Male Factor Infertility

Male Factor Infertility explained by Dr. Akin and Bluegrass Fertility Center of Lexington, KY.Male problems may be a factor in 30-40% of infertile couples. The initial screening and evaluation of the male partner will include a history and a semen analysis.

Semen Analysis: Patients should abstain from ejaculation for 2-5 days before semen analysis. The complete ejaculate should be collected in a sterile container provided by the laboratory or clinic. The laboratory will then test the sample for count (number and concentration of sperm), motility (movement of the sperm), and morphology (shape of the sperm).

 

Additional Semen Tests

These optional tests may provide more information about the semen or sperm and can help define specific abnormalities or diseases of the male reproductive system. These tests include:

No semen test can fully predict fertility. Not all of the tests discussed above are appropriate for every couple. The tests performed will depend upon the findings during your evaluation.

Treatment Options

Treatment options for male factor infertility include intrauterine insemination (IUI), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) during an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure, and the use of donor sperm in cases where the male partner’s sperm is absent.

Sperm can also be aspirated directly from the testes when there is an obstruction in the vas deferens. This can be an alternative to vasectomy reversal, but requires IVF and ICSI as the amount of sperm obtained is very small.