Poor Morphology - are we wasting our time?

[lilmama09]

Hey guys - So I'm 22, DH 24.  

We've been TTC for 3 years no success at all.. RE say's I'm perfect (tubes open, no endo, clockwork cycles)  

DH sperm numbers are -

63 million,
99% motile
but only 4% normal forms (strict).  

They say his sperm heads are larger than they should be..  Both our RE and Urologist seem overly confident we do not need more than IUI or could even concieve naturally, but somehow I find this hard to believe.  We had 2 perfect cycles on clomid both BFN, Clomid IUI also BFN, and this month we're trying naturally with the help of injectables, basically to make more targets for his swimmers.   I just feel like all of this is useless and our only chance of getting pregnant would be with IVF/ISCI..  Why are our docs so confident?  Everything I'm reading says morphology needs to be at least 8% for an IUI to work.  

Also - DH has been a smoker for years & I know that can effect morph but to this degree?, Recently we both quit for good, Does it really take as long as 3 months for any improvement?  We wanted to try one last IUI next month if this month fails, but is it too early for a difference to be shown?

Thanx in advance guys!

[40smama]

I wonder if the doctors are optimistic about your chances due to your age.  since you're so young, your fertility is at its peak so that's very good for you.  I'm glad both you and your dh stopped smoking - that hugely affects fertility!  I'm not sure of its effects on the husband but it definitely affects the woman.

I can understand how you feel - to stop wasting time on doing IUI's and going for IVF/ICSI.  If it were me, I'd probably give IUI another try or two and then seriously look at IVF.  Your chances are so good w/IVF since you're 22.  Egg quality is the number one indicator of success in doing IVF (I hope I said that right) which is why many older women who do IVF  have to resort to donor eggs (like myself).

I hope you get your BFP soon!

[samnaz]

I was in a similar situation and ended up doing 4 unsuccessful IUI's. I am doing my first IVF and my RE said that we must do ICSI cos of his sperm quality. So that made me wonder why then did he advise 4 IUI but now insists on ICSI with the IVF. One has to wonder if they don't try to make money off our situations and we obviously so desperate to believe eveything they say.

Anyways my first attempt was cancelled due insufficient follicle growth so i start all over my next cycle in Sept.

Good luck!

[dnikki0928]

I'm not sure about IVF and such - My husband and I had a similiar issue with low count and low motility. Most of them weren't shaped right either. I also have endometriosis and PCOS. DH started taking extra vitamin C (per RE) about 1000mg tablets a day. It helped with everything and made his count and motility higher. Take in to account that we also did IUI/Clomid/1 round injects for 2 years and we finally got pregnant! I do hope you get your BFP! If you have any questions, feel free to ask or message me :-) Good Luck!

[Hopeful2BPreggy]

I don't know how many normal ones you have to have, but my Dh had low motility low count low morphology. Our only option was IVF/ICSI. I do know that there is a better sperm analysis out there called the SCSA test and it can give you a better idea about the quality of sperm. Every dr. including our RE says it takes 3 months for any improvement to be seen in sperm once you alter your lifestyle. We finally got pregnant after our 2nd IVF/ICSI. Our RE said that some dr.'s would try and get us to do IUI but in his opinion it was a waste of money based on our SCSA results. Which basically gave us the only option of IVF/ICSI. So hope that info helps! Good luck!