If you're a guy and your partner isn't getting pregnant -- even though it's something you both want -- take charge with a visit to your doctor. There are lots of tests you can take to find out if you're infertile -- and learn what kind of treatment you can get.
Get an Evaluation
Start out with a visit to a doctor called a urologist. They'll give you a physical exam and ask you questions about your lifestyle and medical history, such as:
- Medical history
- Medications you take
- Your exercise habits
- Whether you smoke or take recreational drugs
They may also have a frank discussion with you about your sex life, including any problems you've had or whether you have or ever had any STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). You'll probably be asked to give a sample of sem*n for analysis.
Male infertility specialists have different ways of identifying if the male's sperm count and quality are low or if there's another condition that may be inhibiting pregnancy, but here are some of the tests you can expect:
Sperm and sem*n Analysis
A trained expert checks your sperm count, their shape, movement, and other characteristics. In general, if you have a higher number of normal-shaped sperm, it means you have higher fertility. But there are plenty of exceptions to this. A lot of guys with low sperm counts or abnormal sem*n are still fertile. And about 15% of infertile men have normal sem*n and plenty of normal sperm.
If the first sem*n analysis is normal, your doctor may order a second test to confirm the results. Two normal tests usually mean you don't have any significant infertility problems. If something in the results looks unusual, your doctor might order more tests to pinpoint the problem.
If you don't have any sem*n or sperm at all, it might be because of a blockage in your "plumbing" that can be corrected with surgery.
Physical Exam
It can find varicoceles -- abnormal formations of veins above the testicl*. You can get it corrected with surgery.
Hormone Evaluation
Testosterone and other hormones control the making of sperm. Keep in mind, though, that hormones aren't the main problem in about 97% of infertile men. Experts disagree as to how big a search should be done for hormonalcauses of infertility.
Genetic Testing
It can identify specific obstacles to fertility and problems with your sperm. Experts differ on when genetic tests should be done.
Anti-Sperm Antibodies
Some men make abnormal antibodies that attack the sperm on the way to the egg, which keeps your partner from getting pregnant.
For other guys, making sperm isn't the problem: It's getting the sperm where they need to go. Men with these conditions have normal sperm in their testicl*s, but the sperm in sem*n are either missing, in low numbers, or abnormal.
There are several reasons you might have low sperm in your sem*n even if your body makes enough of it:
Retrograde ejacul*tion. In this condition, your sperm ejacul*tes backward, into yourbladder. It's usually caused by an earlier surgery.
You're missing the main sperm pipeline (thevas deferens). It's a genetic problem. Some men are born without a main pipeline for sperm.
Obstruction. There can be a blockageanywhere between the testicl*s and thepenis.
Anti-sperm antibodies. As mentioned, they attack your sperm on the way to the egg.
"Idiopathic" infertility. It's a fancy way of saying there isn't any cause your doctor can identify for your abnormal or low sperm count.
Don't hesitate to get tests to check your fertility. When you and your partner do this, it will help you figure out what's going on, and let you learn about treatment.
