Fertility problems can affect both men and women. If you and your partner are struggling to get pregnant – even though you’ve been actively trying – it’s probably time to visit a doctor.
There are many male fertility tests that can assess your chances of fertility and those that can help you find the best treatment for you and your partner.
When to consider male fertility testing?
Sperm quality and quantity problems are quite common, affecting 1 in 3 couples trying to conceive. If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for at least one year, it’s worth taking a male fertility test.
It’s important to know that infertility often does not cause any symptoms. You may not have difficulty with sexual activity and your semen may look normal to the naked eye. The only way to find out whether you have fertility problems is through medical testing.
What causes male infertility?
For most men, fertility greatly depends on the quality and quantity of sperm. If you have low sperm count, poor sperm quality, erectile dysfunction, or problems ejaculating, getting your partner pregnant will likely be difficult.
In a number of cases, sperm problems are caused by factors such as:
- Genetic conditions that affect sperm production (e.g. Klinefelter syndrome, Down syndrome, Y-chromosome deletions).
- Being overweight
- Using certain medications (e.g. cancer drugs, certain antidepressants, anabolic steroids)
- Being diagnosed with an STD (e.g. gonorrhoea, chlamydia)
- Having enlarged veins in the testicles (also known as varicoceles)
- Having had testicular surgery
Note: If you are aware of any factors that might impact your chances of getting pregnant, it is best to seek medical advice early on.
Taking the first step: sperm analysis
The first step to determine whether there is a male infertility factor is reviewing the patient’s full medical history and carrying out a physical exam. A doctor may further recommend blood work and semen testing.
To perform a clinical semen analysis, men need to collect their sperm sample in a sterile plastic container and give it to a diagnostic laboratory for examination. In the lab, the sample will be examined under a microscope to evaluate the sperm’s motility, count, and morphology. The semen is also checked for any signs of problems (e.g. infections).
Whether you opt for an at-home test or a clinical examination, you will likely have to perform the test twice as semen parameters can fluctuate.
Additional male fertility testing
Typically, if the semen analysis and physical examination of the male partner are normal, the focus of infertility examinations will shift to the female partner. Sometimes, your doctor may recommend additional tests to further investigate the cause of your fertility issues.
The additional examination can include post-ejaculatory urinalysis, testicular ultrasound, hormone evaluation, transrectal ultrasound, and testicular biopsy.
Sperm count during IVF treatment
If you have a low sperm count, pursuing in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be an option for you and your partner. Before you can start treatment, however, semen analysis must be performed. This is the only way to identify the appropriate course of treatment.
During an IVF cycle, the woman’s ovaries are stimulated with fertility drugs to develop multiple eggs. Once matured, the eggs are collected from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a lab. A fertilized egg (embryo) is then transferred back to the woman’s womb.
If you have a very low sperm count or the sperm is of poor quality, you may be advised to use a surgical sperm retrieval technique, such as MicroTESE. For greater fertilization success, an IVF technique known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) will be applied. With ICSI, healthy sperm is injected directly into each egg to fertilize it.
If you have a genetic disorder that could be passed on to your children (or you are not producing any sperm), you may consider sperm donation. If you’re considering this treatment, think about finding support sources such as couples counseling and local support groups.
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Being diagnosed with infertility can be emotionally difficult. Should you pursue treatment, finding a team that you feel comfortable with is essential.
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