MFI - morphology

I've just had the results back from my CD3 FSH/LH/Estradiol and thyroid tests and all are normal. I had a progesterone test from a previous cycle also showing a normal level.

DH had an SA done a few weeks ago which showed 6% morphology, but good count and motility.

Does anyone else have any experience of TTC with bad morph and all else normal? Is there anything we can do to help?

Thanks!

Re: MFI - morphology

Don't quote me on this b/c I'm not positive, but I know when you do IUI or IVF they will spin out your DH's sample and leave you w/ the 'best' of the sample... I think once they do that a lot of the ones that are abnormally shaped are taken out- and remember it only takes 1 Also if your DH was sick around 12 weeks ago, that could affect things. HTH!

Re: MFI - morphology

If you are dealing with MF and move to IVF, chances are they will do ICSI. Instead of putting the egg and sperm i the dish and letting the sperm penetrate the egg on it's own (which is difficult for the sperm if there are are morph issues), they (in the lab) will instead inject a single sperm into the egg to fertilize it. Thus bypassing the morph issue.

My husband had 2 SA's done, the first one showed 0% morphology and the 2nd showed 1% morphology. Therefore, IUI's were really a waste of time for us.

I'm not sure what supplements your husband can take to help improve morphology. I'm not even sure there is anything that does improve it, but I could be wrong.

Re: MFI - morphology

We have slight MF for morphology also.

We will be doing IUI with injectables this month - I can let you know how it goes!

We are primarily unexplained IF though.

Re: MFI - morphology

Thanks for that. Do you think there's any hope of TTC naturally? Or is it straight to IUI or IVF? I don't our doctor is likely to refer us for assisted conception until the 12 month mark (we've been trying for 7 months since a miscarriage in March)

Re: MFI - morphology

Are you seeing an RE or a regular ob/gyn?

If you don't need a referral, I'd suggest going straight to an RE.

Have you had all other types of testing done?

I forget how it works exactly, but I remember our numbers for morphology were 4% and 14% and I forget which was which. It's either supposed to be >14% and ours was 4% or it's supposed to be 4% and ours was 14%. I honestly can't remember! We have been trying for 14 months (this is our 15th) and still aren't pregnant - so IDK.

Re: MFI - morphology

Okay I just looked in my folder with all of my IF things, and the RE wrote that he likes to see it >14%, but ours was 4%.

BUT - when I look at our SA results from the lab, it says:

Abnormal Morphology 4% [Reference Range = 0-10%]

So now I'm confused.

Re: MFI - morphology

Posted by maybeamommy

Okay I just looked in my folder with all of my IF things, and the RE wrote that he likes to see it >14%, but ours was 4%.

BUT - when I look at our SA results from the lab, it says:

Abnormal Morphology 4% [Reference Range = 0-10%]

So now I'm confused.

Re: MFI - morphology

Posted by maybeamommy

Okay I just looked in my folder with all of my IF things, and the RE wrote that he likes to see it >14%, but ours was 4%.

BUT - when I look at our SA results from the lab, it says:

Abnormal Morphology 4% [Reference Range = 0-10%]

So now I'm confused.

Re: MFI - morphology

My DH and I got pg our second month trying and then m/c due to turner's syndrome.
We then decided to go the PGD/IVF route b/c I am also a carrier of a genetic disorder. during the SA, it was discovered that he has slight MF due to morph. So, it is possible to go the natural route.

Depending on how "bad" your RE thinks it is, and if you do IVF they will do ICSI.

previous poster mentioned spinning down the sperm, they do that also. They wash and spin and only use the good and healthy looking sperm.

Re: MFI - morphology

We are strictly Male Factor IF & deal with Morphology problems (3%) & motility (but that has gotten better)
We did 2 IUI's with Clomid & they did not work as the morphology was still creating a problem.

We are about to start our first IVF cycle using ICSI & we are told that our chances are a lot better since the male factor is bypassed with it.