IVF Success Stories - "Unexplained" and/or Male Factor

[Anonymous]

Just started stims, and having those running thoughts in my head of what if this doesn't work. It'd be great to hear about some success stories to build up the hope and manage expectations.

What was the issue? (Ours is very very low morphology (5%), low progressive motility, and unexplained)

How many egg retrievals did you have? How many blasts/embryos? How long/how many transfers did it take to stick?
What type of stim protocol worked for you?

Plus if cycled at SGF

[Anonymous]

My friend's husband had some sort of vein running down that caused all the sperm to get too hot and die (honestly, I didn't want to know too much so I didn't try to remember the details so that may be all wrong.) Anyways, they extracted a couple of swimmers from higher up and she had two uneventful IVF's that resulted in a now 10 year old and 7 year old.

[Anonymous]

Husband has morphology (less than 1%) issues, that contribute to low progressive motility, but no issues on my side. Just finished first round of stims at SGF and waiting to do a frozen transfer.

Did an antagonist protocol (goal F, menopur, cetrotide) Had 17 eggs retrieved, 14 mature, 12 fertilized and 6 blasts. Did PGS testing with 3 normal and 2 mosaics. I only want two kids and since I don't have any known uterine issues, I am hoping this is the only egg retrieval I will have to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend's husband had some sort of vein running down that caused all the sperm to get too hot and die (honestly, I didn't want to know too much so I didn't try to remember the details so that may be all wrong.) Anyways, they extracted a couple of swimmers from higher up and she had two uneventful IVF's that resulted in a now 10 year old and 7 year old.

OP here - wow is that a varicocele? the "too hot and die" description is something I haven't heard..great news for the successful couple!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Husband has morphology (less than 1%) issues, that contribute to low progressive motility, but no issues on my side. Just finished first round of stims at SGF and waiting to do a frozen transfer.

Did an antagonist protocol (goal F, menopur, cetrotide) Had 17 eggs retrieved, 14 mature, 12 fertilized and 6 blasts. Did PGS testing with 3 normal and 2 mosaics. I only want two kids and since I don't have any known uterine issues, I am hoping this is the only egg retrieval I will have to do.

Congrats! Are you waiting because of PGT? I think we are leaning toward fresh - doctor didn't recommend PGT for us, but am also nervous about this decision.

I'm on the same protocol - how many days were you stimming? We started Saturday at Gonal F 200, Menopur 75.

[Anonymous]

If the issue is male factor, you really can have good success with ICSI. They just need to get those couple of "okay" sperm and introduce them to your egg. We spent a year with IUI... nothing. One round of ICSI.. success.
Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Husband has morphology (less than 1%) issues, that contribute to low progressive motility, but no issues on my side. Just finished first round of stims at SGF and waiting to do a frozen transfer.

Did an antagonist protocol (goal F, menopur, cetrotide) Had 17 eggs retrieved, 14 mature, 12 fertilized and 6 blasts. Did PGS testing with 3 normal and 2 mosaics. I only want two kids and since I don't have any known uterine issues, I am hoping this is the only egg retrieval I will have to do.

Congrats! Are you waiting because of PGT? I think we are leaning toward fresh - doctor didn't recommend PGT for us, but am also nervous about this decision.

I'm on the same protocol - how many days were you stimming? We started Saturday at Gonal F 200, Menopur 75.

PP here, yes we did PGS, which I don't regret but I wish we had done a fresh transfer and PGT tested the rest. My husband wanted to do the PGT testing, I could have gone either way but I am 35 so right on the cusp of when it is recommended. I stimmed for 13 days, things were kind of slow but growth was even so it wasn't a big issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the issue is male factor, you really can have good success with ICSI. They just need to get those couple of "okay" sperm and introduce them to your egg. We spent a year with IUI... nothing. One round of ICSI.. success.
Good luck!

OP here - amazing to hear! thank you for that vote of confidence

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Husband has morphology (less than 1%) issues, that contribute to low progressive motility, but no issues on my side. Just finished first round of stims at SGF and waiting to do a frozen transfer.

Did an antagonist protocol (goal F, menopur, cetrotide) Had 17 eggs retrieved, 14 mature, 12 fertilized and 6 blasts. Did PGS testing with 3 normal and 2 mosaics. I only want two kids and since I don't have any known uterine issues, I am hoping this is the only egg retrieval I will have to do.

Congrats! Are you waiting because of PGT? I think we are leaning toward fresh - doctor didn't recommend PGT for us, but am also nervous about this decision.

I'm on the same protocol - how many days were you stimming? We started Saturday at Gonal F 200, Menopur 75.

PP here, yes we did PGS, which I don't regret but I wish we had done a fresh transfer and PGT tested the rest. My husband wanted to do the PGT testing, I could have gone either way but I am 35 so right on the cusp of when it is recommended. I stimmed for 13 days, things were kind of slow but growth was even so it wasn't a big issue.

Ooof 13 days - I don't mind the shots so much but the monitoring.. >_<

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Ooof 13 days - I don't mind the shots so much but the monitoring.. >_<

If you are lucky, after your transfer you get 40 days of progesterone to protect the implantation! I have a full milk jug of spent syringes.

[Anonymous]

Just FYI, 5% morphology isn’t low. Normal range is 4% or greater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just FYI, 5% morphology isn’t low. Normal range is 4% or greater.

Yes, we are aware that it is considered normal under one test - at labcorp my DH was normal, at SGF he was not. My understanding is there are two tests most used right now- one is 4% or greater, another is 14% or greater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Ooof 13 days - I don't mind the shots so much but the monitoring.. >_<

If you are lucky, after your transfer you get 40 days of progesterone to protect the implantation! I have a full milk jug of spent syringes.

woohooo - fingers crossed

[Anonymous]

Between 39 and 40, 6 IUIs with between 2 to 6 follicles, zero result.
One canceled IVF cycle due to low response (only 2 follicles if i recall correctly).
Second cycle (200 follistim + 150 menopur) = 9 retrieved, 9 mature, 9 fertilized, 4 blast, 2 PGS normal but only one stuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just FYI, 5% morphology isn’t low. Normal range is 4% or greater.

Yes, we are aware that it is considered normal under one test - at labcorp my DH was normal, at SGF he was not. My understanding is there are two tests most used right now- one is 4% or greater, another is 14% or greater.

SGF has higher standards than other area clinics because it maximizes their success rates. We got pregnant 3 times naturally with 1% morphology. Most REs, outside of SGF apparently, will tell you that morphology has a very minimal impact on male fertility. I’m not trying to be rude, but this is part of SGFs sales pitch to talk patients into more aggressive treatments. Most other clinics would call you unexplained with the facts you described. It’s good to be slightly skeptical when the clinic is telling you something in conflict with the lab report.


https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/male-infertility/expert-answers/sperm-morphology/faq-20057760