By Dr Andrew Zuschmann, Fertility Specialist at City Fertility Sydney Miranda
It can be daunting to agree to a male fertility check, but these tests and treatments that may follow could make the difference in helping you become a parent one day.
Why is Male Fertility Testing Important?
Although fertility issues are often attributed to the female, the truth is that around 30 per cent of infertility concerns are due to a male-factor fertility issue. Male infertility issues are more common than you would expect.
Understanding a male’s sperm health is just as important as exploring the reproductive health of a woman is.
Male fertility issues can include poor-quality sperm, low sperm count or blockages, or as a result of injuries to the groin area or genetic conditions.
When a couple is having trouble conceiving a fertility specialist will usually begin by running a set of tests on both partners to find out what the cause may be and devise a tailored treatment plan.
You’re not alone, anyone can be affected by infertility and while it can be a challenging experience, the good news is that there are plenty of options available to help you try and have the baby you so desperately want.
How to Test for Male Infertility
A fertility test for men is usually centred around a semen analysis. It’s not the only test though, there are others too, but it really does depend on your own circumstances. To make an appointment with a fertility specialist, visit our fertility specialist page.
Your fertility specialist will likely perform an initial round of male-specific fertility tests which could include the following:
- Basic physical exam: This is an overall health check.
- Semen assessment: A semen assessment evaluates the amount and quality of a man’s semen and sperm to determine his potential fertility. This test is sometimes called a sperm count and is used to assess: the motility or movement of the sperm (swimming ability); the morphology – the percentage of sperm with a normal shape; the count – the number of individual sperm present in one ejaculation; and the vitality – the sperm’s ability to live and endure. A severely low sperm count or low motility may indicate the need for an advanced approach, whereas a normal semen assessment might suggest a more conservative strategy.
- Male fertility blood test: A blood test is done to assess levels of hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and testosterone.
Depending on the results from the above, your fertility specialist may request further tests like:
Sperm DNA fragmentation test
A sperm DNA fragmentation test provides a reliable analysis of sperm DNA quality and may help to identify those who are at risk of failing to initiate a healthy, ongoing pregnancy. The genetic quality of the sperm is essential for normal embryo development. A high level of DNA fragmentation in sperm cells may be a cause of male infertility and something that a conventional semen assessment won’t detect.
Immunobead test
An immunobead test (IBT) checks for anti-sperm antibodies. Immunological infertility occurs most often in men. The male immune system can react to its own sperm as if they were invading cells, possibly due to infection, cancer or a vasectomy. The presence of antibodies can inhibit the ability of the sperm to fertilise an egg.
Testicular biopsy
A testicular biopsy is performed when a male partner does not have sperm in his seminal fluid. This could be due to several factors, including a vasectomy, failed vasectomy reversal, obstruction, retrograde ejaculation, abnormal anatomy (such as an absence of the vas deferens) or certain genetic defects. Sperm are produced within a network of tiny tubes called “seminiferous tubules” inside the testicles. In the TESA procedure, a fine needle is passed into the testicles under anaesthetic, and a tiny amount of tubules is removed. These tubules are then processed in the lab and checked for sperm presence, which, provided they are viable, can either be used to fertilise eggs or frozen. Sperm retrieved in a testicular biopsy procedure are lower in quantity, less mature and less motile than those found in ejaculated seminal fluid. As such, IVF with ICSI is the best way to achieve fertilisation with TESA sperm.
Other less common screening tests and diagnostic checks for severe male infertility can include:
- Genetic testing (chromosomal).
- Microdeletion.
- Nuclear Chromatin Fragmentation.
- Hormonal screens.
- Cystic fibrosis screening.
Male Infertility Treatment Options
Male infertility causes and treatments vary. Surgery may resolve blockages, hormone treatment may assist with gland deficiency, and for low sperm count, assisted reproductive technology is considered.
To find out more visit our male fertility testing page. For further clarification contact our team on 1300 354 354 or email: contactus@cityfertility.com.au
FAQs about Male Fertility Tests
What are the common signs of male infertility?
The common signs of infertility include:
- Reduced sexual desire or impotency
- Testicular pain, and or swelling
- Issues with ejaculation
- Minimal amount of ejaculate
If you think that you may be struggling with infertility, learn more about the male fertility tests available at City Fertility.
What causes male infertility?
Some causes of infertility in men can include:
- Obesity
- Testicular injury
- Anabolic steroid misuse or abuse
- Severe illness
- Genetic conditions like Klinefelter syndrome
To learn more about male infertility visit our understanding male infertility page.
What happens if I have a low sperm count?
If you have a low sperm count there are a few lifestyle adjustments you can make to assist, things like increasing your exercise and sleep, watching what you eat and reducing alcohol intake.
Depending on how low your count is, a specialist may suggest Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or IVF.
To speak to a City Fertility specialist about your options, visit our specialist page.
If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact our friendly team on 1300 354 354 or email: contactus@cityfertility.com.au
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