Its oligospermia - meaning low sperm count

We met our doctor after the test, I was tensed and she just looked at my husband’s report and said, “don’t worry, you will surely conceive, you will be pregnant… but” (the music to ears turning into a loud unbearable bang with that “but”)

Things weren’t the same after the reports. While I had normal hormones and my tubes are patent, my husband’s sperm count was just two low.
She said the I can conceive through Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) such as IVF, ICSI or IUI… the jargons were yet to sink in the truth I just heard!!!

“But…” (I started hating this word “but”, as if more things are wrong in my way) she said, “don’t loose heart or stop trying, we have seen miracles happening, and some miracle may work with you. Go ahead with ART but also don’t stop trying”

We just realized, we are suffering from infertility due to male factor.

Some information on Semen Analysis Test:

Semen volume

• Normal: 2–6 milliliters (mL) per ejaculation
• Abnormal: An abnormally low or high semen volume is present, which may sometimes cause fertility problems.

Liquefaction time

• Normal: 20–30 minutes after collection
• Abnormal: An abnormally long liquefaction time is present, which may indicate an infection.

Sperm count

• Normal: 40 million spermatozoa per ejaculate or more
  0 sperm per milliliter if the man has had a vasectomy
• Abnormal: A very low sperm count is present, which may indicate infertility. But a low sperm count does not always mean that a man cannot father a child. Men with sperm counts below 1 million have fathered children.

Sperm shape (morphology)

• Normal: More than 70% of the sperm have normal shape and structure.
• Abnormal: Sperm can be abnormal in several ways, such as having two heads or two tails, a short tail, a tiny head (pinhead), or a round (rather than oval) head. Abnormal sperm may be unable to move normally or to penetrate an egg. Some abnormal sperm are usually found in every normal semen sample. But a high percentage of abnormal sperm may make it more difficult for a man to father a child.

Sperm movement (motility)

• Normal: More than 60% of the sperm show normal forward movement.
• Abnormal: Sperm must be able to move forward (or "swim") through cervical mucus to reach an egg. A high percentage of sperm that cannot swim properly may impair a man's ability to father a child.

Semen pH

• Normal: Semen pH of 7.2–8.0
• Abnormal: An abnormally high or low semen pH can kill sperm or affect their ability to move or to penetrate an egg.

White blood cells

• Normal: No white blood cells or bacteria are detected.
• Abnormal: Bacteria or a large number of white blood cells are present, which may indicate an infection.
  

Take a test!

I changed Doctor. It isn’t the my previous gynecologist wasn’t good, it’s just that I was loosing my patience (seldom I follow my brain than my heart, this was one of those times).

The new Doctor was recommended by my friend, who delivered healthy baby boy after 1 year of trying!!! (So you see there isn’t any logic, but we still follow our brain). And my brain proved right this time.

My doctor was like a motherly figure. She was kind and patient, she asked me questions about my menstrual cycles, relationship, etc. She said as such she doesn’t foresee any problem with me, but just to confirm it medically she asked me to conduct some blood test (to check hormones level) on particular days of my cycle and a hysterosalpingogram (HSG). And for my husband a semen analysis. After all the tests, if required, she will consult on further medication. I was really comfortable with her.

While I was leaving her clinic, she said, “don’t worry, you will surely conceive, you will be pregnant” (isn’t that music to ears?)

About the tests:
Usually hormone test such as FSH, Thyroids, LH, etc are conducted on Day 2-5 of your cycle (considering your first day of bleeding as Day 1). Most doctors suggest these tests. Consult your gynecologist or doctors before conducting this test. Its simple blood test.

HSG – a procedure in itself
During a HSG, a dye (contrast material) is put through a thin tube that is put through the vagina and into the uterus. Because the uterus and the fallopian tubes are hooked together, the dye will flow into the fallopian tubes. Pictures are taken using a steady beam of X-ray (fluoroscopy) as the dye passes through the uterus and fallopian tubes. The pictures can show problems such as an injury or abnormal structure of the uterus or fallopian tubes, or a blockage that would prevent an egg moving through a fallopian tube to the uterus. A blockage also could prevent sperm from moving into a fallopian tube and joining (fertilizing) an egg. A HSG also may find problems on the inside of the uterus that prevent a fertilized egg from attaching (implanting) to the uterine wall.

A HSG is done to:

• Find a blocked fallopian tube. The test often is done for a woman who is having a hard time becoming pregnant. An infection may cause severe scarring of the fallopian tubes and block the tubes, preventing pregnancy. Occasionally the dye used during a hysterosalpingogram will push through and open a blocked tube.
• Find problems in the uterus, such as an abnormal shape or structure, an injury, polyps, fibroids, adhesions, or a foreign object in the uterus. These types of problems may cause painful menstrual periods or repeated miscarriages.
• See whether surgery to reverse a tubal ligation has been successful

This test should be done 2 to 5 days after your menstrual period has ended to be sure you are not pregnant. It should also be done before you ovulate the next month (unless you are using contraception) to avoid using X-rays during an early pregnancy. You may want to bring along a sanitary napkin to wear after the test because some leakage of the X-ray dye may occur along with slight bleeding.

Am I pregnant?

I used to have regular cycle until it started fluctuating on the higher side. This would give me hope every month!! It may sound weird, but I used to feel (or imagine?) some of the pregnancy symptoms. Any passing additional day over due date would increase my hope until the urine pregnancy test.

Some of my symptoms during this tenure were:

• Nausea – feel like vomiting or sometime vomit too

Reasons: Erratic eating habits, combination of acidity and headache would often result for me in vomiting. All I couldn’t figure out why this vomit sensation grew stronger past my due dates – may be its psychological

• Bloated

Reasons: I am fat, that’s it!!

• Frequent urinating

Reasons: Drinking lots of water, and that too near my due dates

• Swinging moods

Reasons: If it is... it is

• Feel like pregnant

Reasons: No comments- was trying for long and hope is always alive.

My suggestions, if you feel you are pregnant:

1. Hold on for some time before a test. For me my next cycle used to begin always the next day of my pregnancy test (what a waste of money!!!).
   
2. Always used renowned, recommended (by doctors) or branded home pregnancy test

Well, it’s normal to feel or imagine some of the symptoms. Most of these are psychologically related and it’s quite common to have one or some.

that 18 hours...

I missed my period... wow, it could be positive and the next day I went for Urine Pregnancy Test (UPT) crossing my fingers for that two lines. Well, my dreams lived less than 18 hours with just one line.

We were trying for about 8 months, and for the first time, I felt helpless, thinking about my 18 hours of happiness. For that 18 hours, I would have lived a whole 9 month... deciding on everything from names of babies, colour of bedroom, toys, how stupid I was!!! I didn't lift anything heavy, didn't sleep on my tummy. In fact I couldn't sleep that night desperately waiting for the morning for my test.

I cried and cried (well that’s normal). Sometimes crying helps getting pain out of heart, try... its works for me.

I was losing patience everyday growing. That 18 hours made me live a 9 month life and realize life won’t be easy going further, better be prepared and face it.