SA Results - Help me Decipher

[preppy]

They are abnormal:( I am trying to google to figure out what this means but it seems like his count is fine, his motility is barely off mark, but his morphology is low. The letter we got in the mail says they recommend retesting in 3-4 weeks but that the results will likely have us needing IUI or IVF. 

For those of you who know what any of this means can you make me feel better and tell me how bad this is?

Count - 120million/ml (google tells me this is good)
Motility - 59% (google tells me this should be 60% or higher, but 1% off doesn't seem bad?)
3.5% normal morphology (google varies saying this should be 7-15% or higher)

DH is of course traveling since he started his new job Monday and I don't want to tell him this on the phone. Boo. 

[aprilsails]

I have no idea to be honest, but I'm glad this gives you a starting point for a plan moving forward.

Good luck!

[belovedbride07]

Do you have the physical report? If so, does it say what standard was used for morphology? There are two standards (WHO and Kruger's Strict), and what is considered normal depends on which is used (30% vs 4%, IIRC).

I agree that the total count seems good, and motility only slightly low.

[preppy]

The morphology is Kruger's Strict.

I didn't realize there were two this might be why I am finding such varied results online for what normal is.

Also I don't truly understand what motility or morphology mean. I need to educate myself.

[callmehales]

Dec 3, 2014 17:04:10 GMT -5 preppy said:

The morphology is Kruger's Strict.

I didn't realize there were two this might be why I am finding such varied results online for what normal is.

Also I don't truly understand what motility or morphology mean. I need to educate myself.

i think basically motility is how fast they are, and morphology is whether they're shaped correctly.

[belovedbride07]

Dec 3, 2014 17:04:10 GMT -5 preppy said:

The morphology is Kruger's Strict.

I didn't realize there were two this might be why I am finding such varied results online for what normal is.

Also I don't truly understand what motility or morphology mean. I need to educate myself.

Yeah, it really doesn't seem *that* bad to me then. He's definitely below normal, but the results aren't abysmal. (That said, I do understand why this is upsetting!) I hope you're able to get the answers you need, and that the re-test is better!

[preppy]

Dec 3, 2014 17:07:22 GMT -5 callmehales said:

Dec 3, 2014 17:04:10 GMT -5 preppy said:

The morphology is Kruger's Strict.

I didn't realize there were two this might be why I am finding such varied results online for what normal is.

Also I don't truly understand what motility or morphology mean. I need to educate myself.

i think basically motility is how fast they are, and morphology is whether they're shaped correctly.

Thank you! I needed that in plain english:)

[preppy]

Dec 3, 2014 17:08:09 GMT -5 belovedbride07 said:

Dec 3, 2014 17:04:10 GMT -5 preppy said:

The morphology is Kruger's Strict.

I didn't realize there were two this might be why I am finding such varied results online for what normal is.

Also I don't truly understand what motility or morphology mean. I need to educate myself.

Yeah, it really doesn't seem *that* bad to me then. He's definitely below normal, but the results aren't abysmal. (That said, I do understand why this is upsetting!) I hope you're able to get the answers you need, and that the re-test is better!

Thanks. I am hoping the retest will be better but I agree it doesn't seem abysmal. Ugh. I wish he wasn't traveling right now I kinda need a hug. 

[HoneySpider]

I'm sorry you didn't get the results you were looking for but I agree on the motility that being close to 60% is probably good enough - my DH had 58% and neither our doctor at the time or our new RE were concerned.

[EllenGriswold]

(HUGS) I'm sorry for the bad news! And I totally understand how it can completely freak you out. But really his numbers aren't too bad, and I've read that before actually diagnosing a man with IF they want at least 3 abnormal samples in a time period of between 8-12 weeks because the numbers can vary so much. So really he might be completely fine after all!

My H had the same a few weeks ago (his was count and motility though) and it does suck because all of a sudden I'm not in control anymore. It's hard to let go and trust that he is eating better, or making him get up and work out, or take his vitamins, or other stuff that might help somewhat with this stuff. Good luck - don't let this worry you too much until you get a second SA done. (I know, easier said than done!)

[MrsMB]

I don't have anything to add....but sending ((hugs)) for you.

[oneslybookworm]

Sending you hugs!!! My DH's results were similar to yours and the RE said he didn't think it would be a major factor in why we haven't gotten pregnant yet, so maybe it won't be a huge issue. Still, it sucks that they're not where you'd like to see them. Hugs!!!

[miamigirl]

So sorry you didn't get better results, but I agree with the others, the numbers don't seem too far off. Definitely retest.

Check this out:
"Sperm morphology is poorly understood, and because the evaluation is somewhat subjective, scores can vary on the same semen sample, in the same lab, using the same scoring techniques. If sperm morphology alone is abnormal, but all the other semen parameters fall within normal limits, then male fertility may still be considered normal."
Source: infertility.about.com/od/infertilitytesting/a/Understanding-Semen-Analysis-Results.htm

[lms]

Hugs preppy. I'm sorry that you got the results while you are alone.

[preppy]

Dec 3, 2014 19:12:11 GMT -5 miamigirl said:

So sorry you didn't get better results, but I agree with the others, the numbers don't seem too far off. Definitely retest.

Check this out:
"Sperm morphology is poorly understood, and because the evaluation is somewhat subjective, scores can vary on the same semen sample, in the same lab, using the same scoring techniques. If sperm morphology alone is abnormal, but all the other semen parameters fall within normal limits, then male fertility may still be considered normal."
Source: infertility.about.com/od/infertilitytesting/a/Understanding-Semen-Analysis-Results.htm

Thank you. This is pretty encouraging:)

[preppy]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the assistance and support.

I am a little confused about why the letter would specifically state that we will likely need IUI or IVF. It seems a bit alarmist when they are just the testing facility and don't have the full picture. I think seeing that written out freaked me out the most. Ugh.

I talked to DH and he is going to re do the test next week and we will see what happens.

[Susie]

Dec 3, 2014 20:16:14 GMT -5 preppy said:

I am a little confused about why the letter would specifically state that we will likely need IUI or IVF. It seems a bit alarmist when they are just the testing facility and don't have the full picture. I think seeing that written out freaked me out the most. Ugh.

This is totally not the same thing, but I think alarmism is common in medical reports.  They report all kinds of things that maybe might possibly be true, just to cover all their bases.

My mom has regular CT scans (she has ovarian cancer) and she has just stopped reading the written reports because they are always ghastly.  They see this shadow, they think that looks possibly maybe a little abnormal, so they call it out in black & white in the report, for fear of missing something and later being liable.  One report had her convinced that her cancer had spread to her liver.  When she had her app't with her gyn oncologist he read the report and was all, "lol, no, I saw that "shadow" IRL when I did your surgery; it's just a blood vessel."  So she'd gotten all freaked for nothing.

Hopefully this is the same kind of thing, and you can get some clarity from your doctor.  It would be great to hear that his numbers are slightly below normal for some parameters, but are still considered in the normal range collectively.

[vanillahip]

My RE would consider those fantastic numbers. Morphology at 3-4% is the lowest they'll say "nah keep trying naturally", and motility over 40% is fine.

We just got H's numbers back and we're at 29% motility and 1% morphology and I'm sorry to hijack but I didn't want to make another thread. He's going to do a wash next to see if we're candidates for IUI, otherwise he'll see a urologist and we'll probably skip to IVF

[belovedbride07]

Dec 4, 2014 11:28:54 GMT -5 vanillahip said:

My RE would consider those fantastic numbers. Morphology at 3-4% is the lowest they'll say "nah keep trying naturally", and motility over 40% is fine.

We just got H's numbers back and we're at 29% motility and 1% morphology and I'm sorry to hijack but I didn't want to make another thread. He's going to do a wash next to see if we're candidates for IUI, otherwise he'll see a urologist and we'll probably skip to IVF

So sorry, vanillahip. That's just about what my DH's most recent SA was (lower motility, though). Best of luck with your next steps!

[vanillahip]

Dec 4, 2014 12:47:39 GMT -5 belovedbride07 said:

Dec 4, 2014 11:28:54 GMT -5 vanillahip said:

My RE would consider those fantastic numbers. Morphology at 3-4% is the lowest they'll say "nah keep trying naturally", and motility over 40% is fine.

We just got H's numbers back and we're at 29% motility and 1% morphology and I'm sorry to hijack but I didn't want to make another thread. He's going to do a wash next to see if we're candidates for IUI, otherwise he'll see a urologist and we'll probably skip to IVF

So sorry, vanillahip. That's just about what my DH's most recent SA was (lower motility, though). Best of luck with your next steps!

Thanks lady, you too!

[ilovecandy]

Yeh those are good numbers. My H's morphology was 4 percent and my RE said the same thing about his sperm being a problem but when we looked up teh actually scale everything was normal. Some Re's i think just jump straight to ivf or iui. Our first doctor did this. When we requested a different one and we said we didn't want to go that far yet, so we are doing medicated cycles with clomid and injectibles. Eventually we will go to iui. We are done after that because we can't afford ivf unless we get a chunk of money from someone.

[preppy]

We talked to the nurse at my OB and she said that the place where we tested tends to be a little on the alarmist side and said if we aren't successful this cycle we should re-test DH and go from there. I feel a lot better after speaking with her. AF is due end of this week so if she shows up DH will do another SA end of next week when he gets back from his work trip.

If things don't work out this month we will have time to get his results and make a plan so we are ready for the new year.