New here- kind of happy to know I'm not alone

Scottiegrl · #1 June 24th, 2011, 06:37 AM

Hi, I'm new to this message board. I've been married 3 years, I'm 31 my DH is 39. Haven't used birth control since our honeymoon and have been working w/ a fertility clinic for what will be a year in August. After my tests came back 'normal' we moved onto my DH and it turned out he has what is called Secondary Male Hypogonadism. Honestly I'm not sure if I even know what that means but it's been making trying to get pregnant a huge horrible awful problem. He has no sperm count and has been on hormone therapy since October. We had our first 3 month appointment in January and still no sperm so the doc added another drug, we had our 2nd 3 month appointment in May and still nothing. Our 3rd 3 month appointment is in August and I try to remain positive but it's so hard. I don't have ANYONE in my life going through anything like this , most people I know are getting pregnant left and right , my adult nieces are already on their 2nd litters! It's horrible going through month after month knowing I'm ovulating but can't do anything about it. I'm not sure what August will bring but if he still is showing no sperm I think I'd be ready to talk options ( donor sperm I guess) I'm thankful to my friend who showed me this particular board of this website. It pains me to no end about our situation and I feel so much for all of you who are or have gone through infertility too but in the same breath I'm glad I can come somewhere now just to read up on what's going on with other people. Sometimes you feel so alone in the world and you can't really TALK to anyone, my friends are so supportive but they don't KNOW what it feels like. There hasn't ever been this issue for them. So thank you in advance to your kind words and stories. It's appreciated !

*babylove* · #2 July 2nd, 2011, 03:44 PM

Well my dear I know how you feel. I am facing the same issue. 3 and half years ago my hubby went under a surgery to remove a huge blocked artery. Still no pregnancy. So we are moving on to IVF. Have you looked into that? They can use a procedure called icsi to get the sperm.

Scottiegrl · #3 July 5th, 2011, 02:37 PM

Thank you Babylove for the response !

I'm sorry to hear you've gone through a lot with trying to get pregnant. It's so tough to keep on trucking but I guess we have no choice , right? I will send you and your hubby good vibes !

I'm not sure IVF will be possible if my DH has a 0 sperm count. Perhaps in a donor situation. I didn't realize that in some respects we are still 'early ' on in our journey. I'm anxious but am looking forward to our next appt ( August 3rd ) to see if we've made any progress with the injections he is on and if need be look into donors next.

I hope it happens for you guys soon!

*babylove* · #4 July 5th, 2011, 07:18 PM

Thanks!

*babylove* · #5 July 5th, 2011, 07:45 PM

Your welcome. I looked into my option with ivf there was a thing called tesa. If your interested Google infertility specialist. I'm here if you need support.

BeckyM · #6 July 6th, 2011, 06:07 AM

I'm Becky, DH is Tony. We're currently not TTC, but I try to pop in here every now & then to offer hugs & support. Due to a genetic condition DH was born with, he too had zero spermies. We did do the biopsies of the testes looking for some, but unfortunately still zero. So we chose to do IUI with donor sperm and were successful our 2nd cycle. Our beautiful baby boy is in my siggy, 14 months old now. The waiting is so hard, but hang in there. I hope your August appt gives you good news and that the hormone drugs are working.

Prendy09 · #7 July 6th, 2011, 10:18 AM

Hi Scottiegirl - Hoping everything works out like you hope ;o)

My husband and I TTC for a year with no luck. I knew something was wrong, I could feel in my gut. After starting testing this past January, all my levels okay; we found he had 0 count from the SA; He had three done over a couple months, all coming back the same. So, we made an appointment with a urologist who did not think it was a blockage, so the next thing was to do that TESE surgery mentioned above. This surgery is to find sperm within the testicle walls, that for some reason don't release naturally. We were lucky enough that they did find sperm for us to use, as we are starting IVF in the next month.

The whole waiting game of not knowing if we could have his biological child was nerve wracking, to say the least. Even though it worked out for us, I know how you feel as I had already accepted the fact we may have to use a sperm donor.

Since my husband had the TESE surgery, we are using the ICSI process with IVF in the hopes it works. Hopefully, you get some answers soon - I found that NOT having answers for so long was the hardest part!!!!

Sending positives vibes your way!!!!

Scottiegrl · #8 July 7th, 2011, 07:45 AM

Thank you ladies for all the warm wishes and stories, it really helps with keeping positive, knowing I have somewhere to come release my anxieites!

Prendy, GOOOOOD LUCK to you and your DH next month! You must be so exicted and nervous at the same time! I really wish you well and hope to see a post from you exclaiming success

BeckyM I'm so glad you were able to concieve with the help of donor sperm, that's so awesome and encouraging. If we go down that route I'm sure I'll try to find you to ask questions

I am so so so happy to have found this message board !

Thank you ladies !!

BeckyM · #9 July 7th, 2011, 08:55 AM

I hope you feel at home here on JM. There are alot of great boards here, so while you're waiting feel free to stick around and also check out the other boards.

I hope you won't need to go the donor route, but if so, I'm glad to help however I can.

Scottiegrl · #10 July 7th, 2011, 09:06 AM

I really have enjoyed perusing around and checking things out. I def plan to keep this message board a part of my daily internet life

BeckyM · #11 July 7th, 2011, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottiegrl

I really have enjoyed perusing around and checking things out. I def plan to keep this message board a part of my daily internet life

That's good.

IndyMommyWannabe · #12 August 14th, 2011, 06:08 PM

hi there!!! we're not in the exact same situation but really close. I'll be 32 at the end of this month and my husband just turned 38. I went off of birth control back in March of last year. We decided to "actively try" right after our wedding last year (June) - as in that was when I started charting and whatnot. Absolutely. nothing. so frustrating.

I went in for my yearly this past March and asked my doc what my husband could have done to see if there was anything wrong on his part - so she gave me a sterile cup and told me what he had to do.

well come to find out he has low count, low motility, 0% morphology

he also had blood test done and has Low T as well.

right now they have him on Clomid - but his urologist is also concerned over his verocile veins ...

it is so beyond frustrating. SO many friends at work are having babies - found out my DH's cousin is pregnant with her THIRD (yeah, thanksgiving/christmas is going to SUCK) - and every time I see little babies i can't help but stare and want one sooooooo bad.

i mean - seriously...i waited for SO long to find the right guy - have the right job - the house - all that...made sure NOT to get pregnant when I was in my 20's (when I was personally not ready). and now that I am...it won't happen.

I've been told by my doc and by his our ONLY option is IVF with icsi - however, I called my (usually incredible) insurance and they don't pay for ANY type of fertility treatments like that. we don't have $10,000

just so frustrating!

so no. you are definitely NOT alone.

but all we can do is - like Dory the fish says - "just keep swimming!"

Scottiegrl · #13 August 16th, 2011, 06:27 AM

Hi IndyMommy ! Thank you for sharing your and your DH's situation, frustrating is one way of putting TTC ! I think the hardest part is that we're constantly surrounded by people getting pregnant and like I mentioned I have family and friends who are already adding to their families. It's hard not to get bitter at people, it's not THEIR fault they are fertile and it's not OUR fault we are not but it is a challenge to be happy all the time, especially for pregnant women. I can't believe how expensive IVF is, we are really leaning towards donor sperm. We had a consultation w/ the doc yesterday and the donor process is remarkably easy. While my DH's SA's have shown no sperm despite the help of hormonal drugs, there COULD be a chance there is some hiding away but that could include surgery and even if some sperm was retrieved we would have no choice but IVF which like you said is 10-15K! With donor sperm the process would be ICI and that is about 800 $, as much as we WANT a baby together, we are at peace with our situation and willing do go this route.
I sincerely hope you and your DH find some peace and luck in your journey , it seems so unfair for any couple to go through this but at least we have each other to lean on and vent, share stories and especially share the successes ! KEEP YOUR CHIN up and keep us posted !! Here's to having babies !!

IndyMommyWannabe · #14 August 19th, 2011, 11:49 AM

@Scottiegirl - thanks! I know a lot of women here have successfully used donor sperm - and for those who made the decision and it works for them, that is AWESOME!

I've mentioned it to my husband, however, and he is absolutely not keen on the idea at all. he is the kind of guy that thinks "it'll happen, just be patient"...yeah. sure. easy for you to say! lol. :

:

baby dust to you and good luck in your own journey, as well!

BeckyM · #15 August 26th, 2011, 08:22 AM

Good luck IndyMommyWannabe!! This journey is so frustrating, and seeing others get pg so easily is heartbreaking. I hope the clomid works for your DH.