Male Female Infertility

Fertility tests for men

If the first fertility tests are not conclusive your doctor may recommend you other tests.

   Semen analysis is done to check the sperm count, how many sperm can move normally, how many of them look normal, the number of semen’s white blood cells (normally they shouldn’t exist in the semen). More than one-third of infertile couples have a problem with the sperm or the semen. The semen analysis is performed to establish if men have reproductive problems that might be causing the infertility or to see if a vasectomy or the reversal of a vasectomy has been successful. After a semen analysis is performed the doctor can have information about: the volume of semen during one ejaculation, sperm count (number of sperm per milliliter), morphology (shape of the sperm), or motility (sperm movement), liquefaction time (normally the semen becomes liquid 20 minutes after ejaculation), pH measures the semen’s acidity or the alkalinity, fructose level that measures the quantity of sugar in the semen. In order to prepare himself for this test a man is asked not to have an ejaculation 2-5 days before the semen analysis so that the sperm count can be at its highest level. Also you should avoid alcohol for a couple of days before the test.

   Testicular ultrasound (sonogram) uses reflected sound waves to obtain a photo of the scrotum and the testicles. This test shows the tightly, long tube placed behind each testicle and the tube that makes the connection between the testicles and the prostate gland. The test doesn’t use any type of radiation. A transducer (a small instrument held by the hand) is passed over the scrotum. The instrument transmits sound waves to a computer which transforms them in a photo that is displayed on the monitor. This photo is also called sonogram, scan, or echogram.

   Testicular biopsy is performed in order to eliminate a sample of tissue from the testicles and analyse it under a microscope so that the doctor could verify the ability of a man to have a baby. The testicular biopsy is done to determine the cause of infertility on men and it is performed when the hormone tests are normal or the semen has an abnormal sperm count. A testicular biopsy can’t detect testicular cancer, surgical procedures are performed in order to confirm that diagnosis.