Anyway, the latest results are drastically different (mainly worse) than the first results were. Example: motility. This time it came back at 31% (which is low - it's supposed to be at least 50% according to the report). Last time it came back at 67%! That's a crazy difference. The count was drastically different too. The most worrying, I think, was the % of normally formed sperm: only 3%. Apparently that's supposed to be 14% or higher. His count was 34 million/ml, whereas last time it was 107 million/ml. 34 million is fine, though. The conclusion of the report is this:
Concentration, forward progression,
and total motile sperm are within normal limit. Motility is below
normal limit.
The proportion of the normal
forms (3%) is in a range where fertilization may be compromised.
If this pregnancy proceeds normally, this all might be irrelevant. I just wonder if our infertility wasn't really "unexplained" after all - it could have been male factor infertility all along. I wish the first SA had been done at the fertility clinic! Obviously things can change in 3 months, but he hasn't been sick, he hasn't started smoking, he rarely drinks, doesn't do drugs, doesn't use hot-tubs etc. I'm surprised at the huge difference in reports, but I guess none of that matters at the present time. It only takes 1 sperm to fertilize the egg, and somehow that happened. I think we might have beaten the odds, based on this last SA!
I also got a call from the RE office yesterday, because one of my cervical cultures tested positive for something called mycoplasma. Apparently it's very common, according to the nurse I spoke with. The RE prescribed antibiotics for both of us, but when I told the nurse I'm pregnant she spoke with the RE and he said my OB should decide what to do about it. The antibiotics he was in the process of prescribing aren't OK during pregnancy apparently, and I guess because I'm pregnant and we conceived naturally he doesn't want to be involved with treating me now. I can understand that, because it's not like we conceived as a result of infertility treatment. I think if we conceived through IUI or something, he'd probably treat me. As it is, I'm seeing my OB on Monday anyway.
I'll admit I was kind of freaked out yesterday when I got the news, but only because the information given to us by the RE last week mentioned mycoplasma and a link with miscarriage. The thing is, I'm trying to think about it logically: if we hadn't seen the RE, I wouldn't have been tested for this and wouldn't have known I have it. Surely lots of people are walking around with this thing and have no idea. I've never had any symptoms of anything! Anyway, ignorance is bliss in a way - but knowledge is power. I'll find out on Monday if we need treatment, or if it's OK to leave it alone. I don't want anything to cause problems with the pregnancy, obviously. I'll do whatever I need to do to protect this little bean. I've left a voicemail message for my OB this morning, asking if mycoplasma is something that requires urgent treatment or not. I know I'm a worrier, and waiting until Monday is most likely fine, but I just want to hear that from my OB. :)
No harm in checking. I hope they call you back today so you don't have to wait the weekend. But you're right - ignorance is bliss sometimes.
ReplyDeleteIt's great, though, that you're jumping straight to a regular OB! I can't wait to hear about your next appointment :)
Oh - and one of BG's SAs came back abnormal too. Well, it wasn't really an SA. When we did the first IUI his sample was poor. I often wonder if there's just a little bit wrong with me and a little bit wrong with him, and together it makes a whole lot of fertility mess. :)
I haven't heard back from the OB yet... I guess there are a couple more hours where she could call me back though, so fingers crossed! :) I don't know what will happen at my appointment on Monday, I'm only going to be 4 weeks 2 days so I don't think there's a huge amount they can do really other than bloodwork etc. I'm excited though; last time I was in there was when I got my results from all of my testing. I never imagined then that I'd be pregnant now!
DeleteI agree about the SA stuff. There are so many variables that affect a couple's chances of conceiving, that it could be a little of this and a little of that. Even those variables could change from month to month, I guess!
My husband has low morphology too - 2%, yikes. You're right, it only takes one ... but I learned recently that if a deformed sperm reaches the egg and is unable to enter it due to its deformity, the egg throws up a defensive shell that keeps any other swimmers out. Double yikes. Anyway, here's hoping you never need to worry about SA results again!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry your husband has the same issue :(
DeleteThat's really interesting about the egg doing that; I'd never heard anything like that before! Craziness! I guess it makes sense, but it's a real shame too because it's all down to luck regarding which swimmer reaches the egg first. I really hope you get your BFP soon, you're in my thoughts!
Having answers as to why things don't work is MUCH better than not having any answers. Trust me. With a diagnosis, you can work toward a solution. But like you said, it might be a moot point now.
ReplyDeleteOh I totally agree with you, Tami. I think that's what I was struggling with the most, not knowing what the problem was. It came late but I'm glad we have some kind of an answer as to why it might have taken longer than it "should" to happen for us. I really hope it is a moot point now - fingers crossed! :)
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