question about infertility related to varicocele

[LW05]

My husband and i tried for 2 years to get pregnant. Finally, in July I went to the doc and everything seemed fine with me so he sent me home with a semen analysis specimen cup for my husband. We did 2 semen analyses and both were zero sperm counts. My husband has a varicocele. He had an ultrasound which showed the varicocele was a grade III (large). We saw a urologist in September and scheduled a varicocelectomy and a testicular biopsy for January. My husband had surgery 3 days ago. We won't know the biopsy results for 11 more days. The doc told me after the varicocelectomy that my husband had 5 dilated veins that they tied-off (vein ligation). He said most patients with varicoceles have 2 or 3. I am hoping and praying that maybe the varicocelectomy has solved our problem, especially since there were 5 dilated veins. But I have also heard from 2 docs that varicoceles usually cause low sperm counts and should not cause zero sperm counts. We are both in good health and young - both 26. It is very hard, especially because you have to wait so long for everything. We will know the bx results in a little less than 2 weeks now and my husband is suppose to give 2 more semen analyses, one at 3 months and one at 6 months to see if there is a sperm count yet. He is very sore still and not moving to well, but we figure its worth it. Does anyone know if with him having 5 dilated veins fixed, is there a better chance for a sperm count now?? I will keep you posted. If anyone knows anything about this let me know. I haven't heard a whole lot about a varicocelectomy helping a man with no sperm count to start with. I would love to hear success stories if anyone has ever been in the same boat we are in. This is primary infertility. We have no children. It seems like most varicocele stories I hear about are related to secondary infertility.

: for a

[quantumleap]

The research we did when DH was first diagnosed with a (very small) varicocele seemed to indicate that varicocele correction when the varicocele is medium to severe is succesful in increasing counts in about 33% of men. I don't remember reading anything about zero counts though, sorry. Honestly though, anything is possible. I would share your hope, just based on the fact that his varicocele was so severe. Correcting it is going to have some sort of effect, one would think! But, there's likely something else going on too. Did your urologist run any blood or genetic tests (hormone levels, CF, etc)?
It's so hard to be patient, isn't it? Hang in there. You guys aren't alone.

Best, Katia

[LW05]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, all of his blood tests came back normal. They also even checked for retrograde ejaculation where the sperm sometimes goes backwards into the bladder, but that was negative. It does keep our heads up knowing all of his levels are fine, that has to be a good thing.

: 1praying: for a

[kristinc]

DH had the same problem with zero sperm count. He went to see a urologist that specializes in male infertility and turns out he was born without the vas deferens (the tubes that transport the sperm from testes out of the body). He had a varicocele as well which they didn't really bother with because these men require a surgical procedure to get the sperm out anyway so the varicocele isnt really an issue. I would think that it is more likely that your husband has an obstruction of some sort rather than just a prob with heat. It is my understanding that with a varicocele, there are still sperm upon SA, but that they are dead or disfigured from the excess heat. Was your DH seen by a urologist or a male infertility specialist? They can just feel the testicles for the vas deferens and know whether he has it or not. Good luck::-)