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02-20-2013 at 9:02 PM
CalinAZ
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CalinAZ is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 9:39 AMNewbie

Any experiences with DH having a varicocele?

So, to put it bluntly, my DH's testicles have always looked a bit off. One is up much higher than the other and, according to DH, seems to move "up" after an orgasm (to the point that he often worries that it will go too far up and seems pretty uncomfortable). This has been something I've been concerned with TTC, since it seems like the sperm would be getting preheated up there, but he said that he'd visited a doctor and been told there weren't any real health issues (before we met). I figured I'd see how things go.

 Well, just recently, we started talking about it more, and he told me that the condition is actually called a varicocele. I Iooked it up, and it looks like it can be a cause of male infertility (low sperm count, low testosterone, and decreased sperm quality). Of course, this has me a bit worried now. So, I was wondering - do any of you have any experience with this? Either that your husband has this, but it wasn't an issue, or that he had it and it has been an issue? DH is going to go talk to a doctor about it, to get more information, but I was hoping for any firsthand experiences with this condition, one way or another. 

 Thanks! 
TTC #1 since August 2012 Dealing with Vestibulodynia (Chronic pelvic pain) My Ovulation Chart 
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02-20-2013 at 9:07 PM
PolskaLask...
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My husband only has a slight varicocele, but my best friend's husband actually had it surgically repaired. It is absolutely linked to male infertility, from what I have heard from her. But not to worry! you can totally fix this thru surgery that does not require a long healing time frame.
 
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02-20-2013 at 9:08 PM
btaylor19
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My DH has a varicocele on both sides.  He does have mild MFI but the urologist said his numbers are good enough that it would not cause a major issue getting pregnant if we weren't also dealing with my issues.  They did say surgery was an option but with his numbers being borderline it was not recommended.

 I would suggest if he is going to talk to a doctor, find a urologist that knows IF.  A lot of them are surprisingly clueless when it comes to this so make sure to find a doc who knows his stuff. 
“Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking.” - Scarecrow

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SAIF/PAIF Welcome
diagnosed PCOS and MFI Oct. 2010
5 failed clomid cycles with 2 IUI
3 failed rounds of Follistim with b2b IUI
Laparoscopy shows I'm all clean
IVF #1 - 18 retrieved, 2 transferred=BFN.
FET #1 - waiting until we have money 
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02-20-2013 at 9:09 PM
talon1226
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Did a doctor diagnose him with a varicocele? 
photo 7f92661f-85b6-40d5-9ebd-edc70e00a2e4_zps5ca3c95b.jpg

TTC #1 - Stopped using BC March 2011, officially TTC since August 2011
Dx: PCOS & mild hypothyroidism (me) & MFI
2 cycles Femara + trigger = BFN/no response. 2 cycles Clomid + trigger = BFN
IUI # 1 = BFN
Repeat SA - low motility & morphology w/ 99% bound by antisperm antibodies
Recommendation: IVF w/ICSI 
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02-20-2013 at 9:16 PM
tigger99
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tigger99 is online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 6:33 PMSilver

My husband was diagnosed with bilateral varioceles (both sides) he had surgery back in November to repair them. His numbers were borderline and so his urologist recommended surgery.

Your husband should speak with a urologist to see if this is really his problem and to see what they recommend as a solution. For some a variocele is not major enough to have surgery because their counts are still fairly good

 FWIW We just got back his 3 month post surgery SA results and the total count and Motility were improved but morph was only slightly improved. (see siggy for info)

Married 8/30/08, TTC#1 since May 2011. Me 36, H 37
H SA-Count 84 Mil, Morph 6%, Motility 20%-11/13 surgery to fix bilateral varicoceles
Post Surgery SA-Count 113 Mil, Morph 8% Motility 40% looking better!
Me:HSG clear, Prolactin high, micro-Pituitary Adenoma, Cabergoline=prolactin down to 1.
Cycle 18-5mg Femara+trigger+IUI. Follie on right, IUI#1-1/8-H-37Mil w\70% motil=BFN
Cycle 19 Femara+Trigger+IUI#2-2/8-2 follies on left-28mil 60% motil= BFN
Cycle 20-Clomid 50mg+trigger+IUI#3 left-33mm & 23mm, post wash 63 mil 80% moti=BFFN
Cycle 21 trying on our own unmedicated due to vacation timing!
Cycle 22 Clomid+trigger+IUI 22mm on right/23mm on left, Post wash 31 mil 80% motil
My Ovulation Chart  
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02-20-2013 at 9:19 PM
CalinAZ
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CalinAZ is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 9:39 AMNewbie

talon1226:
Did a doctor diagnose him with a varicocele? 

Yes, but that was over 5 years ago (before we met). It's possible the diagnosis changed, or the doc wasn't good (I doubt it was a specialist), but that's what we have to go on right now. 

Polskalaska - Thanks for the reassurance. Glad to hear some cases aren't a big deal and others can be dealt with with surgery

btaylor - hopefully DH's will also be borderline, or better. Thanks for your input!

tigger - thanks for sharing! I'm glad for you that your husband's numbers went up but sorry that the morphology didn't as much. Really helpful advice.  

 
TTC #1 since August 2012 Dealing with Vestibulodynia (Chronic pelvic pain) My Ovulation Chart 
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02-20-2013 at 9:25 PM
talon1226
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CalinAZ:

talon1226:
Did a doctor diagnose him with a varicocele? 

Yes, but that was over 5 years ago (before we met). It's possible the diagnosis changed, or the doc wasn't good (I doubt it was a specialist), but that's what we have to go on right now. 

Polskalaska - Thanks for the reassurance. Glad to hear some cases aren't a big deal and others can be dealt with with surgery

btaylor - hopefully DH's will also be borderline, or better. Thanks for your input!

tigger - thanks for sharing! I'm glad for you that your husband's numbers went up but sorry that the morphology didn't as much. Really helpful advice.  

Oh ok, sorry I was confused. We have MFI issues but no varicocele that we know of. Just wondering.  
photo 7f92661f-85b6-40d5-9ebd-edc70e00a2e4_zps5ca3c95b.jpg

TTC #1 - Stopped using BC March 2011, officially TTC since August 2011
Dx: PCOS & mild hypothyroidism (me) & MFI
2 cycles Femara + trigger = BFN/no response. 2 cycles Clomid + trigger = BFN
IUI # 1 = BFN
Repeat SA - low motility & morphology w/ 99% bound by antisperm antibodies
Recommendation: IVF w/ICSI 
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02-20-2013 at 9:45 PM
CalinAZ
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CalinAZ is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 9:39 AMNewbie
talon1226:

Oh ok, sorry I was confused. We have MFI issues but no varicocele that we know of. Just wondering.  

Sorry I wasn't clear. I tried to edit it to make it make more sense. 
TTC #1 since August 2012 Dealing with Vestibulodynia (Chronic pelvic pain) My Ovulation Chart 
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02-20-2013 at 9:51 PM
OtterPop1
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My husband has a varicocele (and severe MFI), but neither the urologist nor the RE thought that treating it would improve numbers enough to change anything for us.

Ditto Btay about finding a urologist who specializes in MFI. There are men who have varicoceles and normal SA results, so try not to worry too much until you have more information. Good luck to you!
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Formerly Otter*Pop
Dx=Severe MFI IVF#1 with ICSI=BFP!
Lots of love and luck to my TTGP IVF Buddy Kathy4678!
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
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02-21-2013 at 4:50 PM
LeggyJeggy
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LeggyJeggy is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 6:05 PMNewbie
My H has varicocele on his left testicle with a very low count and borderline morphology.  His urologist told us it was up to us whether he has the surgery to repair it or to go straight to IVF.  The surgery might improve the count, but we were never told by how much.  The urologist suggested the surgery also if we wanted to have more than one child.  We have decided to move forward with the surgery and also meet with a RE simultaneously.  Good luck to you.
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TTC since April 2012 (NT/NP since Sept 2011)
DH: low count, low volume & low morph, varicocele surgery postponed due to REs advice
Me: all clear for b/w & HSG.
IVF/ICSI #1, ER 5/18, 5R, 3M, 2F, 1 made to 3dt
ET 5/21, 1 12cell C/P embryo transferred
Beta#1 6/3=?
 
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