So many questions about semen analysis results

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me guess, dr sagoskin?

Dr Sagoskin was my RE and recommended I do IUI vs IVF after being diagnosed with unexplained. He said IVF is usually fastest path to baby since much higher statistics, but it was ultimately our choice when we started.

When I mc on my 3rd IUI and was getting my blood work to confirm HCG levels, the nurse asked me who my doctor was. When i said "Sagoskin," her response was "he'll prob recommend IVF next but it's because he's focused on getting a baby in your arms the fastest."

Lo and behold, Sagoskin recommended trying IUI again and that round is my daughter.

Sagoskin may be inclined to recommend IVF first, but remember 1) he's one of the co-founders of SGF and 2) he takes multiple factors, and success rates, into consideration. He may not be the most beloved RE but he knows his stuff.

Yup, our doctor is Dr. Sagoskin. Guess it's a similar pattern! I keep trying to remind myself that he's the co-founder and he knows his stuff. He did specifically say "I know you want a baby yesterday," so I totally understand that IVF is the quickest way to get there. I guess I just wanted more information and other options, and if there weren't other options, to tell me why that won't work.

I ended up following up through the portal asking a couple questions including if IUI was an option based on our results, and the (very) brief answer was that it was an option but "won't help recurrent miscarriages" of which I've had two (not in a row, but on either side of our first child).

This is all really good to hear though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got a similar pitch from Dominion. Ended up switching to a smaller practice and was pregnant on my first IUI. DH’s sperm wasn’t great, the doctor at the (better) clinic said those analyses can be helpful, also can be meaningless. Have gotten pregnant 3 times since then, naturally. So I’m not a big believer in the semen analysis.

That's helpful, thank you. Do you mind if I ask what smaller practice you went to?

Yes, VCRM. Sharara also recommends the things you mentioned - diet change, supplements, etc before going into treatment mode.

Sounds like a much more wholistic approach, and better way to go. Consider also:

- second semen analysis. Particularly pay attention to detail; full hydration is important, a multivitamin can’t hurt, no alcohol and especially NO marijuana or CBDs, no biking, etc.

Make him follow the instructions exactly. Involve yourself in the process to be certain he’s following the instructions.

The 98% figure seems worrying; all the more reason to double check here. contamination is common and can give bad results (men are careless with these details).

Good luck!

We talked last week about requesting a second semen analysis actually because he did read after the fact that hydration is key, limiting alcohol, etc. The day before the sample was taken, we had just gotten back from a trip during which there was alcohol, lots of salty food, not very good hydration. So I'm really wondering if results would be different.

Is it easy to request a second semen analysis? I'll be sure to ask that question of SGF too.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got a similar pitch from Dominion. Ended up switching to a smaller practice and was pregnant on my first IUI. DH’s sperm wasn’t great, the doctor at the (better) clinic said those analyses can be helpful, also can be meaningless. Have gotten pregnant 3 times since then, naturally. So I’m not a big believer in the semen analysis.

That's helpful, thank you. Do you mind if I ask what smaller practice you went to?

Yes, VCRM. Sharara also recommends the things you mentioned - diet change, supplements, etc before going into treatment mode.

Sounds like a much more wholistic approach, and better way to go. Consider also:

- second semen analysis. Particularly pay attention to detail; full hydration is important, a multivitamin can’t hurt, no alcohol and especially NO marijuana or CBDs, no biking, etc.

Make him follow the instructions exactly. Involve yourself in the process to be certain he’s following the instructions.

The 98% figure seems worrying; all the more reason to double check here. contamination is common and can give bad results (men are careless with these details).

Good luck!

We talked last week about requesting a second semen analysis actually because he did read after the fact that hydration is key, limiting alcohol, etc. The day before the sample was taken, we had just gotten back from a trip during which there was alcohol, lots of salty food, not very good hydration. So I'm really wondering if results would be different.

Is it easy to request a second semen analysis? I'll be sure to ask that question of SGF too.

Thank you!

Requesting a second analysis is super easy. The analysis is extremely common since it’s also used post - vasectomy too.

Insurance should cover all of it. Check ahead of time with the clinic if they are now open, or drop off-only (1 hour).

[Anonymous]

Call back the doctor and ask all of your questions! And then get a second opinion. I went to SGF and Dominion for consultations after our lab work. Called back each of them with follow up questions before deciding. In the end, we chose IVF because we did not want to waste anytime and we had insurance to pay for a good chunk of it. Ours was unexplained, good numbers on paper, may have just been bad luck or unexplained.