Friday, January 14, 2011

Baby Batter Appointment

Today, I go to what I am calling "The Sperm Doctor" for an initial consult before a procedure called MESA or TESA (to be honest, I don't know which one. I guess I'll learn tomorrow). I'll obviously be able to divulge more information as I learn it tomorrow or you could just ask Mandi because I'm sure that she's paid more attention to all of the details being thrown at us over the past few months. As I understand it, they need to go into my testicle and retrieve sperm. Again, not getting the procedure done tomorrow, just the consult.

For those of you that don't know, about 95% of CF men are sterile. I fall within that 95%. It's not that we don't have sperm, it's just that it can't come out. Here's a very quick and simple explanation. The testicle makes sperm and semen. A tube carries semen from the testicle and a tube carries sperm from the testicle to meet up with the semen. I, along with many men with CF, never developed the tube that carries the sperm to meet up with the semen. It's called a congenital absence of the vas deferens (if you want to get all technical). Since I don't have the tube to carry out the baby makin' process naturally, they have to go in and get the sperm.

So, today we go in and talk about what the procedure looks like and when it will be done...at least that's what I was told :)
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Rhonda's avatar - Go to profile

Rhonda · 742 weeks ago

Ronnie... John had the same procedure. If you want to talk to him about it, feel free to e-mail him. justjohn78@gmail.com He keeps up with you guys too.

It was a fairly quick recovery. If memory serves, he had the procedure done on a Thursday and was back to work on Monday.
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Kellie Davenport · 742 weeks ago

Just curious. Can you do insemination using your sperm or is in-vitro the only option for having biological children? This is all great info for us if Levi is in the 95% as well. Thanks for sharing the details of your process. Praying for you guys through this process!
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RunSickboyRun 96p · 741 weeks ago

Just saw this...We're told that they like to do IVF only for guys like us. In general, our sperm can be a bit "lazy" and there's less of it :)
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Dana Smith's avatar

Dana Smith · 742 weeks ago

Ronnie, I'm so happy for you and the other 95% of men with CF. My husband, Darren, also falls into this category but they told us there was nothing we could do except adopt or artificial insemination. This was back in the 80's and 90's (we've been married for 26 years). It looks like things are improving! Good luck to you and Mandi!
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Jessica's avatar

Jessica · 742 weeks ago

This may be a silly question but how do you find out if you are in the 95%? I am guessing there is a way to test.
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RunSickboyRun's avatar - Go to profile

RunSickboyRun 96p · 742 weeks ago

Without being too crass...I was given a cup and told to provide a sample (I'm sure you can guess what that means). They then took that sample and spun it really fast to see if sperm were visible within the semen. I had ZERO sperm in my semen. Doesn't mean that I don't have sperm, just means that it doesn't meet up with the semen and come out upon ejaculation.
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Dominic's avatar

Dominic · 742 weeks ago

You go to a clinic, get a cup, go to a room with a magazine or a video, spend about 5-10 minutes in the room, come out with the cup with stuff in it, then they look at the stuff under a microscope to see if any sperm are swimming around.

you're in the 95% if none are swimming.
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Leah's avatar

Leah · 742 weeks ago

thanks for sharing all the details, prayers are with you both & the doc;) i too was mis directed about the whole sterile thing...dont know yet about reece as he is only 8....hopefully they will come up with something less invasive by the time he wants kids:)
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Scot's avatar

Scot · 741 weeks ago

Hey Ronnie hope all goes as planned.I had hernia surg. and my boy parts swelled way up like grape fruits (ouch!).Sounds like you're procedure will go better.Wife and I are trying for another child also,so it might be a race for who's birthday will be first!.Good luck to both of you.
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Marcy's avatar

Marcy · 741 weeks ago

Hey Ronnie, thanks for sharing so much, it really does help the us as moms to CF boys to understand all the possibilities!!! Good Luck, you know we are all rooting for you both!!!
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Alisha's avatar

Alisha · 741 weeks ago

You help relax me quite a bit. Me and my husband have been talking about children and sometimes the whole procedure scares me. A lot of people don't understand that he can probably have children and just think to say that we can't just because we have to go through in vitro. It can take a toll on both of our self esteems. I tend to get scared that even when they go to look for sperm that they won't find any. Are many men with CF successful with this? I guess I could just use some reassurance.

By the way I am not sure if you know Ronnie but they do have an IVF scholarship that they can give to people to help fund the procedure. I know of one CF couple that already got approved for that. I think you should look into that. Please keep us posted on everything. I find it very comforting how you always seem to write journals about things that we seem to be going through at the same time. You always keep our spirits uplifted. Thanks so much for everything.
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RunSickboyRun 96p · 741 weeks ago

We're always here to answer questions Alisha. I know plenty of guys with CF that have had success with IVF. Hoping to join their ranks soon!!
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Alisha's avatar

Alisha · 741 weeks ago

Thank you so much. That is comforting to know. I am also very much relieved to know that plenty of CF mean have been successful through IVF. That gives us hope everyday. :) We will be routing you on every step of your journey. We hope it is a safe, healthy, and smooth process for you both.
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RunSickboyRun's avatar - Go to profile

RunSickboyRun 96p · 741 weeks ago

Thank you Alisha

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