Less random

Shot round 2 tonight for the microscope viewing audience.

1 month, 2 days on Clomid (50 mg, 5-7 days)

• abs: 8 hours
• volume: ~2 tsp
• low motility: 25 per hpf
• high motility > 1000 on multiple views

Similar to what I saw earlier this week, there were multiple fields of view where the entire slide was moving.

Ovulation is about a week away, and while I realize that most couples with completely normal situations have to try multiple cycles to get a win, I am modestly optimistic about our chances this round.

Especially given the fact that we plan on carpet bombing the egg with whatever swimmers are available.

Randomly better samples

Haven't measured in several days, so I wasn't sure what to expect today.

1 month, 2 days on Clomid (50 mg, 5-7 days)
abs: 24 hours
volume: ~2 tsp
low motility: <25 per hpf
high motility > 100 on multiple views

I think today the overall total motility was the highest I've seen yet in a sample. The interesting part was that in most views to date, the total number of swimmers and wigglers observable has normally decreased in the course of an hour. Today the number seemed to increase as the liquefaction took place.

While no view was as good as the miracle view on Wednesday (~1000 in one view), the number of views with 100 or more were extremely plentiful.

I had a blood draw done Friday morning for the free and total testosterone. My fingers are crossed that the result shows I need a stronger hit of Clomid. Why? Because while I'm aware that that it takes 60-70 days to grow a crop of swimmers and that there may be better crops in the making, it would be good if triple the Clomid yielded triple the results.

I'm not sure what impact the psychological effect of the Clomid is with regard to my overall vigor, but I sure don't mind the energy- real or perceived.

Random good samples

On Monday night I did two samples- this was a continuation of the project of moving the swimmers out of the bull pen as fast as possible to see what happens.

Sample 1: Almost none. Very lack luster (quite disappointing).
Sample 2: Over 1000 swimmers per high field view. The entire slide was motile. (volume was low).

WTF?

On the positive side- the fact that the random occurrances are containing larger numbers of motile is good to see. Heading in for a blood test in two days.

Also, neglected wife says put away the microscope for a few days.

Rhyme or reason for the counts

After a stellar count on Wednesday afternoon I waited until Friday evening (54 hours) to view the next round.

Volume - ok.
Count - nada. Maybe 1% of low motile swimmers at max.

This is a major bummer of course, but what I don't get is what is physiologically cause the count to go from substantial to substandard in 2 days. Unless this is just what happens with a low dose of Clomid after only 1 month.

To test this theory further, we were wondering if the numbers game of abstinence and shooting a large volume is actually causing the swimmers to die waiting in the bull pen.

So this weekend is a marathon round of research. Minus a round of sport last night, the goal is to get as many rounds under the microscope as possible. Round 3 was early this morning and the percentage looked similar to week 1 of Clomid. Round 4 was Saturday evening 5:00 PM and some of the views were above 100.

The volume of everything but the first round was between 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons. Round 1 was about a tablespoon.


Round 1: 54 hours of abs: Nothing 1% max
Round 2: (not viewed): 4 hours of abs
Round 3: 7 hours of abs: ~25 swimmers per high powered view
Round 4: 10 hours of abs: ~100 swimmers per high powered view (max) ~25 on average.
Round 5: 24 hrs of abs: ~100 swimmers per hpv (max) ~25 ave


OK- WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON BETWEEN ROUND 1 and 4?

Note on round 5 there were lots of views with 100 plus.

things i'm curious about

1. Is this repeatable?
2. What will the WHO tests tell me for the abs sample and the no abs sample? (at a hundred bucks a pop, I'm only curious enough to try one.)

I'll try one at some point, but may try daily views for a few more days before burning time on abs.

On the down side, the wife's cycle started today, so no baby from this past round :-(

clomid side effects

in my last post I mentioned some of the clomid side effects. Here's a quick summary.

• sore back and shoulders
• libido all over place (from erectile dysfunct to wanting to hump 5 x a day)
• not as tired all the time
• generally less depressed (not that I was a wet blanket, but I generally have more vigor now)
• drinking more water
• drinking milk like crazy (wife noticed I polished off nearly 3/4 gallon during dinner)

Upward trend- microscope 1/20

I checked on 1/18 Monday night- volume was signficant, but unfortunately the first bit overshot the container (another Clomid side effect?) and although the volume was good, the sample was lack luster for swimmers (barely any). With minimal refract time I hit another round- and there were some good fields, but not quite like Sunday morning.

Since then there hasn't been more the 12 hours of abstinance (another Clomid side effect?) despite some erectile dysfunk (DEFINATELY a Clomid side effect).

So this afternoon I sent a round to the microscope- and holy tad poles!!!! This is 2x what I saw 3 days ago. This is EXTREMELY positive. I'd estimate that there were easily 100-150 fast swimmers per high powered field. Morphology was extremely good.

At this point I'm not only enthused about the prospect of getting us knocked up, but not having to drop 15k to do it. As we are looking for twins, we may do the IUI with drugs to try and get two eggs.

Both the GP and the OBG had said that it would be a month+ for the Clomid to really take effect (well the GP said that was the case for T shots, he wasn't as familiar with the impact of Clomid).

This leaves me curious about what things will look like a month from now. It also leaves some hope that if we hit it hard during the Ovulation window- we may even see a natural pregnancy this month.

Thinking about a centrifuge

I'm curious about the swim up stream factor I touched in on my last post.

As I see improvement in the raw sample, I'm curious about how many will be lost in the sperm wash. It seems to me that my lame swimmers aren't making it up stream after the 1 hour wash- so that might be something I watch.

The home made centrifuge would be pretty easy- Test tube /pippette is a soda or coffee straw with the end crimped off and an old bathroom fan I kept around from a remodel project. Duct tape ought to keep it in place for the ride. Of course the limits the analysis to Sunday mornings, because there is no way I have this sort of time in the week.