Our first IVF was in Aug 2011. We went in to consult with Dr. Jyothi at MARS late 2011 to discuss our options. She preferred that we take a break of few months to let the drugs wash out of our system. This is one area we have found a difference in philosophy. Many doctors are ready to do cycles back to back, if required. Dr. Jyothi is more conservative when it comes to things like this.
She had me go and do one extra test on my sperm called the DFI (DNA Fragmentation Index). Everybody's sperm has some DNA damage due to oxidizing free radicals and such. If a large number of sperm have this DNA damage, it reduces your chances of successful conception, though there are people with high DNA fragmentation who went on to have babies without treatment.
This test result for me was a bit shocking. Firstly, the DFI number was very high. In addition, the sperm motility and morphology numbers came out poorer than earlier. I was surprised because all the tests on sperm in other places (Gunasheela, Sure) all came back with reasonably normal parameters. Anyway, after this test I was asked to go and consult Dr. S. S. Vasan who is the andrologist and head of the center. Dr. Vasan got me to do several hormone blood tests and an ultrasound of my testicles.
He finally told me that the reason for my high DFI is a varicocele which is like a swollen vein in the scrotum. Since blood flow is impeded, the temperature in the testicular region goes up and causes the DFI increase. As the reader may know, maintaining testicular temperature is critical in getting sperm production right.
Luckily, there is a simple method to improve DFI which is to take antioxidants. Dr. Vasan prescribed some injections and some hormone tablets followed by a course of anti oxidants to reduce the DFI. This worked well and after 45 days or so (sperm takes 60-70 days to mature in the testicle), my DFI was much better.
General reactions
My general reaction to the whole deal was not altogether great. Dr. Vasan is a man in a hurry. He will work at jet speed and prescribe medication, but does not do a great job of explaining what does what. Normally I have found google to be a good tool to understand the prescribed medication and correlate doctor's statements, but here I was not successful at understanding what was going on. The varicocele size from ultrasound test was small. From what I read online, it was small enough that it did not strictly count as a varicocele
The difference in sperm test results of motility bothers me. The high value of the DFI bothers me. Further, some of the medication he prescribed caused some amount of testicular pain. I stuck with it in the second IVF cycle, but in the next one, I became my own doctor and used a different concoction based on online research. I used vitamin C, E and Cod Liver Oil. Vitamin C at 1 g a day (500mg x2). Vitamin E (Evion at 2 x 400 mg a day). Cod Liver Oil 2 tabs x 3 times a day. That seemed to work pretty well based on subsequent test results. I also started to keep my phone in my shirt pocket instead of the pant pocket.
Disclaimer: I am only sharing my personal opinion and my versions of my experience here. Clearly, if you go and ask doctors who I may express opinions on, they may agree or disagree to my statements. The thought process is that this would be helpful and a reference point for some among the many that go through this infertility ordeal.
She had me go and do one extra test on my sperm called the DFI (DNA Fragmentation Index). Everybody's sperm has some DNA damage due to oxidizing free radicals and such. If a large number of sperm have this DNA damage, it reduces your chances of successful conception, though there are people with high DNA fragmentation who went on to have babies without treatment.
This test result for me was a bit shocking. Firstly, the DFI number was very high. In addition, the sperm motility and morphology numbers came out poorer than earlier. I was surprised because all the tests on sperm in other places (Gunasheela, Sure) all came back with reasonably normal parameters. Anyway, after this test I was asked to go and consult Dr. S. S. Vasan who is the andrologist and head of the center. Dr. Vasan got me to do several hormone blood tests and an ultrasound of my testicles.
He finally told me that the reason for my high DFI is a varicocele which is like a swollen vein in the scrotum. Since blood flow is impeded, the temperature in the testicular region goes up and causes the DFI increase. As the reader may know, maintaining testicular temperature is critical in getting sperm production right.
Luckily, there is a simple method to improve DFI which is to take antioxidants. Dr. Vasan prescribed some injections and some hormone tablets followed by a course of anti oxidants to reduce the DFI. This worked well and after 45 days or so (sperm takes 60-70 days to mature in the testicle), my DFI was much better.
General reactions
My general reaction to the whole deal was not altogether great. Dr. Vasan is a man in a hurry. He will work at jet speed and prescribe medication, but does not do a great job of explaining what does what. Normally I have found google to be a good tool to understand the prescribed medication and correlate doctor's statements, but here I was not successful at understanding what was going on. The varicocele size from ultrasound test was small. From what I read online, it was small enough that it did not strictly count as a varicocele
The difference in sperm test results of motility bothers me. The high value of the DFI bothers me. Further, some of the medication he prescribed caused some amount of testicular pain. I stuck with it in the second IVF cycle, but in the next one, I became my own doctor and used a different concoction based on online research. I used vitamin C, E and Cod Liver Oil. Vitamin C at 1 g a day (500mg x2). Vitamin E (Evion at 2 x 400 mg a day). Cod Liver Oil 2 tabs x 3 times a day. That seemed to work pretty well based on subsequent test results. I also started to keep my phone in my shirt pocket instead of the pant pocket.
Disclaimer: I am only sharing my personal opinion and my versions of my experience here. Clearly, if you go and ask doctors who I may express opinions on, they may agree or disagree to my statements. The thought process is that this would be helpful and a reference point for some among the many that go through this infertility ordeal.
Nice Post.,Thank You...
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