Male Infertility
Around 15% of couples experience infertility.
Male infertility is a contributing factor in approximately 50% of couples who experience infertility.
Male infertility refers to difficulty achieving pregnancy due to abnormalities in sperm production, sperm quality, sperm function, sperm transport, or sexual/ejaculatory function.
Causes of male infertility are broad, including hormonal, genetic, post-surgical, infectious, anatomical, and other conditions. Male infertility may also be related to varicocele, prior chemotherapy or radiation, medications, or unexplained abnormalities in sperm production.
Evaluation typically includes a detailed reproductive and medical history, physical examination, semen analysis (usually 2), and targeted hormonal and genetic testing when indicated.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause and the couple's reproductive goals. Options may include lifestyle and medical management, treatment of hormonal abnormalities or varicocele, microsurgical reconstruction for obstruction, and surgical sperm retrieval with IVF/ICSI when sperm are not present in the ejaculate or are present in very low numbers.
As a urologist specializing in male infertility and male reproductive health, I work closely with reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialists (REI) when assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF/ICSI are needed.