[sarha81]

Another update: I finally got DH's count info and i need help. He had 26 million sperm, a grade of 3 for motility (3 out of 5), and 60 percent morph. Both samples were very similar. How low is 26 million?

Update: Last time I posted DH had informed me IUI was OUT of the Question (grrrrr). We were having serious relationship ups and downs.

We met with my GYN again this month and she put some pressure on DH to move forward with varicocele surgery, since that's really our only option. She set us up with an expert about 1.5 hours away for a second opinion on the surgery. I'm so sick of dr. apts. I just paid $250 in MC medical bills and follow ups. UGH. I just wish we could have the first Local dr. do the surgery already. But a second opinion is what DH wants. And if this Far Far Away Dr. Expert says we need the surgery, I'm signing DH up for the first surgery apt available. I'm 5dpo and secretly hoping for a BFP to avoid far far away dr. and any surgery for DH. Fingers crossed. As for our marriage, it's better, but volatile.

How far away did you have to go to see a urologist surgeon?

[wishfulgal]

We had to go to a urologist about 1 hour and 15 minutes away for the consultation and surgery. It's kind of a pain, but it's at an excellent University Health Center, so I feel really good that DH's urologist is the best of the best. We have to drive that far to see a RE/fertility specialist as well.....one of the drawbacks of living the peaceful small-town life, I guess.

I hope you get that BFP soon!

[Jessie0505]

We were kinda lucky...we had one close by us..that our insurance covered...so thats what we did..i just wanted to say good luck..i sure hope you do get that bfp!

[-Anna-]

Just popping in. My DH has varicocele in both testicles. We ended up getting pregnant by the urologists advice. He told us to DTD 5 days before I was due to O (and to not "clear the pipes" in anyway again until it was my O day) then again on our O day. I charted, so I knew exactly when to expect ovulation. We amazingly got pregnant that month, and now have a little girl that is about to be one.

Just wanted to share with you. We are WTTC again, so I am just browsing the boards. We plan to to the same thing this time too.

[wishfulgal]

Just saw your update. 26 million is within normal range (the lower end of normal, but still normal). Did it have a percentage of motility? That is pretty important. But overall, I'd sayr your DH's numbers aren't too bad at all. Lots better than my DHs .

[sarha81]

Wow, thanks for the tip! DH's urologist did not offer any DTD advice and my OBGYN said every 3 days, but we've been doing an every other rotation. Maybe that's too much.

Originally Posted by wishfulgal

Just saw your update. 26 million is within normal range (the lower end of normal, but still normal). Did it have a percentage of motility? That is pretty important. But overall, I'd say your DH's numbers aren't too bad at all. Lots better than my DHs .

I don't know. I think it just gave him a grade of 3, which was right in the middle.

This is so confusing. we're getting different information about what's normal and low, so thanks for your help. We go Nov. 16 to another urologist specialist so I'll be sure to ask more questions.

[Lisap2008]

my husbands count was only 16 million and we got pregnant by surprise this month, however his last SA was over a year ago so it may have improved some.

[sarha81]

Yeah Lisa!!!!! Awesome news

[Joliving4Jesus]

26 million is low for total count but not for count per ml...count per ml should be at least 20 million, total count for the whole ejaculate should be 40 million.

A grade 3 is decent, it means the swimmers are swimming forward but slower...to where grade 4 is swimming fast and forward...my dh got a grade 2 which means swimming slow but in a curved pattern, not many moving forward, I think this is our problem.

Its great to hear someone got a bfp after with holding from dtd for 5 days but this is usually never recommended...the longer sperm sits in the testis, the more its exposed to heat and such and a lot of sperm will die in the testis holding out for 5 days, new studies have shown that doing it every day with a normal sperm count is best because once the sperm is ejaculated it makes room for fresh sperm, I was told to never go more then 3 days between ejaculates because of the sperm dying and actually sabotaging your TTC efforts because most of the sperm will be dead if you wait too long, I recommend every other day with some male factor issues, thats what we did when we got preggo with my son...approx every 36 hours around O. When your dh goes in for SA's you'll notice they say to wait at least 24 hours but no more then 72 hours for giving a sample for the best results, same with dtd.