Zero sperm count following VAS reversal - Page 2

[bumblebeth]

Hi - so sorry I'm not on as regularly as I ought to be, 6 months is a short period of time - during my journey I have found out that it can take up to 18 months after a vas reversal to clear the blockages naturally with ibuprofen & regular intercourse. Cromwell49 - are you based in the UK? How are you getting on?

IVF with ICSI has been our only choice now, we just haven't been able to unblock the tubes.

We've already spent about £1,500 investigating and getting pre IVF tests done - we got caught in an awful NHS look, which we've only just come out of. We have to find all the funds before they will even start IVF & ICSI. The biopsy / sperm retrieval is the next step - costing £2,200. Then we can look at injections for me, egg collection, then ICSI & finally IVF. It's going to cost over £8k in all. We've asked family & friends to help, fund raising is taking over now. There is always help and people are very generous.

It's been such a rollercoaster of emotions for too many years - I'm emotionally exhausted as I'm sure you guys are too. Hold in there.

Beth

[Vegan Princess]

Since this thread has popped up I want to correct myself. I said my friend got pregnant doing IUI after her husband had a vasectomy. That is what she told me and what she swore up and down as I told her about all of our male factor issues. But she finally admitted to me that she used donor sperm. So I just wanted to say that whomever corrected me was indeed correct, IVF truly is the only option for using sperm following a V (unless you have it reversed, which they did not). Anyway, sorry for any confusion on my part - was only going on what she had told me.

Cindy

[bumblebeth]

Originally Posted by bumblebeth 

Hi - so sorry I'm not on as regularly as I ought to be, 6 months is a short period of time - during my journey I have found out that it can take up to 18 months after a vas reversal to clear the blockages naturally with ibuprofen & regular intercourse. Cromwell49 - are you based in the UK? How are you getting on?

IVF with ICSI has been our only choice now, we just haven't been able to unblock the tubes.

We've already spent about £1,500 investigating and getting pre IVF tests done - we got caught in an awful NHS look, which we've only just come out of. We have to find all the funds before they will even start IVF & ICSI. The biopsy / sperm retrieval is the next step - costing £2,200. Then we can look at injections for me, egg collection, then ICSI & finally IVF. It's going to cost over £8k in all. We've asked family & friends to help, fund raising is taking over now. There is always help and people are very generous.

It's been such a rollercoaster of emotions for too many years - I'm emotionally exhausted as I'm sure you guys are too. Hold in there.

Beth

Originally Posted by RoseRedHoofbeats 

Oh honey, I am so sorry. Do you know how the original vas preformed, or if the reversal surgeon is capable of trying to preform surgery to clear the blockage, called an http://www.maleinfertility.org/new-vasoepididymostomy.html#what1?

You can try something called ICSI, where they'll collect the sperm directly from the testes and then use it to fertilize an egg. It's not as successful as IVF or IUI though. I just went through a vas reversal in 2010 and even though he produces sperm, I've had two consecutive miscarriages.

*hugs* It shouldn't be this hard to have your husband's baby. I've been there.

~Rose

Originally Posted by bungalowmama 

I'm sorry for your news. I completely understand how hard it is. In 2008 we found out that my DH had a zero sperm count. In our case, he turned out to have testicular cancer. After the cancerous testicle was removed and he had chemo, the remaining testicle is still showing zero. Definitely look into TESE (testicular sperm extraction). They can extract sperm directly from the testicle and use it in IVF via ICSI. That's how we're moving forward. PM me if you have any questions about the TESE procedure. *hugs*

Originally Posted by Vegan Princess 

Since this thread has popped up I want to correct myself. I said my friend got pregnant doing IUI after her husband had a vasectomy. That is what she told me and what she swore up and down as I told her about all of our male factor issues. But she finally admitted to me that she used donor sperm. So I just wanted to say that whomever corrected me was indeed correct, IVF truly is the only option for using sperm following a V (unless you have it reversed, which they did not). Anyway, sorry for any confusion on my part - was only going on what she had told me.

Cindy

Originally Posted by bumblebeth 

Hi - so sorry I'm not on as regularly as I ought to be, 6 months is a short period of time - during my journey I have found out that it can take up to 18 months after a vas reversal to clear the blockages naturally with ibuprofen & regular intercourse. Cromwell49 - are you based in the UK? How are you getting on?

IVF with ICSI has been our only choice now, we just haven't been able to unblock the tubes.

We've already spent about £1,500 investigating and getting pre IVF tests done - we got caught in an awful NHS look, which we've only just come out of. We have to find all the funds before they will even start IVF & ICSI. The biopsy / sperm retrieval is the next step - costing £2,200. Then we can look at injections for me, egg collection, then ICSI & finally IVF. It's going to cost over £8k in all. We've asked family & friends to help, fund raising is taking over now. There is always help and people are very generous.

It's been such a rollercoaster of emotions for too many years - I'm emotionally exhausted as I'm sure you guys are too. Hold in there.

Beth

Originally Posted by RoseRedHoofbeats 

Oh honey, I am so sorry. Do you know how the original vas preformed, or if the reversal surgeon is capable of trying to preform surgery to clear the blockage, called an http://www.maleinfertility.org/new-vasoepididymostomy.html#what1?

You can try something called ICSI, where they'll collect the sperm directly from the testes and then use it to fertilize an egg. It's not as successful as IVF or IUI though. I just went through a vas reversal in 2010 and even though he produces sperm, I've had two consecutive miscarriages.

*hugs* It shouldn't be this hard to have your husband's baby. I've been there.

~Rose

Originally Posted by bungalowmama 

I'm sorry for your news. I completely understand how hard it is. In 2008 we found out that my DH had a zero sperm count. In our case, he turned out to have testicular cancer. After the cancerous testicle was removed and he had chemo, the remaining testicle is still showing zero. Definitely look into TESE (testicular sperm extraction). They can extract sperm directly from the testicle and use it in IVF via ICSI. That's how we're moving forward. PM me if you have any questions about the TESE procedure. *hugs*

Originally Posted by Vegan Princess 

Since this thread has popped up I want to correct myself. I said my friend got pregnant doing IUI after her husband had a vasectomy. That is what she told me and what she swore up and down as I told her about all of our male factor issues. But she finally admitted to me that she used donor sperm. So I just wanted to say that whomever corrected me was indeed correct, IVF truly is the only option for using sperm following a V (unless you have it reversed, which they did not). Anyway, sorry for any confusion on my part - was only going on what she had told me.

Cindy

Hey up Cindy - that makes sense. How are you getting on? We're forced to go down the route of IVF with ICSI, and privately too as we just can;t get NHS funding. I didn't realise how much cost was involved even before IVF & ICSI costs - blood tests, scans & DHEA tablets for me as my AMH is only 4.5, and then my injections prior to egg collection will have cost in the region of £3,500 this is before before paying out for his biopsy and surgical sperm retrieval, and that is also prior to IVF with ICSI. I'm sure the IVF consultant sees £££'s when we walk in to his office :(