Male Infertility (Male Factor Infertility)

Traditionally, infertility has been thought to be strictly a female issue. In reality, however, infertility affects both men and women, and about half the cases of infertility are attributable to factors within the male. LifeStart Fertility Center serving greater Los Angeles, California recognizes this percentage and approaches infertility as a “couples disease.” All consultations at LifeStart Fertility Center include a detailed and thorough evaluation for both male and female infertility factors. We will take a brief look at male factor infertility below.

Causes of male factor infertility
A variety of conditions can lead to male infertility, including problems with sperm production, blockages in the reproductive tract, hormonal disorders, and problems within the testicle itself---all issues which affect sperm quality and quantity.

A man's health history and lifestyle can also affect his fertility. A past history of drug, alcohol or cigarette use, mumps after puberty, previous urologic surgery, prostate infections, a history of sexually transmitted diseases and current medications can all impact sperm production or delivery.

Diagnosis
The first step in determining what could be preventing conception is obtaining a thorough history from the male partner to evaluate for factors that are associated with male infertility. The next step is usually a semen analysis. For the semen analysis, a fresh semen sample is obtained and evaluated for various factors including sperm count, motility and morphology. Blood tests to measure hormone levels may also reveal pertinent information about testicular function and possible causes of infertility. A genetic assessment and diagnostic tests may also be taken that assess the ability of the man's sperm to penetrate and fertilize the egg.

Treatment
Treatment will depend on the cause of the man's infertility. Surgical therapy, treatment with medications, and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are some of the treatment options available that can help nature along toward achieving pregnancy. Below are a few treatments that are offered at LifeStart Fertility Center.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) - IUI involves the placement of large numbers of motile sperm high inside the uterus during the most fertile time of the woman's cycle. It is performed in a physician's office without anesthesia. This procedure is useful when male factor infertility is an issue.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) - IVF involves placing the couple's sperm and egg together in a laboratory dish to fertilize in vitro, or outside the woman's body. The fertilized eggs are then placed back into the uterus. IVF is useful when a man's sperm is of reduced quantity or quality.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) - This laboratory technique injects a single sperm into the cytoplasm of the woman's egg, bypassing the need for sperm to swim through the reproductive tract, locate the egg and penetrate it. This technique is useful for men with low amounts or weak sperm.

Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA) - Used to obtain sperm when a man’s vas deferens is obstructed. This procedure is performed in an operating room. Sperm is extracted from the epididymis through an opening in the skin working under a microscope.

Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE) - Used to obtain sperm from a testicle for ICSI in cases of azospermia.

Percutaneous Epidydimal Sperm Aspiration (PESA) - An aspiration technique that involves removing sperm from the epididymis.

For more information on male infertility and to set up an appointment please click here to contact us or call LifeStart Fertility Center at 818-889-4532.