When couples decide to seek treatment for a suspected fertility problem, many times it is assumed that the problem is with the female. This however, is not always the case. Many times, the problem inhibiting the couples chance to conceive is male infertility. Male infertility is rather easy to diagnose to the outcome for treatment is usually good. The first step in treating male infertility is to contact a fertility specialist.

A fertility specialist is typically either an OB/GYN who is certified as an infertility specialist or a reproductive endocrinologist. The first step in determining the cause of infertility is having the doctor perform a test on the sperm to ensure there are viable and healthy sperm present within a semen sample. This test is called a semen analysis. Dr. Marwan Shaykh with Assistedfertility.org  recommends performing a semen analysis first on the male since in half of infertile couples; infertility is caused by the male partner. 



To perform a semen analysis, the man produces a semen specimen either at home or at the doctor’s office and then it is evaluated under the microscope. The doctor will look for several things; the total sperm count, the motility and the amount of healthy viable sperm present in the sample. The doctor may also order hormone or laboratory depending on the outcome of this test.

Many times, the male may have low sperm count which means there are not enough healthy sperm to naturally produce a pregnancy. An ideal sperm count should be 20 million or greater.  In some cases, it may be a problem with motility which means the sperm are not moving as they should in order to successfully reach the egg. Additionally, the man may have many dead sperm within the sample.

Treatment for male infertility can be achieved through Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) when used in conjunction with In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF). The woman takes fertility injections to stimulate her to produce multiple eggs and then the eggs are harvested. The male then provides his sperm specimen.

Instead of just mixing the sperm and eggs together in the lab and allowing them to fertilize naturally, the healthiest sperm are selected and injected into each egg. This process forces the egg and sperm to fertilize and has good outcome for male infertility. Once the eggs become fertilized embryos, they are placed back within the woman’s uterus in hopes of achieving a pregnancy.

It is important to research a qualified and experienced fertility doctor and select a fertility center that has good success rates when it comes to treating male infertility. Through advancements in technology, many infertile men have been able to successful start a family with infertility treatments such as ICSI.