Hi everyone,
I wanted to share my fertility/hormonal journey because I’m honestly trying to understand what’s happening and maybe hear from people who had similar experiences.
I’m 36 years old.
# Timeline
## 2023
I started having some scrotal discomfort and did a scrotal ultrasound.
Results:
- Left grade II varicocele
- Small right hydrocele
- Later imaging suggested bilateral varicocele + epididymal cysts
First semen analysis (Nov 2023):
- Concentration: 18 M/mL
- Progressive motility: 40%
- Morphology: 25%
- Some elevated WBCs
So not perfect, but still relatively usable.
---
## 2025
I repeated a semen analysis and surprisingly it became MUCH better.
Results (Feb 2025):
- Concentration: 35 M/mL
- Total count: 122.5 M
- Progressive motility: 40%
- Morphology: 65%
This result became very important later because it showed my testicles were capable of normal production.
---
## End of 2025 – Low Testosterone Diagnosis
I started feeling symptoms and checked hormones.
Results:
- Total Testosterone: 2.28 ng/mL (low)
- Free Testosterone: low
- LH: normal
- FSH: normal
- SHBG: normal
- Prolactin: borderline high-normal
At that point I was diagnosed with low testosterone and started Clomid.
---
# What happened after Clomid
Hormones improved a lot:
- Testosterone increased to 5–7 ng/mL
- LH increased somewhat
BUT:
- Estradiol became repeatedly elevated (45–62 pg/mL)
Then my semen parameters started collapsing.
---
## January 2026 semen analysis
- Concentration: 6.6 M/mL
- Progressive motility: 10%
- Morphology: 1%
Diagnosis:
Severe OAT.
---
## Latest semen analysis (May 2026)
This one really scared me.
- Concentration: 1.4 M/mL
- Progressive motility: 2%
- Morphology: 1%
- TMC: 0.11 M
At this point I stopped Clomid because I became suspicious it was making things worse.
---
# Important recent blood tests (OFF Clomid)
Recently repeated hormones after stopping Clomid:
- Testosterone: 4.48 ng/mL
- LH: 2.5
- FSH: 2.47
- Estradiol: back to normal
- Prolactin: normal
So hormones actually look relatively okay now, but sperm parameters are still terrible.
---
# My main questions
- Could Clomid have significantly worsened my sperm parameters temporarily?
- Does this pattern sound more like:
- varicocele-related dysfunction
- progressive testicular damage
- hormonal dysregulation
- or a combination? - Has anyone seen severe sperm decline on Clomid that later recovered after stopping?
- Would you freeze sperm now in my situation?
- Would you prioritize:
- varicocele surgery
- IVF/ICSI
- or both?
---
# What confuses me most
- I had a nearly normal semen analysis in 2025.
- My FSH never became elevated.
- Testosterone now is acceptable even off Clomid.
- Yet my current spermogram is extremely poor.
That’s why I’m struggling to understand whether this is:
- severe but reversible dysfunction,
OR
- progressive irreversible decline.
Would really appreciate thoughts from anyone who experienced something similar.
Thanks.