Hi

Even though we are still doing the IUI (two more cycles to go before the end of the year), we have been referred for IVF. We had out first appointment today.

If we don't get our BFP first, then we will start IVF.... in January/February 2010!! I am so pleased that it can start so soon, and we'll squeeze in a cycle before I turn 36 in April. Our consultant was really nice and helpful.

He was quite brutal about Mr D's SA results... Previous consultants have told us there is no reason why we can't achieve a natural BFP - although his morphology levels are a bit low, we have been told his number and volume make up for this shortfall, so no need to worry. Today's guy though said his morphology rates are so low, that we may need ICSI. He said they can make a decision on the day whether we need ICSI, depending on the quality of the sample.

One very small silly thing that took me by surprise today - I have done so much research online and in books, that I had no idea how to pronounce ICSI. I thought it was "I. C. S. I", but our consultant called is "Icksy". Am I a complete wally????? (Someone please reassure me they made this mistake as well!!!)

xx

Hey MrsD...he he I too thought it was I C S I until our cons called it 'icksy'!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad I wasn;t the only one. For a minute I thought they had said it wrong, until I realised 'they' were an embryologist!!

If you don't mind me asking, what were MrD's results honey? I have had lots of conflicting advice as well. I think a lot of it is because ANYTHING can happen as it 'only takes one sperm' and so they can never really say for sure it won;t happen naturally.

Jan / Feb is not far off at all sweetie....and it's so fab you get all this on the NHS. If you have any questions I'll try to help xxx

Hi TBD. Glad I wasn't the only one...

I don't mind you asking about numbers at all... MrD has had three tests now. The first two at our original hospital gave morphology of 96%, then 94% (ideal for that hospital was 90%, so they said we were close). The test at today's hospital doesn't give results in the same way, but said that the sample contained 1 million normal swimmers - I don't know the total number of swimmers, so can't work out the percentage. (If he produced 20million, then morphology was 95% abnormal, etc) Of those 1 million normal swimmers, 90% were motile.

So in all, I don't think the numbers are all that bad.... like you say, it only takes one. But I don't mind going down the ICSI route if it gives us the best chance. You will be a couple of months ahead of us, so I am bound to have loads of questions and will learn lots from your experience. LDOM gave some really useful tips about coping with the treatment and mood swings - this board is just invaluable.

xx

I didn't know it was Icksy either, until our consultant called it that.

One of our problems is OHs morphology. First SA was 1% normal; next one was 4%. One person told us we had zero chance of natural conception, whilst another said if we kept on trying, we might eventually hit target.

As time wasn't on our side, we had IVF consultation and he recommended ICSI as it increases the chances of success.

Anyway, hopefully the IUI will work and you won't have to bother about how it's pronounced :-)

He he so funny us all getting that surprise when they first called it Icksy. I guess it's an obvious mistake to make though....to be fair to us!

MrsD, my husband's morphology has ranged from 86-88% and our cons at the Lister said that was a very high number of abnormals really. She said we have very little chance of conceiving naturally. However he has the added probalem of not v good motility (around 40%) and agglutination. I think the progrssion is really important as well. Although mrTBD had a fair number of motile ones, a lot were graded as being 'sluggish'. Bsically his are a bit lazy and can't be bothered to get off their as*!!!

As you say, it probably all depends about how many there are to begin with. With 1 million normal, good swimmers, there obviously HAS to be some chance of it happening naturally. However, if a man had normal motility and morphology, but only a 1 million count, they would probably be recommended ICSI I would have thought. Our cons showed a really interesting picture of 'abnormal' sperm and it made me realise WHY this is a probelm....they had 2 heads or 2 tails, or really tiny heads, or really huge heads. This basically means that either they cannot swim or cannot fertilise the egg.

Like MrsA, our cons said if we keep on trying one day MAYBE we will conceive naturally, but she felt it unlikely and that we would be extremely lucky for it to happen more than once. So, with that in mind we decided to go straight to ICSI.

The great thing for you is that it's all on the NHS at this stage....and in the breaks you can TTC naturally. There have been plenty of miracle pg's on here and other forums to show that you can never say never! As our cons pointed out, althugh they can see what the sample of spem looks like, we willo never know what the sperm do once they are in there....if they ever make it anywhere near the egg....if they try to fertilise it and fail....if it does fertilise but turns into a chem pg....we never really know, so it's worth a try.

Sorry, I've rambled on....more just getting it clear in my own head I think....but hope it may have helped you in some way too. Sorry, I've lost track hon, have you tested yet or AF or anything? xxx

Hi TBD

I tested at 16dpo on Friday and it was BFN, as expected. AF got me yesterday, so for the first time ever in this crazy journey my cycle day matches the day of the month.

IUI round 3 starts this week - first scan is on Wednesday. Going all out to give it the best chance possible, but quite realistic that the success rates aren't great.

I've booked quite a bit of time off during the 2ww, hoping to get ahead of the curve and get sorted for Christmas.... remains to be seen whether I spend the whole time googling on the sofa, obsessing about symptoms!!!!

Hope you are doing well, sweetie. Your IVF treatment must be kicking off very shortly?? How exciting!!

xx

Aw sorry to hear that honey.....lucky number 3 it is then!!!

I started down regging yesterday and going for my scan today. Felt really nauseous and headachey yest but a little better today. Must dash. xxx

Mrsd I am so sorry to hear that your 2nd cycle didn't work. I hope it is 3rd time lucky for you.
I totally thought ICIS was I C I S and not Icksy... madness!! Any way... good luck hun! Have everything crossed for you, xx

MrsD, hope that your 3rd cycle of IUI goes well.

If not though then great news that you can start IVF/ICSI so soon.

I too thought it was I C S I though, not icksy, and actually still refer to it as
I C S I as think icksy sounds plain weird!

We start next month hopefully and are having ICSI due to low count, forms and lower than average motility - triple wammy really.

Good luck with everything.

x