Low Motility

[MsG]

Hey Everyone,

Does anyone have any advice/experience to share re: low motility? We received that diagnosis yesterday (20-something %), and we are still waiting for a return phone call from the clinic to talk next steps. From what I am reading online (I know I should stay out of that rabbit hole, but I can't seem to help myself), it seems like our only option might be going straight to IVF. I'm just not sure I am emotionally (and especially financially) ready to go down that path, and it is freaking me out. 

SPOILER: Click to show

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On top of that, we conceived naturally last year, but then had a miscarriage last September so that's making me wonder about our odds of getting KU again. On top of that, we conceived naturally last year, but then had a miscarriage last September so that's making me wonder about our odds of getting KU again. 

[bonzo]

MH's biggest issue is morphology, not motility, but our RE put him on some male fertility supplements. I'd imagine those would help MFI across the board, but talk to your RE before starting lots of supplements. I've also read that motility can be very affected by alcohol use, so if YH is a big drinker he should cut back.

Interestingly, our RE also told MH not to do long bike rides. Apparently frequent strenuous bike rides, or other activity that puts pressure on the testicles while raising the core temperature, can be bad for sperm development.

Also, no hot tubs, no laptops directly on the lap....those ones are more widely known I think, but I'm trying to think of all the advice they gave us!

[kensie5226]

**GRAD WARNING**

Our diagnosis was MFI (everything was on the low side) and we were able to conceive twice using IUI. We had no other issues and it turns out all we needed was a leg up in the long swim. Because it was likely caused by MH's epilepsy medication no supplements were ever recommended. I absolutely went to Google and had the same conclusion you did. I was already prepping how we would save for IVF. Don't go down that rabbit hole, it likely isn't the only option.

[fatpony]

We also have low motility/morphology. RE said IUI was fine because of the wash and placing the sperm high in the uterus with the procedure.

[MsG]

bonzo, MH is the opposite of a big drinker - he rarely consumes alcohol. He does, however, frequently sit with his laptop on his lap, so that's at least one thing he can change. It would be great if the first step could be something as simple as supplements!

kensie5226, It's so great to know that worked for you. I know reading the internet on these things is super silly, and I'm going to do my best to avoid doing more of it. Thankfully we were able to get an appointment for the 16th, so I don't have to hold myself in check too long.

fatpony, That's good to know! I just was really hoping there were options we could try before jumping right to the most expensive/invasive ones.

[ceejay]

Everyone has already given good advice. Typically motility and count are the two parameters that can be improved with supplements, vitamins, and/or clomid, so I would think that and trying IUIs would be a good place to start.

Some clinics will try to push you to IVF right away if your only problem is minor MFI, since IVF has a very good chance of being successful with that IF diagnosis, and you could help them boost their IVF statistics... Our first RE was like that and only let us try supplements and IUIs first because I pushed for that. If I hadn't been as educated from the ladies on TCF, I might have just taken the REs first recommendation. There are no national published IUI stats so many clinics can be a little too concerned with only their IVF success rates...

One more thing... 20ish% motility isn't really too low. I can't remember off the top of my head but I think the normal cut off for motility is something like 30-40% so being in the 20s isn't terrible and could likely be improved by supplements/medication alone.

[bonzo]

ceejay, we were told 50% for motility, and that MH was borderline at 48%. I wonder if it's one of those stats that has changed over the years though, since apparently the percent considered normal for morphology has drastically decreased over the years.