Varicocele

[bebies]

Hi everyone!! is it okay for a guy to post here? tap me up if it's not allowed I'll be humbled enough to erase my post...But the thing is I just want to share my experience about suffering from varicocele and I don't really know where I could jump in to share it but hopefully this will encourage and give a lot of HOPES for those couple who have been trying to get pregnant...I'm Rey 36 years of age, got married when I was 32 (kinda gurang na noh :-)). I don't know but I just didn't feel the need getting married during my 20's.. I have been working here in the middle east for quite some time now even before I got married...2006 I went off for a vacation to settle down, me and my wife just had about 1 1/2 month together as I need to go back here abroad, All I thought at first is that getting your wife pregnant is easy just like everyone else around but I was totally wrong, I made a few more vacations to be with my wife with the hope of getting her pregnant and nothing happened..:-(..we had done some medical test with the doctors and everything was perfectly fine on the wife but unfortunately I had a not so good results as our doctors found out my sperm count was quite a bit low like 15mil and the second time was a bit higher though like 45mil...the doctors pointed out that may be the cause of the problem on why we have been having a hard time conceiving.That was really affected the manly thing in me (if you know what I mean), I was completely down and was feeling like I'm the only guy who has this kind of struggle.But I stand up and through the help of my faith, God gives me strength to move on. I started to search on my own online what's really goin on with me with the question why I can't impregnate my wife and found out that I have varicocele never will I know that I have it should I have not done any research the worst thing was I have it on both sides (left and right testicles),this thing was enough for me to lose my faith again but that never let me down completely I never quit trying to find anything as much as I could to give me some relief of this nightmare. Unfortunately all the sites that I had been into about varicocele one contradicts the other and some said it doesn't have anything to do with fertility others had claimed it's the reason for a man's unable to impregnate their partners, so which is which?totally confused even some said that varicocele repair doesn't give the assurance of having a good sperm count afterwards but there were some who got a successful operation and later had their wives pregnant. so at that point in time I really don't know which one I should jump into whether or not I need to undergo surgery or just leave those balls alone down there hanging..These things do really affected me and wife emotionally, it had also a great impact on our sex life, Gladly God has given me enough power to keep on moving as He seemed to be whispering on my ear "never ever surrender" but I thought that faith without work is dead so I really have to do something more " it takes two to tango kumbaga" so anyone here wants to do something he/she thinks is good just do it then..I knew God was helping me out and my wife leading us into the right path which are the things we need to help us conceive..lately I was able to bring my wife here, a positive thing for both of us to be together for a long period of time. I decided to quit my coffee intake totally (being a coffee addict it's not that easy to do) 2nd, I used boxer shorts instead of briefs ( for those guys who don't feel as sexy as they can be when using boxer, forget ur ego..) 3rd one I went on a healthy diet, I totally quit sugar (white) instead i used honey (i know it's quite expensive, brown sugar may also do good), I eat less fatty foods,unfortunately getting on a diet is a nightmare for me as I really love to eat as much as I can, for quite few months doing these I had lost a lot of pounds but I feel good than I had before.I used cold shower esp when the wife persuades you to do the thing :-), we;ve been taking folic acid as it widely known for it's effectiveness in building up the cells in the body and lastly before I forget to mention even if I am not sure if it has something to do with fertility is the EXTRA VIRGIN COCONUT OIL. I used to take 2 teaspoons before each meal and WOW i mean wow it has really given me a super power that I could beat the HULK and put him to sleep literally! and for the guys out there you can really notice a huge difference on your sperm with this oil, it will make them whiter than snow ( no exaggeration on my part ) again I am not saying this would have something to do or help you impregnate your partner...So I've been keeping to do these things as a part of my daily life, the diet, exercise, the boxer shorts and so on with the HIGH hopes that I may gain better results later on...6 months passed and nothing happens and that led me to the thoughts of having a surgery but my wife said let's give it one more month if we still ended up failed then let the technology enters your precious parts...January 8, 2011 that supposed to be my wife's aunt's flow to be coming but nothing she just thought traffic caused the delay, one week had passed and still no flow, she tempted me to make a test that time but I refused as how it would frustrate us again once it would come out negative.I told her to wait for another week and we will do the test, another week had passed and she took the pregnancy test and it was POSITIVE (that was feb. 17, 2011-the happiest day i'd ever lived), now she was on her 9 weeks and few days of pregnancy. i now came to a conclusion that with or without varicocele a person is still be able to have his wife impregnated as long as you can patiently wait and do your part and let God guidance be with you at all times. Don't lose HOPE. Fight the good fight of faith, be strong once you never give up you will receive the desires of your heart..Happy day to all...sorry it took me so long..I don't know how to make a long story short..:-)..God bless everyone...

[newbeymum]

your story is very encouraging. My husband has varicocele too... i got pregnant last oct of 2010 but only to find out that it was blighted ovum and i had a d and c.. My ob told us that one of the factor that might be the reason of my blighted ovum is my husband's low sperm count and low morphology. So my husband was prescribed lots and lots of vitamins selenium, glutha(injectible), zinc, vit c, vit e, cq10, grapeseed to improve his sperm count and morphology. Last month we had an IUI and before the procedure he even took pro xeed its another vitamin to enhance his sperm count. But still the procedure failed us! Just last week i under went hysterogram (xray of the fallopian tubes) though i was told that my tubes are patent my doctor just need to flash my tubes of any blockage(mucus). Now we are preparing for another IUI. Hope this time it will work.. Btw, congratulations to you and your wife..

[bebies]

you're most welcome newbeymum..I just had this feeling to share what I had been through being a varicocele sufferer because I know this thing is very common to men they said it's around like 15-20% of male population has this condition but still on debate whether or not it affect the reproduction system of men and I'm fully aware now how painful it is for a man to know that having this linked to his reproduction is pretty much of a big deal. but of course every couple wants to do as much as they could just to conceive. I am no against anything whatever a couple do to make them feel it would make difference in them ( I mean whatever it takes), then I love to see them continue doing it. I had taken also a dozens of prescribed medicines like androil and others, you name it I may had already taken it..

In my case, I may say I had been already fed up and completely tired having to go medical schedules over and over again without success, Like I said at one point I had this thought of getting myself to undergo surgery as my last resort, we also considered IVF, IUI as an options and even adoption. Maybe God never let these options to be pursued because He knows what is best for both of us, I don't know He may have seen the eagerness in me by not quitting to move forward and to the pursuit of happiness.God is a God of mercy ( I felt it during the times of struggles ). There were times that I could not see the side of our God gladly he has given me good people around me to help me out all the way through...

Just like I said just keep on doing whatever you and your husband doing, there's nothing wrong trying new things though, it may also important to keep an eye on what we eat, sometimes keeping some foods at bay may help or totally quitting something we are addicted with may give a huge difference and sort of things like that...
you said that you got pregnant but unfortunately it did not push through, it's a big indication that you will get pregnant again with a healthy pregnancy (full term).
by the way, varicoceles may also have something to do with genetics because I just have learned that two of my brothers have it as well even before they get married, the other one also had to go for about 4 years before they finally conceived, he's got 3 kids now, my elder brother has 4. so nothing is impossible.

I have this gut feeling that you are a brave woman, just hang on there with your husband, relax, keep the faith...baby dust to all...Godbless

[newbeymum]

I had 2 failed iui and just had my third one last week. My tubes are patent and i'm not pcos too the only problem is that my husband has varicocele but based from his recent SA he has improved a lot and the result of his SA is already enough to get me pregnant.. so Im hoping that this time i will get a bigfat postive result otherwise i will suggest for him to have an operation or maybe to have an ivf...

[aheart]

hi sisses, just a word of advise: do seek a second opinion before getting your husbands under the knife kasi may varicocele. there are "new" techniques now that few urologists know that can be done here in our country. don't be afraid to ask sa mga urologist who specializes in  infertility makakatipid na kayo hindi pa mag su- suffer si hubby ng paulit ulit na operation.

[gcarrie]

^hi sis aheart, what are those new techniques? been to 3 different urologists all of them saying the same things and giving the same meds but none of them helped us

[aheart]

hi sis gcarrie, my husband was scheduled for surgery (biopsy  kung may makitang sperm diretso varicocelectomy) last may but since ang option left to us is ivf we decided to seek other doctors opinion. now we are still preparing for his biopsy but not for varicocelectomy anymore. sabi ng urologist namin ngayon if they find sperm sa biopsy they will freeze it for our ivf so di na kailangang galawin yung varicocele ni hubby. nakatipid na kami diresto pa sa ivf namin hindi na mag aantay ulit na tumaas ang sperm count ni hubby. sis, try to go to a urologist na partner ng ivf doctor. good luck!

[misisef]

@jhola- sster, ask ko lang saang part ni hubby mo yung sumasakit para nadiagnose na varicocele siya? i mean what exactly is the location kasi me ganyang pakiramdam din si hubby ko pero hindi niya ma-sure kung alin banda. kasi pabugso-bugso yung kirot e. please reply asap if possible.. tahnk you

[rheems]

yung sakit po na yun is parang hinihila yung balls niya pababa, medyo sa ilalim po ng balls..usually pag consistent na masakit kailangan na operahan, pro pag hindi naman, there are ways to improve yung SA nya..sa mga sisses po natin na may varicocele ang hubby nila, post naman po kayo dto ng mga tips and suggestions para maimprove SA ng mga hubby, like vitamins, food, and etc...

thanks in advance! more power!

[caramelli]

Hello Sisses! Pasensya na kung dito ako nagreply, tagal ng walang post. Ito lang kasi nakita kong thread about varicocele. Nalaman namin just last year na meron si hubby nito. Naka 3 urologists na kami and operation ang suggestion. Nagresearch ako sa internet, hindi ako satisfied sa mga nalaman ko kasi kahit doctors, sinasabi na walang assurance na makakabuo. Ayaw ng hubby ko magpaopera. 2.5 yrs na kaming married, ang diagnosis lang sa akin nung previous years myoma, other than that clear na. Sobrang nakakadepress na minsan kasi lahat nalang nagtatanong kung bakit wala pa kaming baby. Ngayon, nagpa reseta kami sa OB ko ng ova-mit. Sabi kasi nila pwede rin daw makapag increase ng counts, try lang namin for 3 months sabi ni OB. Pag nagkaron ako this month, saka ko sya papa-SA ulit para makita kung nag effect yung gamot. Hay, sana nag increase yung counts nya.

[crzysxycl]

Meron din nito hubby ko. May herbal meds kaya for this? Kasi hindi rin naman assurance ang operation para tumaas ang sperm count, plus may nabasa ako na may ibang pwedeng effect pag inopera. Sana may makatulong po..

[Im Going to be a Dad! Wow]

I had 2 failed iui and just had my third one last week. My tubes are patent and i'm not pcos too the only problem is that my husband has varicocele but based from his recent SA he has improved a lot and the result of his SA is already enough to get me pregnant.. so Im hoping that this time i will get a bigfat postive result otherwise i will suggest for him to have an operation or maybe to have an ivf...

Hi newbeymum, from our experience 2 failed the IUI and if your 3rd attempt failed also its much better to do IVF, having your husband to undergo surgery will not assure that you will get pregnant and you have to wait until your husband totally heal, and the varicocele is totally gone. Correct me if I am wrong but varicocele is not being remove but just being suppress because these are veins.They will just cut the supply of blood and wait for it to die, heat from the blood is causing the low sperm count.

I have also  varicocele and not just low sperm count its motility and morphology are very worse.
and also I don't like to be under a knife or anyone touching by balls except my wife.

We decided to do IVF and you only need one good sperm to impregnate you. My daughter is now 5 months 1 week, we TTC 6 years before we decided to seek professional help.

[caramelli]

^hi bro. in my hubby's case, counts lang ang problem. bilateral ang varicocele nya, mas severe sa left pero ayaw nya magpaopera. may i ask how much ang cost ng IVF nyo? plan na namin magpa iui, sana it will work for us.

[crzysxycl]

^ganyan din case ng husband ko, low sperm count, the rest ok naman.

[Im Going to be a Dad! Wow]

^hi bro. in my hubby's case, counts lang ang problem. bilateral ang varicocele nya, mas severe sa left pero ayaw nya magpaopera. may i ask how much ang cost ng IVF nyo? plan na namin magpa iui, sana it will work for us.

It is a case to case basis, in our case about 350,000 all in. You need to prepare at least 250,000 for the procedure this does not include professional fee and laboratory.

[crzysxycl]

^hi. if i may ask, saan kayo nagpa IVF? medyo mura pa pala yun, kasi yung ibang naririnig ko can go as high as 1M daw.

[caramelli]

^^thanks! sana mag work IUI sa amin ni hubby.. medyo pricey pala talaga ang IVF.

[Im Going to be a Dad! Wow]

^hi. if i may ask, saan kayo nagpa IVF? medyo mura pa pala yun, kasi yung ibang naririnig ko can go as high as 1M daw.
[/quote

Sa kato repro biotech center sa makati po kami. Yes i think mas competitive price nya compare sa iba and maganda naman success rate nila. Have talk to them last month and said they are now trying to get a 50 yr old to be pregnant.hope she will but i have said its a case to case basis. You may go higher.

[dette8888]

My hubby also has varicocele. His urologist said there is no assurance that a surgery could solve the problem. Early last year, we tried IUI twice, but both failed probably because of the varicocele affecting hubby's sperm motility. We opted for IVF in October and got pregnant after 7 years of TTC. I'm now 34 weeks far along. =)

[crzysxycl]

^^thanks bro.

^wow sis, congrats! saglit nalang pala makikita mo na baby mo. hay, sana kami rin maka jackpot na.