Male Infertility Evaluation Starts With Semen Analysis
When couples are having trouble getting pregnant, they need to remember that male factor infertility causes problems half the time. There are several causes of male infertility, including issues with sperm, physical injuries to the penis or testicles, childhood diseases, or other causes. The skilled physicians at our Tulsa fertility clinic perform a male infertility evaluation using tools including semen analysis and other tests.
A man’s medical history provides vital information for our evaluation
How can talking help evaluate a man’s fertility? It helps us discover critical information about a man’s past medical history, current and past lifestyle choices, and other clues to why he may have trouble impregnating his partner. Here are some examples of topics we talk about when taking a medical history.
- History of injuries involving the penis or testicles
- Childhood illnesses, such as mumps
- Family health history
- Medications
- Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
- Sexual habits
- Sexual desire
- Social habits, such as smoking, drinking and drug use
- Work environment
A physical examination also provides answers. Physicians check for things like hernias, varicoceles, masses in the testicles or signs of infection. They also look for signs that might indicate hormonal problems, such as small testes.
Semen analysis is a crucial tool for male infertility evaluation
Semen analysis is the primary tool that our team uses to evaluate male infertility. This test provides valuable information about sperm health.
- Sperm count, or number of sperm present in a sample
- Sperm concentration
- Sperm volume
- Structure, or morphology, of the sperm
- Sperm motility, or movement
- Semen pH level
Once the physicians at our Tulsa fertility clinic identify the cause of male infertility, they can devise a treatment plan to help the couple start their future family.
Additional ways to examine men’s fertility issues
Often, our team orders bloodwork as part of a male infertility evaluation. Bloodwork helps check on men’s testosterone; LH, or luteinizing hormone; and FSH, or follicle stimulating hormone, levels. If the tests show abnormal hormone levels, men may need medication to get the levels back to normal.
If men have physical issues, such as varicoceles, our team refers them to a highly qualified urologist who can treat the condition.
See the experienced team at our Tulsa fertility clinic for help with male factor infertility
Our experienced physicians expertly diagnose male fertility problems. Once we complete our male infertility evaluation, we can move into the treatment phase of fertility treatment. Our entire team is always working to help patients create the family they desire. Contact us for an appointment.
