Ladies I may still be in the ttc game after all!! This is going to be a long post, but I wanted to let you girls know what I found out today...

Here's the update... I called the hospital lab to find out how they do the test, step by step. Well they measure it to see how much there is, they mix the sample with fluid and then make a couple slides, then they look at those slides under the microscope and do the count, morphology and motility. I asked, what if you find zero sperm on those slides, what do you do then? She said we come back in 4 hours and look at them again!!! Umm really?!? Do they expect they will magically appear after 4 hours? So I said do you make any new slides and look again before saying there are zero sperm in the sample? No, we just make the two slides and then come back and look at them. So I have absolutely no confidence in this lab and needless to say we will not be taking another sample there.

I called the Fertility Center of Illinois and talked to someone in andrology (sp?) and she walked me through the process there. They do a total sperm count and only use slides to determine morphology and motility. If they find no sperm they will centrifuge the sample and then look at it concentrated. It is only then that they will say there is no sperm in the sample. They will then do a teste biopsy to see if there are any sperm in the testes and will refer DH to a urologist who specializes in infertility to determine what is causing there to be no sperm coming out/produced.

I also told her about the chemical pregnancy I had in February and she said it is very unlikely that he has no sperm, a guys sperm count can vary from 2 million to 50 million in a day, it just depends on what happened 3 months ago. I told her about Adam being very sick and running a high fever and she said that could very well cause a low sperm count.

So, we are getting referred there to do the next S/A, which will prob be in a month. I am praying this next S/A will be better!

I can not believe any lab would tell someone the sperm count was zero from one dropper full of semen on 2 slides. That seems like a very lazy way to do the test and can cause a lot of (hopefully) unnecessary worrying and is devastating news only to find out, it may not actually be the case.

So until we do the next test, I am going to pretend that we never had this one done and we are going to keep trying like we have every other month. (I guess pretend sperm aren't so bad after all !! ) Hopefully we will get pregnant and not have to even go through another S/A and I can say to the lab, when I get my pregnancy test done, zero sperm humph!

[Soape]

I'm sooooooo glad that they were able give you hope again. I can't believe that they toldl you that. I'm hoping that you have good BFP to tell them about the next time

[SavaAngel]

Wow - that lab needs to reevaluate it's procedures! I am glad you called and asked questions! Good Luck - I hope you don't need the super duper SA from the Fertility Clinic.


We had DH's done at the Fertility clinic too - per my doc's requests.

[snsgirl336]

I'm glad that you'll be getting the other SA done at a different place. The first place seemed a little shady from what you said! I hope that this SA will bring you MUCH better results!

[KDD]

That's much better news! Hopefully you won't need the new test.

[MommaLee]

Honestly, I didn't know you had gotten a bfp before....or I just totally forgot! That should at least give some hope that he has sperm.

I agree, I would be weary of those results. I pray that your next s/a comes out fantasteriffic.

Lee Ann, I had a chemical pregnancy in February before I joined JM. I tested positive on two different brands of tests two days, but they were very faint so I waited a day and then tested again and got a BFN. A couple days after that I started spotting and then spotted for 2 days and then AF came. I didn't go get a blood test until it was normal AF and at that point there was no HCG in my system, so the doctor's office assumed that it was a chemical pregnancy since I tested positive at home. I don't think I've ever really talked about it on here though, so I doubt anybody knew about it. I just wanted to learn as much as I could about ttc after that I think thats how I cope, I do research lol!

DH asked me about the CP the night we found out the test results, but we just decided that they must have been evaps. But the more I read online about the amount of lab error that can occur, I started wondering what this lab did and then after hearing their procedure I think more and more that it was a chemical pregnancy and it was either lab error or because DH was sick at the end of May or some combo of both that gave the bad results.

[Kari_B]

Glad you were given some hope back! I hope you don't need the next SA but if you do.... I hope it's MUCH better results this time!

[~Lynda~]

yay for better news!!! we love better news!!! i am praying for you and DH and just knowing the next SA will be good!!!! HUGS Aimee

[~*Jackie*~]

Sounds like something to definitely be hopeful about!! I can't wait to hear more good news from you!!

[Brandielou]

That is wonderful!!!

You are such a smart lady because I would have never thought to ask how they do the test. That makes so much more sense!!! I agree with you, like 4 hours later (or whenever they remember) they look at the same slide?! And how much do these people make and hour!!!! Geeze.

That is defiantly great news! I'm happy for you, I hope Adam is behaving a little better know LOL!

haha Brandie I think in the doctor's world I'm their worst nightmare!! But I am not afraid to ask questions and try to learn as much as possible about what is going on, so they are just gonna have to deal with me!!

[jenisuzy]

I'm a nurse, although I work in the hospital, not in a clinic but dont EVER think you ask too many questions !!!!! Seriously no question is dumb & I always tell my patients to ask, call, ask more. I often think when I am the one being a patient that I am not the "ideal patient" but I dont care.....everyone deserves to be treated the best possible way Best wishes to you Aimee !!

[LisaBrown]

I couldn't resist posting on your thread! I've been lurking and following everyone here still, and I was so sad when I saw your post about his fist SA...but then this! I am so happy for you that you went that extra mile and got this info! You are a smart cookie, Aimee! Many women would have broken down and stopped trying, but not you! Being a biology major (though not a doctor of course!), I think your explanation of him being very ill would definitly make sense if that was in a 3 month ago time frame, especially because the testes have to be bellow the average body temp to produce proper sperm in the first place, that is why they are outside of the body, so if he had a high fever for a fairly long amount of time, there's your culprit! I would never have thought of calling and asking those questions to the lab tech, but you must be glad you did! What a difference in procedures from that lab to the one you are going to next! I am sure that test will be much more reliable. Good luck on your next SA! I have a feeling your luck is about to change!