[rynae]

I need some advice. My husband was diagnosed with vericoceles and just got back his S/A. Count: 2 million. Motility - 40%. I need to know if there's any chance of us getting pregnant by ourselves? If so, the %? 0-1% 5-10? He is going to make an appointment with a urologist on Monday, but will they also be able to describe something in terms of medication for this or do you suggest getting the vericocele surgery? If so, how long until his count improves?

Thank you in advance.......

[UroDoc]

Sperm maturation takes 3 months so anything you do to change it you will not see the results for 3 months. Fixing the varicoceles may help with motility. The count is low but it only takes one, good luck.

[Aleewink]

I don't know where you live, but my husband and I have struggled for years now as well with male factor infertility and we recently found a little hope (nothing guaranteed) in a research study. IVF is basically the answer for us, but at the cost of the procedure as well as all of the testing before hand we just couldn't afford to even go that route. The study that we are participating in now is testing the safety and efficacy of freezing female eggs and embryos. The study has some prerequisits in order to qualify - the main one being a positive history for male infertility with a negative history of female infertility. I am driving to a clinic in Miami, FL but I know there is also a clinic participating in Iowa and Massachusetts. If you qualify for the study there is no cost to go through the procedure. We know that there are no guarantees and that many women don't get pregnant on the first round of IVF, but some do and the opportunity to even try is something that we felt like we just couldn't refuse. If these locations might apply to you please let me know and I will be glad to point you in the right direction... I just felt so lucky to have this opportunity that it seems almost selfish to not share the chance with anyone else that might need it.

[Mike Berkley, L.Ac.]

Hi:
I am a Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist, specializing in infertility. Vericoceles of a severe nature must be treated surgically via vericocelectomy. Unfortunately, even after vericocelectomy there is only a 50% success rate. However, without this procedure there is no chance of sperm quality improvement. There is a 6 month recovery period. Your hubby should consider taking herbs and getting acupuncture after the vericocelectomy to improve blood flow to the testicles and thereby improve the outcome and shorten the recovery time.

Best wishes.
Dr. Berkley