Male Infertility Tests
In the past infertility was usually thought of as the fault of the woman, but today researchers are discovering that men and women are equally liable when it comes to struggling with infertility. Both of you will therefore have to be tested to uncover precisely where the problem lies. In actual fact this ‘test’ consists of a number of tests and the structure of your personal male infertility test will be determined by the specific details of your infertility.
You will have to update your doctor about your complete medical history: any medication, any STDs, any operations, any childhood diseases. This is not the time to be reserved; your doctor needs to know everything to be able to reach an accurate diagnosis. Many lifestyle factors can affect your fertility, including alcohol, caffeine, smoking, recreational drugs. The doctor will also want an account of your full sexual history: any high risk sexual behaviors, the number of sexual partners, any STDs, your first sexual encounters, when you reached puberty – all of these are significant. As embarrassing as that may seem, look at it like this – if you had a couple of STDs long 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 open about it to begin with? You’ll save yourself the money and the embarrassment. The doctors are there to help, not to judge.
You will also have to have a full physical examination just to discount any visible problems. Here the doctor will check for enlarged veins on the scrotum (called variococeles) and will look for any testicular irregularities. Hormonal abnormalities could also be picked up in the physical.
The most important male infertility test is the semen analysis. You might need to test up to three times to confirm that results are consistent. This entails ejaculating into a cup or container provided by the doctor. Make sure that you 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.
Various characteristics will be looked at:
· How much? – They measure the whole amount of semen produced – usually a teaspoon is adequate.
· Sperm movement – The sperm should be swimming vigorously. Crawl, backstroke, it makes no difference – are they strong?
· Sperm quantity – Are there sufficient numbers of sperm cells in the semen? They don’t count them each individually, but rather count the number of spermies in a sample area and then work out the total amount of sperm cells. At a usual rate of about 40 million sperm for each ejaculation no one is counting exactly!
· Sperm maturity and shape – Underdeveloped or malformed sperm may not be able to get through the hard shell of the egg, if they even get to the egg to start with.
· pH levels – The semen is supposed to be a bit acidic.
· Semen – The seminal fluid has to be just the right consistency for the spermies to be able to swim effectively.
Further testing (if necessary) may include:
· Blood testing to establish the various hormone quantities and determine your general health.
· A testicle tissue test to ensure that the sperm producing cells are in good working order.
· Scans – will check for variococeles or blocked pipes.
· Sperm cells may be tested by placing them in a dish with a dead human egg or a hamster egg. Obviously none of these tests could produce a living embryo.
· Sometimes women’s or men’s bodies manufacture anti-sperm antibodies so this possibility must be ruled out.
· Problems with sperm manufacture can be identified through genetic testing.
· A post-coital test. Both the woman and the man are tested – although the woman is the one who is examined. This test verifies how many sperm actually make it to the cervix by getting samples from the cervix a day after intercourse, usually close to the time of ovulation.
It is helpful to undergo the male infertility test run near the beginning of the testing process as this could save the woman a great deal of discomfort, as testing infertility in women is much more invasive.
Here is more information on Signs of Infertility. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Infertility.