an idea...maybe

Clearly, I am not having IVF anytime soon for mental and financial reasons. I don't even know for sure that I want to go through it with a 20-25% chance that they won't find any sperm in B. It seems like too much chance for failure when we statistically have been falling on those small worst case scenario percentages. In the meantime, during the next 10-11 or so months that we will be saving and getting therapy and stuff for that.

So, here's my idea. What if we have B have the varicoceles removed now in an attempt to avoid a later surgery and the whole question of what if. Yes, we have a really high percentage of failure rate with this one, but regardles, getting the varicoceles out must help any sperm production that he has going on in there. Even if no sperm show up normally, hopefully any little pockets that are there will be able to produce more. Of course, B has to agree to this too, but what do you think? Sound reasonable enough? Is is a waste of a surgery for 30-50% chance it will work, with our doctor seeing about 35% success rate (sperm in eja.culet).

And, calling those of you who's husband had the procedure, how bad was the recovery?

Comments

  1. jrose35June 30, 2009 at 11:40 AM

    Hi! My brother-in-law had something similar to this surgery (I am not sure if it was the same thing but I think he had some blockage down there) and he recovered within two months and it was that third month that my sister-in-law got pregnant and had a successful pregnancy. She was constantly having miscarriages and they found it was his sperm that was the problem. Once they did the surgery they were able to have their baby. It was a personal decision they had to make and it worked out for them. Wishing you lots of luck in this decision. Thinking of you and sending you lots of hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  2. MugsyJuly 1, 2009 at 6:25 PM

    Hey Emmy. My husband had a bilateral varicocelectomy 4 years ago. His motility and morphology improved but his overall count went down - and has continued to go down. Now, he was 36 when he had the surgery and I've been told that if he had the surgery at a younger age the results may have been better. We opted to do IVF last fall and our RE sent us to a new Urologist after we started our cycle. He did additional testing and said if it failed he recommended TESE with ICSI. One of the tests was for the fragmentation level and my husband's number was almost at the cut-off of very bad. I've also been told and read that some REs will tell you to skip the surgery and just use TESE to retrieve the sperm for ICSI.

    In terms of the surgery, my husband was back at work a couple of days later with very little issue. He does say that the loss of feeling where the scar tissue is sucks. The surgery was totally covered by insurance so it might be worth it for you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. KJuly 8, 2009 at 10:11 AM

    Hi: I just found your blog. Have had similar problems as you. My DH had the surgery about 4 years ago. There was some improvement for a little while, but now things have gotten worse, so I really can't say how successful it might be for you. I would agree with Mugsy that age is probably a factor. I will say his physical recovery time was minimal. Have it done before a long weekend.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

It's you!

"It's you!  I just know it!  You've lost some weight, it must be because of the morning sickness!" No, it's not me.  I'm not pregnant. "But is HAS to be you.  Who else could it be?  You just don't want to tell because it is too early" No, really.  It's not me.  I promise.  I haven't cheated on my husband.   "Well, who else could it be?" Um, one of the other 20 teachers of child bearing age at this school.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've guessed the other two pregnant teachers, before I even knew there were pregnant teachers at my school.  I have 'pregodar' (like gaydar, but for preggos) and really can sense the preggos around me.  I hadn't pegged a 3rd teacher, but I heard a rumor that there is a third when I started being hounded, and I think I have it figured out.  Its the one on her 3rd engagement and 3rd marriage in 5 years.  She's reaching the top of her realistic baby time, so it makes sense. 
Read more

plugging along

Image
There really isn't much to say at this point.  I'm plugging along, doing fine. Yesterday, I bowed out of a BBQ with B's family.  In May I mentioned BIL's ex and her "surprise" (planned) pregnancy.  One of the reasons for this BBQ was for BIL's birthday, and she decided to drive down to attend (she's still living 5-6 hours away).  She's like 26 weeks pregnant, and the thought of having to spend the day with her made me feel ill.  BIL isn't planning on living with her and the baby or marrying her, but will go visit often.  She is such an attention whore, I couldn't deal with her talking about the baby and flaunting the fact that she is still around because of it.  I've felt a little bit of a cold coming on, so I exaggerated it and stayed home.  I did end up throwing up my dinner, so I'm glad I didn't go. I felt a little guilty about skipping out on this, but I got over it quickly.  MIL was hoping that B and I would announce our
Read more

off with the crazies

Well, as expected, I had a pretty crappy Christmas.  Christmas eve was actually the best part.  We always celebrate on Christmas eve with my mom's side of the family.  That was actually fine.  Christmas day, not so much.  First, at my dad's side of the family lunch, I've never felt like such an outsider.  Christmas at the IL's started out fine.  BIL's dumb girlfriend decided to group each person's gifts in a pile, and we opened gifts one person at a time.  This took forever, and was kind of annoying.  For this group, we set up a gift exchange with B's brothers, so that we didn't have to buy for everyone.  I did the arranging for this, and think I did a good job.  I gave everyone opportunity to give input and include anyone else who was not included (didn't know if BIL's girlfriend was coming), compiled the responses, and sent out the information.  After all of that, B's brother went and got something for everyone, which really set me off.  Be
Read more