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Male Factor Infertility Resources
 This page is designed to give pertinent information to couples going through infertility related to male factor. I compiled these links and resources after my husband and I found out that his vasectomy reversal was unsuccessful. Our story appears towards the bottom of the page.
We wish you the best of luck in conceiving the child you've always dreamed of. . .surf on! |
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Information Resources
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Sperm Banks
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Support Group Links
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Ovulation Predictor Kits and Other Helpful Stuff
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Our Story
 Before my husband and I got married, he underwent a vasectomy reversal so that we could have children. He had three little girls from a previous marriage, but was more than willing to have more children with me. (or so I thought--see below)
We went to the Mayo Clinic and had the vasectomy reversal done. It cost $5,000 cash up front, plus $250 for the hospital room. My husband followed the doctor's every order regarding moving around, ice packs, etc. The doctor was beaming after surgery, telling us how successful he thought the operation was. We had no reason to doubt that we would be conceiving within the year. Except the operation didn't work. When we finally realized that my husband had a zero sperm count, we decided that we had several options: 1. My husband could undergo another reversal (he vetoed this idea) 2. We could try to scrape together the $20,000 it would cost to try IVF with ICSI (no chance of that happening) 3. We could try donor sperm intra-uterine insemination. (BINGO!) I have no history of any fertility problems that I know of, so we thought that #3 would be our best choice. My husband and I are now searching for the best donor/sperm bank we can find, and hope to begin our IUI's in March of 2000.
UPDATE 1: April 2001
UPDATE 2: April 2004 By the time my son was a year old, my husband had decided to "pursue other options" and end the marriage. He'd done the same thing before, with his first wife, after every baby was born, so I don't think the fact that we used a donor was a factor in his decision to leave--it was more related to the fact that he wasn't the center of attention anymore. However, I do think that the non-biological connection to our child is the reason that my ex has not seen my son for any length of time since my son was 18 months old (he is now 3 years old). The lesson that I think can be gained from my experience is that it's important to go to counseling when you decide to pursue this route to have a child. Perhaps, if I'd done that, I would have seen that my husband didn't really want a child around to "steal his thunder"; or maybe I would have found out that my husband wasn't going to consider our child "really his". This story really does have a happy ending, though. I have to say that since my marriage ended, I have entered into the happiest portion of my life so far. I have a wonderful, sweet little boy, a good job, good benefits, and supportive family and friends. I love being a single mom, and I wish now that I had gotten the divorce first and just had my baby on my own. If things work out, I may have another just that way. He's been asking for a sister... : ) Update 3: June 2005 What a lot of changes a year can bring! I'm married to a great guy who has two kids of his own, and now we are expecting TWINS. I have also found one of my son's half-siblings using www.donorsiblingregistry.com, which has been a lot of fun. The boys are very close in age and similar in temperament and personality (100% extroverts!), and we try to get them together regularly. We will tell them about their relationship when they are older and can understand it better. My son is growing into a bright, healthy, wonderful little guy who is now part of a much bigger family--and we both couldn't be happier. If you're interested in pursuing donor insemination and want to e-mail me, feel free. kwritestuff@yahoo.com
Infertility Bookstore, sponsored by  Click on the book to be taken to Barnes and Noble's Online Bookstore; most titles are at least 20% off.
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Resolving Infertility: Understanding the Options and Choosing Solutions when You Want to Have a Baby, by Resolve and Diane Aronson
The Unofficial Guide to Overcoming Infertility, by Joan Liebmann-Smith,John J. Stangel,Jacqueline Nardi Egan
Let Me Explain: A Story about Donor Insemination (a children's book) by Jane T. Schnitter Joanne Bowring (Illustrator)
Having Your Baby by Donor Insemination:
A Complete Resource Guide by Elizabeth Noble Foreword by George J. Annas