A male infertility evaluation is an important part of a couple’s fertility testing
When you decide you want to be a parent, you might expect pregnancy to happen quickly. When it doesn’t, it can leave you wondering what might be going wrong. A male infertility evaluation with our San Antonio specialists can provide at least half of the answers for couples struggling to conceive, as it’s not always just a “female problem.” We can also order fertility testing for men who want to become dads without a female partner, as well as those who just want answers about their current reproductive potential.
Why is a male infertility evaluation necessary?
When it’s the female partner who isn’t getting pregnant, it’s easy to assume that there must be something wrong on her side of the fertility equation. However, the fact is, a sperm issue is responsible for couples’ inability to conceive in about half of the cases we see. In 20% of cases, a male factor is the sole cause of a couple’s infertility, while in another 30% to 40%, there is a fertility problem in both the male and female partner.
This is why when couples come to us for help after trying to conceive without success, we order a complete fertility workup for both partners.
Fertility testing for men is also needed when a single man or gay couple hopes to have a baby using IVF with donor eggs and a gestational carrier. The results of the tests help our reproductive endocrinologists tailor each IVF cycle to maximize the chances of a successful pregnancy.
Types of fertility testing for men
When a couple faces infertility, we encourage both partners to attend the initial appointment. We begin by taking a thorough medical history for both partners, including questions about your efforts to try to conceive, medications you are taking, any prior infections or surgeries, your exercise routines, and lifestyle factors such as smoking or drug use.
We will also order testing for both partners, including a complete male infertility evaluation including several tests.
- Semen analysis, which examines a sample of ejaculate for many factors, including the number of sperm, whether they have a normal shape, and whether they are able to swim in the right direction
- Blood work to evaluate the man’s hormone levels
- Genetic carrier screening to identify any potential issues that prevent a successful pregnancy
Depending on the results of fertility testing for men, we may refer the male partner to a urologist for further testing or treatment, including a physical exam to check for any abnormalities with the male reproductive tract.
Don’t wait to get help
The good news is that there are many effective treatment options for men or couples facing male factor infertility. However, because many fertility challenges worsen as a person ages, we recommend that you do not wait to come to see us if you think either partner might have a fertility problem, especially if the female partner is 35 or older.
We can also provide a male infertility evaluation for any man who would like to know more about his reproductive potential. This is often the case for men who are considering testosterone replacement or TRT, vasectomy, or who have undergone certain medical treatments that could affect their future fertility.
Generally, fertility testing for men is covered by insurance. Contact us to schedule an initial visit or to request a male infertility evaluation with one of our experienced San Antonio specialists.