HELP: DH has testicle surgery in March and we don't have any kids yet.

[Madam Hedgehog]

They found a cyst in DH's testicle and want to remove it in March. They say it is so large that if they leave it alone it will start to effect fertility and other functions. However, the surgery itself also has a strong chance of affecting DH's fertility because the cyst is attached to the epididymis (which apparently moves sperm from storage to the urethra). If they mess it up, we probably will not be able to have kids at all because there is NO WAY we'll be able to afford the necessary procedures.

I have been mulling this over for a week and I am still in panic mode.

We wanted to sway pink, but now I'm afraid I won't be able to get pregnant at all in the next couple months (not to mention the probability of miscarriage even after a positive).

Has anyone had experience with this before? I've been thinking about cryobanking sperm but that also seems to be really expensive.

Advice?

[nuthinbutpink]

I assume it is benign? I hope so.

What do the doctors say? Is there any reason you should not TTC. Could "activity" down there make things worse for him? If you cryo sperm it would be for an IUI or IVF and those are expensive. Do you have infertility coverage?

If there is no harm in TTC, I would do so before the surgery not knowing what the outcome may be. I say this assuming it is a benign cyst and not cancer.

[drowning in boys]

I dont have any good answers darlin, im sorry, but I will be praying God shows you a way to have the family you are hoping for <3

[Madam Hedgehog]

Thanks for responding so quickly, Nuthin. They believe it is a cyst caused by scar tissue. I'm not sure what that means, but they are saying it is noncancerous. (thank god). They did not say there was any trouble with ttc right now.

We don't have infertility coverage. I am just worried that they will botch the surgery, and then we'll never have a chance unless we become millionaires and can somehow afford fertility treatments of some sort.

Should I ttc and just forget swaying altogether? I know that pink sway can make it difficult to conceive, and if we only have a couple months to pull this off, then should we even take the chance?

I don't know. I'm just shocked and sort of confused about what to do. He has two boys from a previous marriage, who are awesome kids, but I really wanted us to have our own. And I had my heart set on a daughter. I feel like a complete idiot for waiting until marriage since we've been together for 4 years and I could have had three with him by now . . . and now we might not get any.

[Madam Hedgehog]

thanks drowning. we can definitely use some prayers.

[nuthinbutpink]

I would just doing the swaying things you want but don't worry about timing as much because something like O + 12 could take forever to pinpoint.

I would ask about freezing a couple of semen samples. It's a few hundred dollars do not that bad really.

[Cinss]

If they just remove the cyst, i can't see how your his fertility will be very affected. Even if he has the whole testicle removed, the other one would compensate and produce more, and you would still be able to have children. If however he has to undergo chemotherapy after the removal of the cyst i would recommend banking some sperm now.

[Madam Hedgehog]

I would just doing the swaying things you want but don't worry about timing as much because something like O + 12 could take forever to pinpoint.

I would ask about freezing a couple of semen samples. It's a few hundred dollars do not that bad really.

Thanks. That is sort of what I was thinking. A few hundred dollars will be worth it in the long run if they screw things up. My period is irregular too (always has been) so the 0+12 method was never really an option for us.

[Madam Hedgehog]

If they just remove the cyst, i can't see how your his fertility will be very affected. Even if he has the whole testicle removed, the other one would compensate and produce more, and you would still be able to have children. If however he has to undergo chemotherapy after the removal of the cyst i would recommend banking some sperm now.

This is a point I am confused about as well. Honestly, I'm extremely frustrated with his doctor because she claims she is booked until the date of the surgery (?) and we've only been able to speak with the nurses about the issue. Admittedly, we DO have a shortage of doctors in this area, but with something this serious you'd think she could slow down long enough to talk to us. He says when he touches the cyst area, a sharp pain radiates up into his abdomen. The nurse says that and the size are the reason they're afraid it will cause major problems. I don't understand any of it, which makes me even more worried because I have no idea what we're dealing with.

[nuthinbutpink]

This is a point I am confused about as well. Honestly, I'm extremely frustrated with his doctor because she claims she is booked until the date of the surgery (?) and we've only been able to speak with the nurses about the issue. Admittedly, we DO have a shortage of doctors in this area, but with something this serious you'd think she could slow down long enough to talk to us. He says when he touches the cyst area, a sharp pain radiates up into his abdomen. The nurse says that and the size are the reason they're afraid it will cause major problems. I don't understand any of it, which makes me even more worried because I have no idea what we're dealing with.

I cannot stress this point enough- get a second opinion. Get it now. Something like that should NOT sit idle until March. He needs attention and you both need answers. I've never heard of waiting 3 months to take care of something like that. That is unacceptable. That would be taken care of within the week here.