Trying to stay positive Male infertility

Hi everyone. I am new to this site and i am trying to look for any reassurance I can get. My husband and I had our first few visits with our fertility dr and went through the routine tests to find out that he has a zero sperm count. I was in complete shock when I heard this news!!! I found this out last Wednesday and have had a dark cloud over my head ever since. We scheduled an appt with a urologist to look deeper into the problem. I have read a ton of info about surgeries and procedures etc to retrieve sperm if there are in fact any viable ones. I am in my mid 30 s and this is a 2 nd marriage for me. My husband was sick with leukemia when he was 11 years old and perhaps it was the chemotherapy that affected his sperm?? I am just looking for some hope or anyone that has been or knows someone that has been in a similar situation. Hearing the words donor sperm and adoption are not what I want to hear right now. Please help....

Message edited 10/22/2012 11:47:37 PM.

Re: Trying to stay positive Male infertility

First of all, I'm so sorry you're faced with this. There are a few of us on the board who have dealt/are dealing with MFI.

There are a lot of causes that can result in azoospermia (0 sperm count) but hearing that your husband had leukemia - I'd put my money on that being the cause. Only a urologist who specializes in MFI can figure this out and make recommendations. My best piece of advice is to find a urologist who SPECIALIZES in male infertility. Not one who also does it. In my experience, they just don't know as much. If you need a recommendation, we had a great dr in NYC.

As for not wanting to hear about donor sperm or adoption...I know. You definitely don't have to consider those options now. The urologist will tell you what your options are and possible treatment plans. HOWEVER, just know that you still have these options.

For what it's worth - you are at the beginning of what will probably turn out to be a pretty long road. Nobody told us that when we started our journey, but I wish they had. But now I'm 24w pregnancy and I promise...I'd go through it all again just to get where we are today.

Lean on your husband, family or a close friend. And us, of course. You are not alone.

Trying to stay positive Male infertility

Thank you for your reply. I am sure it will be a long journey ahead!!! we have an appt. a week from Thursday with Dr. Sheynkin who was highly reccommended from our ferility dr. From what I have researched about him he was trained with top drs at Cornell in the city. I also know someone who used him several years ago with a very similiar problem and now has an eight yr old daughter!!! Congratulations on your pregnancy there is nothing more than I want than that right now!!! And I wish you and your husband all the best. My sister and a very dear friend of mine both went through IVF 2-3 times. My sister has two beautiful twin girls and my close friend has a gorgeous son who are about 7 mos old. I lived their journey with them.. so i totoally get that it will be challenging and long. Thank you for your words of encouragement... I have just been walking around so depressed with lack of important info.. that I guess we will get when we see the urologist in a week and a half. All of my friends both in and out of the work place have gotten pregnant so easily and its not that Im not happy for them by but it's so hard to be around those conversations right now, bday parties for their little ones, etc... I was all about getting proeg naturally and having that molment with my husb with the bfp preg test. Now.. after all i Have researched and heard.. i would just be beyond thrilled if they could find a few viable sperm so we could proceed with IVF and ICSY. Thank you again and best of luck to you and your fam!!!

Re: Trying to stay positive Male infertility

First, I just want to offer you many hugs and support I know 100% exactly how you feel. My DH was on chemotherapy as well and I am in almost the same exact situation as you are. We saw Dr. Sheynkin and honestly, we weren't thrilled. Be prepared to hear a lot of "Sperm Donor" and "adoption" from him because I pretty much walked out of his office heartbroken and DH basically flipped out on the way home. Maybe it was just a bad experience and I don't want to discourage you. I just wish someone had warned me before I had our visit, I was so hopeful to meet with him! It could have been a personality thing but he didn't make me feel positive at all. We did end up treating further with Dr.'s at Cornell in NYC and while we are still hoping for a miracle, it was a much better experience. Anyway, i'm not sure if this will help or not but just know that you're not alone. Technology is amazing and there are still options for you. If you want to talk or ever have any questions, feel free to FM me at any time. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of Chemo was your DH on and for how long? I've been obsessively reading into things and doing research. Wishing you the best!

Trying to stay positive Male infertility

Im so sorry...

We have MIF issues, and concieved both our children via IVF/ICSI/PICSI...

my BF had testicular cancer, removed one of his testicles, went through 2 years of chemo and radiation...they told him he would be sterile--...after his treatment he and his wife had a "fun" night and she wound up getting pregnant...with TWINS!!! Naturally!!! they will actually be 1 this Saturday...call it a miracle, but it worked...(and they are his :)

I also have 2 other GF's dealing with MIF and both their hubby's had to have surgery for the sperm asperation... one friend has a daughter and just gave birth to twin boys (via IVF/ICSI) and the other girlfriend is in the IVF/ICSI process and has several embryos...just not prego yet...

Keep you head up, pray and stay hopeful...science is a wonderful thing (without it none of us here would have babies :)

It may be a long road but there is a "Bigger Plan" you just dont know it :) stay POSITIVE!!!!!!

xoxo good luck

Re: Trying to stay positive Male infertility

I agree with NYCGirl, you need to see a urologist who specializes in MFI. We are currently seeing one and he diagnosed my DH for variciole and low testosterone. (My DH had testicular cancer in 2003.) He is hoping by raising his t-levels that my DH will be able to produce sperm. If he produces sperm, we will then move forward with the surgery to correct the variciole.

I know it is scary to talk about donor sperm and adoption, but I do think it is important to keep the lines of communication open between you and your DH. I got a few books from the library that discussed the topics and read through them just to keep myself aware of other options....



Best of luck and feel free to FM with any questions.

Re: Trying to stay positive Male infertility

I agree with everyone else. I am sorry you are going through this. I am dealing with MF IF as well. You will get through this, just take it one step at a time.

Re: Trying to stay positive Male infertility

It is possible. We wound up doing ICSI and my son is the result of that. I am now almost 11 weeks pregnant again (frozen cycle from the ICSI cycle 4 years ago!) There are so many advances now, don't give up hope!!