We don't have one? Wait, what?
Yesterday I finally owned up to my fears about the quality of my husband's sperm. Even with the first sample he gave which was mostly "normal" I worried the motility of 38% while still only 2% from my clinic's parameters for "normal" was actually 12% below what the World Health Organization deems "normal."
And the sample he gave on Tuesday at our IUI had only 3.5 million sperm per mililiter and a "normal" sample is supposed to have 20 million! What gives?
When I brought up my fears with the R.E. yesterday he said he wasn't too concerned with our sperm numbers. I guess once you produce a "normal" sample it means you really don't have a problem and your bad sample(s) is/are probably a fluke. All my obsessive googling was for naught. And even if the sample stays where it is there's no reason to believe that we won't be successful with an IUI. Sure, maybe statistically our odds are a little bit lower, but nothing to cry in my Cheerios about.
On the one hand, I'm relieved to hear the problem isn't as bad as we feared, but on the other hand I wonder if there's more we can do to help the sperm improve. To that end I finally ordered Fertility Blend for Men. I wanted to order it months ago but my husband was worried about side effects. That's so cute. I'm the one getting wanded and giving blood three times a week and taking drugs that make me want to crush puppies but you're worried you may have an upset stomach? My husband will take the new vitamin, plus CoQ10 plus the L-Argingine cocktail until our next IUI which won't be until mid-July.
We talked about a few other pertinent things at the meeting which deserve an entry of their own. Stay tuned!
*Chart appropriated from Wikipedia.
That's too funny. I suggested to my husband, who has fabulous sperm, that perhaps he shouldn't jinx things by sitting too long and too often in the hot tub. He was shocked and said he may take it under consideration. Maybe.
ReplyDeleteMy hub is petrified of even getting tested! We're about 99% positive the issue was my septate uterus/stupid, defunct left tube, so he hasn't had to be tested...but still. what a pride thing. Go your hubs for being so open to everything!
ReplyDeleteThat made me laugh about your husband being worried about side effects of a vitamin. Men just don't get what go through do they?
ReplyDeleteIt's such a nightmare convincing our other 1/2s to get tested... take supplements etc... and we go through sooo much with meds, bloods and appts :) Thinking of you and keeping my FXd for your IUI... lovely to be cycling with you and hope this is the one for us :)) xoxo
ReplyDeleteHi from ICLW. We have major sperm issues (as in, we started with 0), and even then, I couldn't convince my husband to take vitamins. But when it came from the fertility urologist, suddenly it was like, oh, okay, I guess I'll take these nasty, stinky vitamins. You know, since the doctor said I should. Grrr. Why are men so stubborn?
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with this IUI!
Wishing you the very best of luck with your upcoming IUI. I hope the vitamins and supplements help his count.
ReplyDeleteICLW #65
Here from ICLW and laughed so hard at him not wanted to take the vitamins for the side effects. Reminds me of my first appt with the miscarriage doc and she took TWENTY ONE tubes of my blood. How many did the hubby have to endure? ONE.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard not to worry - even when others tell you not to worry - because ... you have to. {{HUGS}}
ReplyDeleteHappy ICLW from #3