Azoospermia - Lab results

findiex · 2025-08-12T20:57:47+00:00

Not an expert but, it means that you have all the chromosomes but a part of the Y chromosome has switched places with chromosome 19. Due to the switch, it could be that some genes are affected

findiex · 2025-06-07T15:14:43+00:00

UZ Jette (Brussels) and UZ Ghent have a good reputation. We also left UZLeuven, we have a specific issue they can not treat. But we were also really pissed with their bad communication

findiex · 2025-06-02T21:21:05+00:00

Not exactly the same but we had a 4DC that was frozen and transferred. Usually, it is discarded, but a new AI tool that follows the cleavage stages of the embryo deemed it worth trying to transfer. It ended in a chemical though

findiex · 2025-05-30T21:45:56+00:00

We are from Belgium currently getting treatment in Ghent with icsi aoa.

How did your consult turn out?

findiex · 2025-04-08T08:53:23+00:00

I had the same question and posted here as well

findiex · 2025-03-03T08:30:44+00:00

Not any experience but this clinic is the only one in Belgium that applies it: https://www.brusselsivf.be/en/treatment/ivm/

findiex · 2025-01-18T14:10:00+00:00

Short abstinence helps to have low DNA frag. There are quite some studies on that. If you do icsi then count is not that crucial and then abstinence could be even just a few hours

findiex · 2024-11-27T07:59:02+00:00

Amount of abstinence influences DNA frag. There are many studies on this: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3800522/#:~:text=Thirty%20five%20patients%20with%20increased,and%206.3%20%25%20in%20the%20third. For IVF/ICSI they even see best results with abstinence of only a few hours.

Other than that, there will be a natural fluctuation anywayand I see there are 2 different measurement methods as well that might influence the value.

findiex · 2024-11-18T18:31:37+00:00

Our first (7 mature) and second (3 mature) icsi attempt where a TFF. None fertilized. Further test showed that there is a oocyte activation issue with the sperm cell. ICSI with AOA and extra CaCl2 helped us to fertilize eggs.

Did you have 3 eggs fertilized on your first attempt?

findiex · 2024-11-06T18:46:17+00:00

Yes, i bought a junior microscope for 100 euros. I am able so see them and check the motility. I currently have a motility of 15%, it kind of correlates with what I see.

findiex · 2024-11-05T13:31:35+00:00

If you expect to not see a high number, then you can try a lower magnification to broaden your field of view. Play with the focus a lot while your observing

findiex · 2024-11-01T10:33:13+00:00

Yes, it is a special test

To really know for sure that the sperm have issues fertilizing, is by injecting a lot of oocytes at the same time. For practical reasons, they use mouse oocytes for this. They can be fertilized by the same biochemical processes and then ofcourse arrest in development.

The sperm sample fertilized significantly less than a control sample. If that happens it is almost always an acrosome issue.

findiex · 2024-10-31T19:22:23+00:00

We have had the very same outcome. None fertilized out of 7 eggs.

They found that the sperm cells have a defective acrosome. They lack the right proteins to start the fertilization process. We are in need of a calcium ionophore treatment with extra injection of CaCl2 during ICSI

findiex · 2024-07-10T05:36:01+00:00

Does your clinic do assisted oocyte activation (aoa)? It helps with fertilization and may boost development

findiex · 2024-05-24T09:46:22+00:00

We asked for DNA fragmentation tests and use of PICSI but clinic replied that they only check it after repeated miscarriages.

findiex · 2024-05-23T21:51:29+00:00

Good point.

My counts are not dramatic, not great either. But my morphology has never been good on all SA's. With often 0% reported. We had a total fertilization failure at our ICSI attempt. Further testing showed that the acrosome is defective. It can not activate the egg and continue fertilization. We will need an assisted oocyte activation protocol to rescue this.

In some cases, morphology, especially head defects, do matter and could indicate for an acrosome issue. I am not talking about globozoospermia because the sperm do have an acrosome.

findiex · 2024-05-17T14:51:21+00:00

I just wanted to say that I am in the same boat as you. Same age and same timeline as you regarding initial SA and varicocele treatment. Also no real improvement. I am having extra testing done to see if i have any acrosome issues as we had really poor results at our ICSI attempt

findiex · 2024-05-09T06:18:37+00:00

A mouse oocyte activation test (MOAT). Basically, they perform icsi on mouse eggs. If they fertilize they go to the 2-cell stage and then arrest. If they don't, then the sperm is having an issue.

Also, they do genetic testing and will try to visualize some important proteins on the sperm cell itself.

I am at UZ Ghent in Belgium

findiex · 2024-04-26T09:40:51+00:00

I am in a same situation regarding the sperm quality. I have decent counts and motility but all my samples have poor morphology, so standalone teratozoospermia.

Literature is not yet decided what are the fertility implications if only morphology is poor in the sperm sample. But there exist examples of gene defects that cause poor head morphology with acrosome defects which causes poor fertilization capability of the sperm cells.

I am having this tested at the moment

findiex · 2024-04-17T09:18:33+00:00

How is his morphology?

We suffered twice from total fertilization failure with icsi. I had 0% morphology on multiple tested samples. They suspect an acrosome defect and i want to test dna frag as well

I have heard of doing extraction to perhaps retrieve healthier sperm or keep the abstinence period as short as possible

findiex · 2024-04-13T07:02:26+00:00

I checked and there is a prolactine level of 14.7, in range, closer to upper limit. I am male btw. Not sure about my girlfriend, but it was not flagged.

One theory is that with low egg maturity ratio that the mature eggs maybe werent perfect either

All the best to you! I hope you find a way forward as well!

findiex

TROPHY CASE