Well, as I'm having a very depressing weekend, I'm hoping that someone could please offer up some opinions :)
My dh and I have been ttc for appx. 4 years now. We have had a semen analysis, HSG x-ray, 3 rounds of clomid and estrogen accompanied by 2 rounds of failed IUI's. DH visited a urologist last week and they discovered that he does have a minor varicoceles (varicose vein of the testicle.) However, on a scale of 1-4 his is only a 2. When contacting my ob-gyn, I have not seen an R/E yet, he said that he has not seen the reports from the urologist yet, however, he wants my dh to have the procedure done to remove the varicoceles and to contact him again 3 months after the procedure is done to discuss our next option. It's just kinda funny because the urologist told my dh that the surgery will help with his counts, but can't guarantee any increase in the chance of pregnancy. I'm just feeling like I need to move on to an R/E and wondering if anyone else thinks that I am a candidate for IVF or if i'm "jumping the gun." Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

By the way, I should add that I do only have on ovary, I had the other removed when I was 16 due to an ovarian cyst. The only problems the ob-gyn has found for infertility is that I have a smaller cervix than most and little cm. With the help of clomid I do ovulate regularly and have good follicle size. Husband's counts are low, appx. 6.4 million total after sperm wash.

It sounds like you would be a great candidate for IVF. I would see an RE as soon as you could. I'm unsure of the cervical issue you mention, but with IVF you are far more calculated than with IUI. The embyologist and doctors literally do the work for you. Meaning that they will take your eggs, inject them with your husbands sperm (sounds like he has enough for this procedure - and I don't think much needs to be had since they take one single sperm and inject it into an egg). Bypassing nature and the obstacles the two of you must overcome (one ovary, low sperm count....).

The only obstacle that I can see (and I am no expert, so I suggest you talk with you first) is possibly the costs involved. Pretty expensive.

Good luck to you two!

i would go to an RE... my OB did what he could but then when i went to an RE he told me that basically that some of the treatements that had been happening were useless and that time had been wasted.
with in a month of seeing the RE we knew EXACTLY what was wrong and how to achieve it... and a year after that.. we have a baby.

we did IVF and had baby #1
second IVF didn't work.
and now on third IVF

Thanks to both of you for responding!!

DH22 I was hoping I could ask you some questions, since you've been through all of this and had success as well :) My husband and I are really at a dilemma right now. We're not completely comfortable with dh having the surgery, there are side effects, time off of work, etc, also they say that it's not guaranteed to increase our chances of pregnancy and his counts won't dramatically increase (his counts aren't terrible just low) However, my obgyn is telling me that this is the next thing that has to be done and is basically giving me the impression that we either do this or he won't treat us until it has been done...then he wants us to go see him again in 3 months.

However, we have contacted an RE's office, and it's $350.00 just for a 1 hour consultation, and we don't have the money for a round of IVF right now.
i'm just wondering if you have heard of or know of any other options aside from the surgery or the ivf. Ideally, I believe IVF would be our best chance, however, right now unless we were to get a loan, we can't do that. My dh is the "save the money" type not the "loan" type. And 10-12,000.00 would take a good while to save. I guess I really didn't ask many questions, I'm just kind of needing support. My dh has a hard time talking about this because he doesn't know the best option he says and he feels like this is his fault :( although he is completely supportive and more than anxious!! Like you were, we have been ttc for 4 years and so I'm starting to feel worn down! Any comments would be appreciated! thanks alot!