her tests kept coming back normal with her FS not finding anything. her DH who is in the defence force had a SA done thru them 2 years ago which they told him were normal. last year her FS decided to do another SA to make sure he was ok as he didnt trust the defence tests and found out that her DH has a 5% motility rate. needless to say he was absolutely gutted. they started IVF this week with monday just gone egg pick up and supposed to be a transfer on friday but she is in hospital at the moment with gall stones so that now wont be happening.

i hope you get some good news soon xx

[lise]

Keike,

We were in a similar position several years ago, DH's SA results came back and he had the trifecta - low sperm count, poor motility and morphology issues. Our FS was quite open when he said our only hope was ICSI (and not to bother with menevit or anything like it as it wouldn't do anything). DH was obviously gutted, and had lots of soul searching (he's Catholic and did much reading on the topic) before acknowledging that if we wanted a baby this was our only hope. Our little one is now 9 months old and to this day he still doesn't really like talking about IVF, in fact he didn't even tell his family what we were going through (they still don't know ).

I know every couple's situation is unique, and obviously I don't know your reasons for choosing not to go through IVF, just wanted to share our story and hope that one day you will achieve your dream xx

[{sarah}]

You know that little guy in my signature? The little red head that drives me crazy but I love to bits.... Think of him too. He is a miracle baby like PZ's Isla is. As was our angel, but remember as cliched as it is & as much as I don't want to say it, there must be a few good ones in there because you have conceived before. Hang on to that chook, they can't all be broken if some have made it through in the past. xx

Oh & by the way... Did you find out if there is any cause to the low count? We were told DH's is genetic & our FS believes it was due to his dad being in Vietnam & the chemicals that were used during the war. there's not much research on it as yet, but apparently with all of the veteran's sons starting to have babies in the past few years it's becoming more obvious.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

I get it Sarah I'm looking at fertility diets now - I'm gonna make his swimmers into little juggernauts!

[nothing2lose]

Professor Klim swimmers!!!

ETA: Or should that be "juggernuts"??????

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

LOL, you're on a roll today! Tadpoles with jetpacks and pointing helmets. The thought of which just made me wince

[nothing2lose]

Like I said, I do what I can

[Bella29]

Hi Keike,

We haven't had any of the issues that you are describing, but a book I have been reading by Michel Odent, the french obstetrician called "the Farmer and the obstetrician", talks about what he believe is causing a lot of men to be infertile these days. He thinks that a lot of the pollution and pesticides and herbicides that ppl are exposed to these days are inreasing male infertility as well as causing lots of problems in little boys as they are more genetically vulnerable during their embryonic life. I don't have any real knowledge of how you go about changing that but we are supporting our health with lots of vit and minerals from a company called neways which make their products in a very toxin free way. Anyway I am not posting on here to make any real statements about how you can fix the situation tho except to say maybe you could try eating organic and getting some of their products? I hope everything works out Keike. I hope it isn't rude of me to post here seeings as we haven't had these problems ourselves... Ps I feel sorry for your DH.... I just don't understand how children can be so horrible... You have to wonder about what kind of humans they turn into..

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Keike

Just letting you know (although you may already be aware!) That your "fertile period" actually only lasts about 24-40 hours. If you are using OPKs (ovulation tests) once you see a surge, DTD for three days straight.
If you are not using OPKs but you are still ovulating, FS recommend that you DTD every second night from the end of your period until you either test positive for PG or AF has arrived.

Hope this helps

I really hope your DH comes around to your way of thinking and, that as a couple, you can work through this together and be stronger for having gone through it all.

Take care x

n2l

I hafta spread the love N2L, but Professor wanted me to profess his undying love for you, for your post - he now has an airtight excuse for keeping me awake

[nothing2lose]

Oh, I forgot to mention something that ALL good FS say is ABSOLUTELY AND UTTERLY NECESSARY...

DH has to: -

- make sure all dishes are washed and put away at all times
- washing should be neatly folded, preferably put away in drawers
- healthy and ultra tasty dinner on the table each night before 7pm
- weekly all-room vacuuming is optional but is encouraged for optimum results
- on demand foot/back/shoulder rubs for keike

Oh yeah, you also have to be in charge of the tv remote control at all times...

What can I say? You can't argue with the experts...A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!!!

(does he love me now? )

[oneday86]

Oh your poor DH I also remember the day we found out DH sperm counts and my DH held it together a lot better then I did but it crushed him, it still does and he blames himself. All we can do is support them the best way possible. We have never had any luck with increasing the quality but I have heard of positive stories so good luck xxx