Lab processing of sperm count for IUI

I am just curious if you guys think it's possible that the dr's office would ever purposely reduce the sperm count for the iui procedure?  (To keep you coming back each month so they get more of your money.)

My hubby's s/a analysis 4 months ago revealed 52 million total count, with 64% normal and 70% motility.

But for the last two months when we did IUI, we only ended up with 12-14 million sperm after the wash.

Doesn't make sense to me.  I read online somewhere to request a "SOFT WASH" and that sometimes the labs purposely reduce the sperm in an attempt to push you towards IVF...

Sounds unethical to me, and I seriously doubt it really happens.  But please forgive me b/c sometimes i get frustrated and my bad attitude leads me to question things...

[Heather5]

I'm not really sure, but I do know that the washed sperm count is always lower than the regular count, since they remove all the weak sperm and only insert the really good swimmers :-) That's why motility usually increases a great deal from before wash to after wash.

I sure hope they don't purposely reduce the count. I believe 12-14 million after wash is a good count, though.

[cure65roses]

Thanks Heather.  I really wanted an optimistic opinion!  :-)

I bet I am not the only one who has wandered about this occasionally.  hehehe


And thanks for your positive comment about our washed count.  This month, my follies did better, but the count was lower this month from 14  mil to 12 mil.... Imagine that! Sometimes it seems like is always something different working against us.  

[Jess800]

I agree your washed count is good.  I've heard you can even do IUI with 5 million total (before washing).

[kikicoates78]

Yes your washed count is a good count! You only want those good healthy swimmers! Thats what you are getting with the wash. Keep your chin up! It's easy to let our mind wander in this dreaded wait you are in :) You have to look at it like this, during normal intercourse only a few hundred sperm actually meet the egg anyways, IUI your swimmers are practically where they need to go, and if its your "good" ones they are the ones that will get the job done!

[cure65roses]

Thanks, everyone...

My hubby has also been taking a multivitamin for about two months now.  Just to see if it gives a boost of supersperm or anything.  LOL And I am considering asking him to take additional vitamin c and zinc, because i hear that can help too.

It's not that his s/a is bad, but i just want us to do whatever may help make them even better!

Any thoughts or comments or experiences on how much of these vitamins might help?

[lmcrt]

I kinda felt the same way last month. My DH had his 1st SA with a count of 10mil,motilty50%, Morph 72%. Then we went to see my RE. they had him repeat the test at there office 2 weeks later and the numbers were cut in half. I was a little suspisous since they were then pushing IVF. Who knows if we were scammed becuase we are going thru with IVF.

[scienceteacher79]

My RE is pushing IVF too. I think they have kept my clomid at 50mg instead of increasing it like they should have to keep us coming back too. You are not the only one who thinks they are out for nothing but money. I know I sound so cynical but I feel it too. Sometimes I think they aren't doing everything they can to help us. I hate feeling like that but I think it is true. Hate to be the pessimist here but my insurnace pays 70% up to $15,000 and with three BDing cycles and just meds and bloodwork and U/S I have gone through over $6,000 dollars with nothing but a miscarriage to show for it. I wouldn't be surprised if they are trying to bleed my insurance of aall they have. They know once that runs out, I will find a way to pay for it. Once again, I am sorry to be the pssimist and I have never done IUI - not yet at least - but I wouldn't put anything past them :) Hang in there. From what the other ladies say - you still have good numbers in those spermies :) Good luck sweetie!!