QuestionHello, my name is Ramya and I'm from California. I asked a question before about fertility and adenomyosis. Since then many things happened. I was not found to have adenomyosis (via MRI) or any other uterine conditions, but my husband did a semen analysis and was found to have both 0% morphology and Leukocytospermia -- 13% white blood cell count. I don't know whether this was due to the fact that we mistakenly abstained for over 2 weeks prior to the SA and this resulted in a stale batch.
Although we were told it would be impossible to conceive without IVF and ICSI, I just found out that I'm pregnant! My last period was on August 8, 2010. My husband did several urine tests but the doctor did not tell us if they revealed anything wrong, so I'm assuming nothing was wrong because our doctor is always very prompt in alerting us to possible concerns or problems. My husband will be seeing a urologist next week, as well.
What I am most concerned about is this: can my husband's Leukocytospermia have affected my pregnancy in any way? Could it have serious potential physical and developmental problems (including birth defects) in our unborn child? Any information you could give us is highly appreciated!
Thanking you sincerely,
Ramya
AnswerHello Ramya from the U.S.,
Leukocytospermia just means that there are a high number of white blood cells present. Often that is due to prostatitis, which could kill sperm. The treatment is the use of antibiotics.
More than likely you achieve pregnancy because the infection resolved. Our bodies do have good defense mechanisms so that may have been the case if your husband did not use antibiotics.
These leukocytes (white blood cells) are not in the sperm themselves but in the seminal fluid that carries the sperm. In order to achieve fertilization, the sperm swim away from the seminal fluid through the cervix, uterus and tubes to reach the egg. Therefore, these cells cannot and do not affect the eggs. So your embryo is safe.
Good Luck and Congratulations,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on twitter with me at @montereybayivf
