THE RESULTS

Ok, here are the results we were given with the normal WHO range (according to our sheet) in bold.

Abstinence: 3 days
Volume: 4.0 mL                   >2.0 mL
Count: 7.0 million/mL          >20 million/mL
Motility: 56.8%                     >50%
Progression: 2 Scale 1-5
Motile Sperm/mL: 4.0 million/mL >10 million/mL
Total Motile: 16.0 million
Agglutination: Some Mixed
Viscosity: Slight
Color: Off-White
pH: 7.0                                 7.2 - 8.0
Non-viable: n/a                     <25%
WBC: 0.00 million/mL          <1 million/mL
Normal Morphology: 5%       >14% Normal, 5-14% Borderline, <5% Subfertile

DH's name is Shane . . .

Okay, now I know out of context, these numbers may not seem that great, but it was encouraging the most from the morphology. According to what I found online, the updated WHO range for morphology is 5% normal. So who knows. I forgot to ask about the different range. Our urologist said when we did the surgery, Shane's sperm was in about stage 2 of production, he likened it to since it takes about 3 months or 72 days for sperm to regenerate, its about a 3 stage process, at stage 3 they are ready or getting ready to be used. So at stage 2 when we did the surgery, they were exposed to stress, likely their process was interrupted. When we did the 3 month post op, it was still likely to be early. So they were in stage 2 again, having healed from the surgery, they had just started to regenerate and we caught it at stage 2, so he wasn't too concerned about the numbers and found them "encouraging", with "improvement". He said he wouldn't need a follow-up but to send him an ultrasound picture when we are pregnant. He felt by 9 months post op Shane should be at normal levels. He said we shouldn't need any assistance by 9 months post op!!! WHAT??!!!!???? This coming from the same Dr that said we even with surgery would most likely not conceive on our own but should hope for iui/ivf numbers exclusively. He had said there are no guarantees with the surgery for improvement so I think he was playing it safe. Because today he says we shouldn't need the iui! I said but Shane is leaving next month. He said well in that case, your situation is different, you may want to try, I wouldn't do it this cycle, perhaps the next, but its up to you. I said I wasn't aware of what is needed for an iui as far as what our numbers need to look like. He said well all clinics have different cut offs, but they usually look at the total motile sperm, as long as its more than 10 million, you have a good chance. WHAT?????!!!!! I wanted to cry, and laugh, and hug him. This was our first solidly hopeful appointment since seeking assistance excluding my first appointment with my doctor before we knew we had male-factor. You could see the relief and gratefulness in Shane's face immediately. He walked lighter, stood taller. I'm sure I looked elated also. I know we aren't there yet, its still just over 3 months post op, but to hear the idea that we may not need assistance to get pregnant was news I was never ever expecting to hear about us. Ever. Oh the power of prayer, and friends, and medicine.

With this hopeful news, I called my Drs office and a nurse said she looked at the results but the DR will be in tomorrow. She'll make sure she looks over the results to make sure we are on track for our Wednesday appointment (my ultrasound for iui). Holy Heaven Above! So if they call and say not enough improvement yet, that's fine, we'll be expecting that, but if they are willing to try, Shane and I discussed our plan of action: Try to get 1-2 iuis before he leaves mid April. So this cycle and next cycle are hopeful. Otherwise we will attempt what we can depending on if we sell the house and I go with him to San Antonio or if I can visit during my fertile weeks while he's in training for the next few months, trying natural. Then when we move, we will either be pregnant, or we will need to find new doctors wherever we move to.

So, I'll let you know what happens tomorrow, my Dr is supposed to call and say, game on, lets iui this cycle, or she'll say let's make a plan.