What Does a Male Infertility Test Include?

Previously infertility was generally thought of as the fault of the woman, but today scientists are discovering that men and women are equally balanced when it comes to battling with infertility. Both of you will therefore have to be tested to discover precisely where the problem lies. Actually this ‘test’ includes a number of tests and the makeup of your individual male infertility test will hinge on the exact details of your infertility.

Your doctor will want to review your complete medical history – any STDs, any childhood diseases, any medication, any operations – be ready to lay it all out! This is not a good time to be timid; your doctor must know everything to be able to make an accurate diagnosis. Recreational drugs, smoking, caffeine, alcohol – all of these can affect your fertility. Naturally your sexual history is also important: any STDs, the number of sexual partners, your first sexual encounters, any high risk sexual behaviors, when you reached puberty. As awkward as that may sound, look at it this way – if you had a few STDs some time ago and you choose not to tell the doctor about them now he (or she) will learn about them the hard way – through examinations and tests – so why not just be direct about it to start off with? You’ll save yourself money, time and lots of awkwardness. The doctors are there to help, not to criticize.

Obvious abnormalities such as variococeles (abnormally large veins on the scrotum) or undescended testes may be discovered through a complete physical examination. Hormonal problems may also be picked up in the physical.

A semen analysis is very important. You may need up to three tests to confirm that results are reliable. This involves ejaculating into a cup or container provided by the doctor. Be sure to check if you should abstain beforehand as a reliable sperm count can only be acquired if you have not ejaculated for a few days prior to the test.

The sample will then be sent off for testing and the pathologists will test a number of things:

· How much? – Around a teaspoon of semen is sufficient for effective fertilization.

· Sperm motility – The sperm should be moving vigorously. It doesn’t make a difference what stroke they swim – as long as they are moving well!

· Sperm count – Are there sufficient numbers of sperm in the semen? They don’t count them each one by one, but rather work out the number of sperm in a sample area and then calculate the total amount of sperm. About 40 million sperm per ejaculation is usual.

· Sperm quality – If the sperm cells aren’t fully developed or if they are deformed they won’t be able to move well and might not be able get through the outer covering of the egg.

· pH levels – Slightly acidic semen is most helpful to sperm.

· Semen – The color and consistency of the semen will be examined. If the fluid is too viscous, the sperm won’t be able to swim well.

Depending on the outcomes of these tests you might require extra testing. This might include:

· Blood testing to determine the various hormone amounts and determine your general wellbeing.

· Testicle tissue test – to look for healthy sperm manufacturing cells.

· Scans – will find variococeles or obstructed tubes.

· A sperm penetration assay to ensure that the spermies can get into an egg by trying them out on a hamster egg or a dead human egg. Clearly neither of these tests could result in a living embryo.

· Anti-sperm antibody tests to verify that the neither the man’s body nor the woman’s cervical mucus manufacture antibodies to the man’s sperm.

· Genetic testing could also identify irregularities with sperm.

· A post-coital test. Strictly speaking this is a shared test because both the woman and the man are tested. This test verifies how many sperm actually make it to the cervix by obtaining samples from the cervix a day after intercourse, usually close to the time of ovulation.

Don’t let pride get in the way of a male infertility test. You may save yourself and your partner much pain and discomfort!

Here is more information on Signs of Infertility. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Infertility.

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