Sperm Washing - 2nd baby born

[Delby]

Hi All,

I just wanted to let anyone know considering undertaking sperm washing, that myself (pos) and my wife (neg) have just given birth to our 2nd child.

Don't get me wrong, it's not been an easy journey. But that's nothing to do with sperm washing, simply the ups and downs of IVF. My wife has had 12 attempts at IVF and a 3 miscarriages along the way. However, we now have 2 beautiful & healthy children and feel extremely blessed.

I am happy to answer any questions from those couples that may be considering going down this route. If not, then consider this a post just to prove that miracles do still happen. And for those of you that worry about meeting someone or ever being accepted, well I met my wife when I was pos and she accepted me completely. We then went on to conceive 2 healthy children. Yes life can be hard and my 2 diseases are difficult, but i count my blessings and i'm thankful for yesterday, today and hopefully tomorrow.

Delby 

[Ann]

Congratulations! Boy or girl?

I'm curious - and don't feel you have to answer - why did you go for expensive sperm washing? Now days most poz/neg couples have children the "old fashioned" way, provided the poz partner is on meds and undetectable, with no other active STIs.

Congratulations again, and thanks for sharing your happy news.

[Delby]

Congratulations! Boy or girl?

I'm curious - and don't feel you have to answer - why did you go for expensive sperm washing? Now days most poz/neg couples have children the "old fashioned" way, provided the poz partner is on meds and undetectable, with no other active STIs.

Congratulations again, and thanks for sharing your happy news.

Thanks Ann. We have a boy and a girl just 3 days ago! So over the moon. The reason we didn't conceive 'naturally' is because my number one priority is to keep my wife safe and never put her in danger of becoming infected. She probably would of done it naturally, but regardless of what the Drs say, I didn't want to ever jeopardise her safety. I couldn't live with myself if she was ever infected whether by accident or otherwise. Some may feel comfortable going down the natural route, but that wasn't the route I was prepared to take. Plus, although my ID did mention it in passing, he would not confirm that it was 100% safe, hence my decision.

[GSOgymrat]

Congratulations!

[Jeff G]

Congratulations Delby ! 

[Jmarksto]

Delby, Congratulations! Here's to wishing your family the best,
jm

[skeebo1969]

  Congratulations Delby!  Enjoy it because they grow so fast!  It seems just like yesterday when my last child was born and now she's about to start the first grade.

[jacken]

Congrats, Delby.

Can you share the procedure of sperm washing? Where can it be done?

[Delby]

Congrats, Delby.

Can you share the procedure of sperm washing? Where can it be done?

Sure. Essentially it's the same procedure as IVF, but the sperm is 'washed' before it is put together with the egg to form the embryo. They take your sperm and put this through a centrifugal machine which separates the HIV from the sperm. So what's left is HIV free sperm. The procedure after that is straightforward IVF. It can be done in many countries. Where do you live?

You can find out more about it here: http://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/services/womens-health-services/assisted-conception-unit-acu/treatment-options/sperm-washing

Although it says it's not risk free, they simply have to state this to indemnify themselves. However off the record they will tell you it is completely safe and there have been no cases of transmission ever recorded by couples conceiving via sperm washing. I can testify to this as we have 2 healthy children thank God.

Delby

[bocker3]

Congrats, Delby.

Can you share the procedure of sperm washing? Where can it be done?

You do not have to go the more expensive route of IVF here.  You can use "washed" sperm for IUI (intrauterine insemination).  Basically, as Delby described, they wash the sperm by mixing it with a liquid medium that can keep sperm alive - then centrifuge it down and separate the sperm from the seminal fluid and MOST other cells.  The repeat this, usually three times and then suspend the sperm into this same liquid medium.  This can then be injected into the uterus where conception would happen.  It is a much cheaper approach than IVF, as the egg doesn't need to be extracted and then implanted.

I worked in an Andrology lab for a few years -- washed countless samples for IUI and IVF procedures.

Mike