The male infertility evaluation can help uncover what’s causing a man’s fertility struggles

Many patients are surprised to learn that male infertility plays a role in up to 50% of infertility cases. Some men experience fertility issues due to medical conditions, birth defects or injuries. Additionally, lifestyle can affect sperm health and reproductive function. To determine what’s causing your fertility struggles, our Austin fertility specialists will perform a comprehensive male infertility evaluation.

Taking a medical history is the first step of the male infertility evaluation

During your first appointment with one of our Austin fertility specialists, you and your partner will provide a thorough medical history. This involves discussing your medical conditions, injuries, surgeries and family history. You and your partner will also discuss the results of any previous pregnancy attempts or fertility treatments.

Discussing medications and lifestyle factors like cigarette smoking and alcohol use is also important when providing a medical history. Our goal is to identify if any issues could be interfering with your ability to welcome a baby.

The next step involves semen analysis and fertility testing for men

To collect a specimen for a semen analysis, we recommend 2-7 days of abstinence. Our team also recommends avoiding the use of any gels or other chemicals when providing a sample. These substances can interfere with the semen evaluation.

Once your specimen arrives in the laboratory, the team will evaluate it for multiple factors, including sperm count, volume, morphology (shape) and motility (movement). The results will help our Austin fertility specialists determine the next step on your path to parenthood.

For example, if your semen analysis shows a low sperm count, then your physician may repeat the test to confirm the findings. Additionally, your doctor may order bloodwork to test your FSH, LH and testosterone levels as a part of your male infertility evaluation.

• If your hormone levels are abnormal, we may recommend treatment with a medication that can easily correct the problem.
• If your hormone levels are normal, our team will likely recommend treatment with either intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

In some cases, our team may refer you to a urologist as the next step of the male infertility evaluation. This type of physician has undergone training in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the male reproductive tract. This physician can perform additional fertility testing for men and make other treatment recommendations.

If you’d like to schedule your infertility evaluation, contact us today. We look forward to helping you achieve your dream of parenthood.