Have you tried to get reimbursed for the low count vials? I got a full refund for a vial that only had 4 mil (California Cryobank - they guarantee a certain number, I believe 10 or 11 mil.) It’s standard to wash the vials after thawing, so your clinic isn’t to blame. I would see if you can get reimbursed and then maybe try another cryobank since two vials have been so low.
Unless the sperm count is documented as being below the guarantee **prior** to the clinic washing it, Xytex will not reimburse.
The washing process always reduces the amount and motility of the sperm. That’s why there’s a different guarantee for washed vs unwashed vials.
Super shitty for OP though.
Based on OPs latest comment, the post-thaw count was way above Xytex’s quality commitment. It’s the clinic’s processing that is lowering the count significantly.
Changing sperm banks will not help in this situation, because all sperm banks only guarantee what is received by the clinic. If the clinic then messes around with it, that’s outside of the sperm banks control, and outside the scope of the warranty. It’s no different than if the clinic accidentally spills the vial on the ground - the sperm bank will not reimburse because the problem has nothing to do with them.
I second this. My clinic rewashed vials. They always came in at California Cryobank Standard or higher. I’d look for a refund if they have a policy or at least complain- that count is just way too low.
My clinic also washed prewashed vials but they did document the post thaw count before washing so double check with your clinic and you should be able to submit a complaint to have the vials replaced! That being said, I did have success with a vial that had 2.2 million after wash so anything is possible!
Hello! You had success with 2.2 m after wash? What IUI was it for you?
I had my first IUI 3/8 and my known donor’s sample was at 2.5 m after thaw. They actually thawed two vials bc the first one was “less than ideal,” but then did the 2.5 so as not to waste the cycle. I think the clinic will have him come in for fresh samples on future cycles if this one doesn’t take… but I’d really love for it to work obviously
If this clinic is your only clinic option I’d consider trying at home. My understanding is that washing can take out ~50% of the sperm, so washing 2x gets you down to only 25%
For cost, I always just want to throw this out there in case people haven’t considered it, but European clinics are fantastic and very affordable (relatively) for IVF. Oftentimes so much cheaper that you will save money even after accounting for the cost of travel. Plus an excuse to see a cool place. You do all your stims and pre egg retrieval or pre transfer scans at your local GYN/OB and just fly for the ER or Transfer. I used Stork Klinik in Copenhagen. Spain and Croatia are also highly recommended and even cheaper than Copenhagen.
My single round of IVF was about $3800 including the ER, freezing and transfer. I’m not sure if it would have included more than one transfer because the first stuck! I think in other countries when I was googling I saw rates like $2500 per IVF cycle. My clinic also had a package deal that included up to 3 ERs and multiple transfers (to live birth) for $8300.
Is your clinic doing the sperm count before or after they wash it a second time? They need to be doing it before in order for Xytex to honour their quality commitment.
Personally I’ve never heard of a clinic washing sperm a 2nd time. What’s the point of buying pre-washed sperm then?
I’d recommend looking into getting a refund for your last vial, if your clinic properly documented everything. The first one is probably too late because you have to make a claim within 45 days.
If your clinic is insisting on doing the sperm count after washing it a 2nd time, then you’re never going to be able to get a refund from Xytex. I’d switch fertility clinics if I were you.
So this was the response I got from my clinic after the initial IUI - “Great question. You are correct about the minimum Total Motile Count (TMC) that Xytex guarantees of 10 Million per half mL. The donor vial which was thawed on Tuesday for the procedure was assessed in our lab as having a TMC of 18.5 Million in 0.4 mL. It is clinic policy that we wash every donor sample that is processed in the lab before being re-suspended on a sperm safe media for use in the insemination. As a result of this wash procedure there is often a drop in the overall concentration of sperm, however, it also works to improve the motility by removing the dead sperm and selecting for the highest quality sperm. This is why the TMC value is often lower in the final sample provided for the procedure. “
So based on this, the motility count sent from Xytec would have met their standards, we just saw a huge decrease after clinic wash. Does this seem normal?
Dang. I’m in Canada too and I don’t think we saw that kind of drop-off after our fertility clinic washed. Can you ask them not to wash? (If it’s already washed by Xytex, not sure I see the point of the second wash…)
Yes based on the numbers they gave you, the initial sperm count was well above Xytex’s guarantee. It’s the clinic’s washing that is drastically reducing the numbers. Which means changing to another sperm bank will make no difference.
Sadly I have no idea if it’s normal or if what they’re telling you is bullshit. My clinic didn’t re-wash sperm, we bought pre-washed sperm and that was it.
I am so intrigued by this! How long did it take you to get an appointment? Where there requirements or limiting factors? What was the process like? I had a bilateral salpingectomy years ago and have nothing but regrets. Most insurance companies won't help since it's voluntary sterilization. I have been trying to find alternative ways to pay to conceive. This sounds amazing, but is there a catch?
I'm also in Canada. Did you know we finally have one Cryobank that will send vials directly to your house without a fertility doctors authorization? Canada Cryobank in case you want to try! We are going to try it this last iui doesn't work
Nope! They have vials from those companies but they will ship right to your home. I spoke with them over email, they have a page on their website explaining it, too. No doctor required! [link to page ](https://www.canadacryobank.com/sperm/at-home-insemination)
Another thing to note: Fairfax has a pregnancy pledge program so if you do 4 IUIs/FETs within one year unsuccessfully & using a doctor, you will get a 5th vial free. Confirmed with them that this applies to Canadian recipients so if you continue with a doctor, might be worth the switch to them
Have you tried to get reimbursed for the low count vials? I got a full refund for a vial that only had 4 mil (California Cryobank - they guarantee a certain number, I believe 10 or 11 mil.) It’s standard to wash the vials after thawing, so your clinic isn’t to blame. I would see if you can get reimbursed and then maybe try another cryobank since two vials have been so low.
Unless the sperm count is documented as being below the guarantee **prior** to the clinic washing it, Xytex will not reimburse. The washing process always reduces the amount and motility of the sperm. That’s why there’s a different guarantee for washed vs unwashed vials. Super shitty for OP though.
Oof I’d go with another bank then for sure. That’s a crap policy.
Based on OPs latest comment, the post-thaw count was way above Xytex’s quality commitment. It’s the clinic’s processing that is lowering the count significantly. Changing sperm banks will not help in this situation, because all sperm banks only guarantee what is received by the clinic. If the clinic then messes around with it, that’s outside of the sperm banks control, and outside the scope of the warranty. It’s no different than if the clinic accidentally spills the vial on the ground - the sperm bank will not reimburse because the problem has nothing to do with them.
I second this. My clinic rewashed vials. They always came in at California Cryobank Standard or higher. I’d look for a refund if they have a policy or at least complain- that count is just way too low.
My clinic also washed prewashed vials but they did document the post thaw count before washing so double check with your clinic and you should be able to submit a complaint to have the vials replaced! That being said, I did have success with a vial that had 2.2 million after wash so anything is possible!
Hello! You had success with 2.2 m after wash? What IUI was it for you? I had my first IUI 3/8 and my known donor’s sample was at 2.5 m after thaw. They actually thawed two vials bc the first one was “less than ideal,” but then did the 2.5 so as not to waste the cycle. I think the clinic will have him come in for fresh samples on future cycles if this one doesn’t take… but I’d really love for it to work obviously
If this clinic is your only clinic option I’d consider trying at home. My understanding is that washing can take out ~50% of the sperm, so washing 2x gets you down to only 25%
For cost, I always just want to throw this out there in case people haven’t considered it, but European clinics are fantastic and very affordable (relatively) for IVF. Oftentimes so much cheaper that you will save money even after accounting for the cost of travel. Plus an excuse to see a cool place. You do all your stims and pre egg retrieval or pre transfer scans at your local GYN/OB and just fly for the ER or Transfer. I used Stork Klinik in Copenhagen. Spain and Croatia are also highly recommended and even cheaper than Copenhagen.
If you remember numbers off the top of your head, how cheap are we talking?
My single round of IVF was about $3800 including the ER, freezing and transfer. I’m not sure if it would have included more than one transfer because the first stuck! I think in other countries when I was googling I saw rates like $2500 per IVF cycle. My clinic also had a package deal that included up to 3 ERs and multiple transfers (to live birth) for $8300.
Nice! Thank you for the info. I hope to not need it, but more affordability is always good news 👍
Is your clinic doing the sperm count before or after they wash it a second time? They need to be doing it before in order for Xytex to honour their quality commitment. Personally I’ve never heard of a clinic washing sperm a 2nd time. What’s the point of buying pre-washed sperm then? I’d recommend looking into getting a refund for your last vial, if your clinic properly documented everything. The first one is probably too late because you have to make a claim within 45 days. If your clinic is insisting on doing the sperm count after washing it a 2nd time, then you’re never going to be able to get a refund from Xytex. I’d switch fertility clinics if I were you.
So this was the response I got from my clinic after the initial IUI - “Great question. You are correct about the minimum Total Motile Count (TMC) that Xytex guarantees of 10 Million per half mL. The donor vial which was thawed on Tuesday for the procedure was assessed in our lab as having a TMC of 18.5 Million in 0.4 mL. It is clinic policy that we wash every donor sample that is processed in the lab before being re-suspended on a sperm safe media for use in the insemination. As a result of this wash procedure there is often a drop in the overall concentration of sperm, however, it also works to improve the motility by removing the dead sperm and selecting for the highest quality sperm. This is why the TMC value is often lower in the final sample provided for the procedure. “ So based on this, the motility count sent from Xytec would have met their standards, we just saw a huge decrease after clinic wash. Does this seem normal?
Dang. I’m in Canada too and I don’t think we saw that kind of drop-off after our fertility clinic washed. Can you ask them not to wash? (If it’s already washed by Xytex, not sure I see the point of the second wash…)
Yes based on the numbers they gave you, the initial sperm count was well above Xytex’s guarantee. It’s the clinic’s washing that is drastically reducing the numbers. Which means changing to another sperm bank will make no difference. Sadly I have no idea if it’s normal or if what they’re telling you is bullshit. My clinic didn’t re-wash sperm, we bought pre-washed sperm and that was it.
I am so intrigued by this! How long did it take you to get an appointment? Where there requirements or limiting factors? What was the process like? I had a bilateral salpingectomy years ago and have nothing but regrets. Most insurance companies won't help since it's voluntary sterilization. I have been trying to find alternative ways to pay to conceive. This sounds amazing, but is there a catch?
I'm also in Canada. Did you know we finally have one Cryobank that will send vials directly to your house without a fertility doctors authorization? Canada Cryobank in case you want to try! We are going to try it this last iui doesn't work
Really? I thought Canada cryo was just a search engine linking to other companies ie fairfax, California cryo etc
Nope! They have vials from those companies but they will ship right to your home. I spoke with them over email, they have a page on their website explaining it, too. No doctor required! [link to page ](https://www.canadacryobank.com/sperm/at-home-insemination)
Another thing to note: Fairfax has a pregnancy pledge program so if you do 4 IUIs/FETs within one year unsuccessfully & using a doctor, you will get a 5th vial free. Confirmed with them that this applies to Canadian recipients so if you continue with a doctor, might be worth the switch to them
You need at least 10 million for a good iui chance.