So I have not been on here for a while! Our story so far, is that I have PCOS (thankfully not causing major issues, but AF only every 6 months or so, and apparently no ovulation, has caused significant weight gain, insulin resistance and a few other minor symptoms), and my husband has a zero sperm count. He had a brain tumour when he was 17, and his pituitary was damaged, so he takes a lot of hormone replacement tablets etc, and also testosterone gel. We started injections of HCG for him a while ago, but took a break over our wedding and honeymoon, and have now started again. Got a bit frustrated for a while and felt like giving up on it all, then felt silly about it, because stopping for a couple of months now means that we have to wait a couple of months to see if there are any improvements from this treatment. He has been referred to an endocrinologist locally (finally!), as his endocrinologist that he has been seeing since the brain tumour lives interstate and is probably close to retiring now!

When I rang to make an appointment, I was told there was a 6 month wait for the only endocrinologist in town, and when I questioned that, I was told that the one I see has left! I wasn't notified of that, so I would have gotten a shock when I booked for my next appointment. So we are back off to the GP to ask for a referral to see the IVF centre in Hobart, because even if we can get something happening in the sperm department, I would need to be ovulating to conceive, and it all just seems so unlikely! Add that to the fact that my husband is almost 41, so time is not on his side. I am 23, so I have plenty of time, but he doesn't. It makes me so sad to see how disappointing this is for him, especially when most of our friends have children, and he would make such a great father!

My GP has found that my liver has something wrong with it (note I am not a drinker, and only take metformin for PCOS, neg for hepatitis etc), and he said that 1 in 10,000 people can get liver damage from metformin, so he has asked me to stop that to see if my liver gets better. Quite a set back as I have been steadily losing weight on the metformin and felt a real difference in my energy levels, and AF has been coming more regularly.... Since I stopped it I have felt really tired, and craving sugar like no tomorrow. Doesn't help that I work in a call centre at night, and the only food on offer is vending machine junk, so I don't take money to work, and pack fruit and yoghurt and a freddo!

I would love to hear from anyone else who has the same or similar MF issues, there is plenty out there about PCOS, but not mens stuff.... From the research I have done, I don't think the HCG is the answer, but I am not a doctor! We will see what comes of it, and we have been talking about what happens if nothing works. Sperm donation is not preferable, but if it means we can have children, then we will do whatever it takes. The feeling of looking at the person you love though, and thinking that you want their babies, no one elses is so overwhelming, and something I never comprehended. It really breaks my heart to think that if we have to take the sperm donation track, that our children won't be "his" biologically, they will certainly not be treated any differently than if they were, but it is hard to come to terms with...

Long post I know, and if you have gotten to here, thanks for sticking around! I will keep updating as we go, fingers crossed for some positive news soon!