AFA Discussion Forum

Check my Semen Analysis Report

2010-02-28T09:15:25-08:00

Hello
I am 36 years old. Two and half years ago i got married but until now my wife did not pregnant. we consult different doctors and they checked my wife and told there is no problem except there is infection in her uterus. they also suggested semen analysis test for me. test report details are below
Test Patient’s value Reference value
Volume 1.5 ml 1.5 - 5 ml
Appearance Opalescent
Liquidation Time 30 minutes 30 Minutes
pH 7.7 7.7 - 8
Total sperm count 150 million/ml 30 - 300 million/ml
Colour Grey White
Viscosity Thick
Active Motile 45%
Sluggish motile 10%
Non Motile 45%
Pus cells 4 - 6 /HPF
RBC cells ..../HPF
Cytology 80% Normal semen has 30% Spermatozoa of normal morphology
Sample collection mode Mastuburation
Opinion Normal semen

Doctors tell me that the pus cells create obstacle in movement of sperms due to which pregenancy of my wife did not occur. I used the suggested medicine by doctors and after one month the puss cell decrease to 0 - 2 / HPF but after some time the puss cell ratio started increasing. According to doctors due to smooking my puss cell in semen produce. I consulted different doctors and use different medicines but still the goal is far away.
Kindly tell me about my semen report and also that is there any effect of smooking on it.
Waiting for response from experts.

Possible low progesterone… Now what?

2010-03-10T12:21:38-08:00

I have been TTC for almost a year….unsuccessfully. I do ovualate but I have noticed two things that might indicate low progesterone levels. 1) My total luteal phase is 12 days, but by day 11 (of luteal phase) my temp is already below the coverline. 2) My temps after ovulation are not always much past the coverline…. I barely hit 98 (although before ovulation my temps range from 96.7 - 97.3.

Do you think I have low progesterone levels? I am 33, so do I have to wait to see a doctor until we hit the year marker? Can my doctor prescribe a progesterone cream or is something over the counter benefical?

poor egg quality - short protocol

2010-03-05T07:08:42-08:00

Hi, I’ve been having IVF/ICSI treatment and am over 40. I tend to produce lots of eggs - 20 one go, 15 another. However, I have poor fertilization rates and the eggs don’t seem to like ICSI, many disintegrating when the needle is inserted. I’ve just been told that I’m on the short protocol because of my age and am on the highest dose of menopur. My clinic hasn’t altered this since my first attempt (I’ve had 4 goes so far at IVF and/or ICSI). Is it ever the case that the treatment can be TOO aggressive, thus damaging the eggs? I’m recollect reading this somewhere. I had a pregnancy (ectopic) a couple of years ago.

Many thanks!

Day 21 progesterone serum

2010-03-01T10:57:08-08:00

I’ve been taking clomid for the last 5 months and doing my day 21 progesterone serum. When clomid works, I usually get a + opk on day 18. Are you supposed to have the progesterone serum on day 21 even if you ovulate late or are you supposed to have it done 7 days after + opk?

Irregular shaped gestational sac

2009-09-30T04:54:04-08:00

HI! At 5w2d, my RE saw two sacs. One had a yolk sac, the other did not. Both were shaped like very long ovals. At 6w2d, one sac had nothing in it (seems destined to fail) but the other had a yolk sac, fetal pole, and heartbeat. The RE didn’t mention it, but the gestational sac itself was very irregularly shaped—like funnel, wide at the top then getting thinner and thinner at the bottom with a sort of bend where it gets thinner. the ys and fp were right at the bend. I have two other kids, both gest. sacs were very round and circular, and I looked this up and seems like an irregular shape can be disastrous—with pregnancies failing.

Does the shape matter this much? Should I be worried? I don’t go for another ultrasound for another week, and I’m horribly upset. Again, the RE didn’t seem concerned, but I am!

Luteal Phase discomfort/cramping—docotr please help

2008-09-18T12:22:43-08:00

TTC for 1 year+. I have two already, but they were hard to come by, too. History of thin lining. I’m 36. My lining generally doesn’t thicken past 6mm in most months, though this month I got to 6.5mm. Even when we conceived the two I have, I didn’t get past 7mm. But one thing that’s been odd since I started getting my period again after BF my youngest: about 5 days after ovulation I start getting a crampy, burning, growling feeling in my uterus and it’s all day long. It’s not my stomach, and it’s not period cramps, though it feels sort of like them and it’s definitely in the same spot. It continues all the way until I get my period. It’s every month, even months when I KNOW there is no chance I’m pregnant, so I don’t think it’s implantation pain. Just one note: in this particular cycle (we’re doing follistim with timed intercourse), I’m about 8 dpo and I feel it all day today. My E2 level at ovulation (with two follicles) was 700+ and my p4 5dpo was 27.9, so my hormone levels are normal.

None of the doctors I’ve explained this to even address it. They don’t even respond or suggest examining me during the luteal phase. I did get one crazy look, but I know my body, and this is weird. Do you have any idea what could be causing this. HAve you heard of anything like it?

I never thought wanting #3 would be as painful as wanting #1. I’m so blessed, but I’m dying for another.

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

2010-02-04T20:47:48-08:00

Hi, I am doing a review article on pelvic congestion syndrome. I would like to quote the current US cost range for a diagnostic laparoscopy. Could you help me with this or direct me to where I can find this information. Thank you.

Judy Nguyen

Infertility after 3 Miscarriages

2010-02-02T12:43:29-08:00

I am 35 and have been pregnant 3x and have miscarried all three. Over approx three years of testing and visiting doctors it has been determined that I have the MTHFR genetic defect (for which i’m on extra folate) and have a short luteal phase defect (not to mention that I have vulvodynia). Before all this was determined I typically had no problem becoming pregnant. Each time we conceived after the 1st or 2nd time of unprotected intercourse. But now it has been a year of baby-making and 1 IUI cycle (Jan ‘10) and have still not conceived. My husband’s sperm morphology was not the best, but for this first IUI his “washed” sperm numbered 32 million (which we were told was really good). I am a worrier and am totally concerned that something I am doing since we found out about my problems have caused my infertility. During our past year of infertility I started taking a baby aspirin daily, extra B6 and B12, Vitamin D, a Fish Oil supplement, Neevo (prenatal), and Deplin for the folate issue. Could any of these cause infertility issues? I realize it’s probably a plethora of problems (not to mention my age). Could clomid potentially cause infertility if it dries up cervical mucus?

Second question - my doctor has me on letrazole now instead of clomid. Is it better than clomid? Same success rates? I am so stressed over this first cycle not working. I also cannot imagine us paying thousands of dollars for IVF with my miscarriage history. Any advice?

Please help . . .

Worth a second opinion?

2010-02-03T22:50:55-08:00

After a few years of trying to conceive naturally, we went in for a consult and have just had our first and failed IVF cycle. Just four follicles, three eggs, only two usable, and those two did not fertilise even though it was through ICSI (husband is 45 and ICSI is the only option) due to the poor quality of the eggs. At 41, an FSH of 34 and the egg quality that came from the cycle (was told the quality was always going to be questionnable with the FSH level), we have been advised that DEs are the only way to go. There MAY be a decent egg in me somewhere, but my dr and the embryologist have said that we would be putting good money down the drain if we were to try another cycle. I was on max meds (450iu Gonal F and 150iu Menogon) and had a long stim cycle of 17 days for this first try.

I have heard of women in their 40s with high FSH readings getting pregnant, but this seems to happen naturally - and if even I were to pop that decent egg, with our sperm, a natural pregnancy is not going to happen for us.

For any other health issue, I wouldn’t hesitate in getting a second opinion, but from everything my dr has said and I’ve read, the stats seem to be stacked up against me on this one.

Is it worth going for a second opinion - or even a second cycle, different protocol? Thanks so much

Not much time between ovulation & period

2010-01-27T21:01:23-08:00

Hi! We are trying for our second baby and I am concerned about how close the time frame is between when I ovulate and when I start my period. I ovulate exactly 19 days from the first day of my period each month. I start my period on the 29th day of my cycle. It seems that I don’t have much time in between ovulating and starting my period. I have been reading about “luteal phase defect” and I am wondering if this applies to me. I had an early miscarriage two months ago (at 4 weeks, 4 days) and I had a feeling that it might have been an implantation problem. I read that the “luteal phase” definition is from the day after you ovulate until the day before you start your period. That only gives my luteal phase 9 days. I read that I should have at least 12 - 14 days for a healthy pregnancy (my cycle has become shorter since I had my daughter). I am wondering if this is a problem and if so, what is my best option for treatment so we can conceive a healthy baby?
Thank you!