{"id":20562,"date":"2023-06-13T10:42:29","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T15:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=20562"},"modified":"2023-06-20T12:40:34","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T17:40:34","slug":"the-mens-guide-to-infertility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/the-mens-guide-to-infertility\/","title":{"rendered":"The Men’s Guide to Infertility"},"content":{"rendered":"

On the surface, while starting a family can seem straightforward, the process goes awry more often than you\u2019d expect. Infertility affects roughly <\/span>1 in 6 people worldwide<\/span><\/a>, according to the World Health Organization. In the US, around <\/span>15% of couples<\/span><\/a> have issues conceiving, and about 50 percent of the time, male infertility is a contributing cause.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been trying to get pregnant and suspect you\u2019re one of the 15%, don\u2019t panic. There are plenty of tests and treatment options available that can boost your odds of conception. <\/span>Since infertility can stem from an issue from either or both partners, it\u2019s important for both to get tested to determine the roots of the problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There may be no obvious signs or symptoms of male infertility\u2014and should you decide to investigate\u2014here\u2019s what that journey might look like.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Diagnosing male infertility<\/h2>\n

Usually, the first step in diagnosing male infertility is a visit with your primary care physician (PCP), who will go over your medical history and do a physical exam to assess your overall health and identify any problems that might be impacting your fertility.<\/span><\/p>\n

They will also do a round of blood tests to check hormone levels and rule out other problems that can affect sperm production, followed by a semen analysis to check the amount of sperm you produce, how well they move and what shape they are, says <\/span>Dr. Katherine Rotker<\/span><\/a>, a urologist specializing in male fertility at Yale Medicine in New London, Connecticut.<\/span><\/p>\n

Should anything from this assessment indicate an underlying fertility issue, you\u2019ll be referred to a specialist\u2014in this case, a urologist who specializes in male infertility.<\/span><\/p>\n

No special preparation is needed for this appointment, she adds, but knowing the details of your medical history and family\u2019s medical history is a crucial part of the diagnosis process. You should also bring the results of any fertility evaluations your partner has completed so far.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you\u2019re there, the urologist will conduct an exam of the penis and surrounding areas. If the idea of an exam makes you squirm, have no fear: \u201cThe exam isn\u2019t painful and is generally very quick,\u201d says <\/span>Dr. Philip Cheng<\/span><\/a>, a urologist with Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey. \u201cAny findings will be reviewed and a recommended path forward will be discussed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Depending on these findings, your provider can make a treatment plan right after the first visit or conduct further testing, such as an ultrasound (to check your testicles and scrotum\u2014the outer casing that protects the testicles\u2014for problems) or genetic tests (to diagnose congenital or inherited conditions).<\/span><\/p>\n

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Causes of male infertility<\/h2>\n

Male infertility is usually caused by some combination of sperm disorders, structural problems or collateral damage from past or real-time health issues. Once all your test results are in, your provider should be able to offer some explanation for your issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sperm disorders<\/b><\/p>\n

The most common causes of male infertility involve problems with making healthy sperm, including:<\/span><\/p>\n