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Male Infertility Testing and Treatment
Getting answers can change what comes next.
Understanding your fertility is a proactive step toward building your family. At Fertility and Surgical Associates of California (FSAC), male fertility testing can provide important information about your reproductive health, help identify factors that could be affecting conception and give you a clearer picture of your options.
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Advanced Fertility Testing
Three Southern California Locations
Male Fertility Testing
Could Male Infertility Be Affecting Your Fertility?
40%
Male factors are involved in about 40% of infertility cases.
Male fertility testing is a crucial part of a complete fertility evaluation when sperm from a male partner is being used to conceive. Male factors are involved in about 40% of infertility cases, making sperm health a crucial part of understanding the complete fertility picture and what could be affecting conception.
A fertility evaluation needs to look at both the egg and sperm factors involved. Without evaluating the male partner when his sperm is being used, an important part of the fertility picture is missing. That information can affect the diagnosis, the treatment recommendation and the path forward.
Consider male fertility testing if:
- You and your partner have been trying to conceive without success
- You have concerns about sperm count or sperm quality
- You have received an abnormal semen analysis
- You have a medical, surgical, or reproductive history that could affect fertility
- You want to better understand your reproductive health before trying to conceive
Testing provides answers. Those answers help your fertility specialist recommend treatment based on a more complete picture of your fertility.
Schedule Male Fertility TestingWhat Is Male Infertility?
Male infertility refers to reproductive factors involving sperm production, sperm function, sperm delivery, hormones, anatomy, genetics or other aspects of reproductive health that can make conception more difficult.
For some people, there are no noticeable symptoms. You may feel completely healthy and have no reason to suspect a fertility issue until pregnancy takes longer than expected.
That is one reason testing is so valuable.
Male infertility can be related to sperm count, how sperm move, sperm shape, hormones, reproductive anatomy or other factors. In some cases, more than one factor is involved.
Testing helps move the conversation from wondering what could be happening to having information you and your fertility specialist can use.
Signs & Causes
What Are the Signs of Male Infertility?
Often, the first sign of a male fertility issue is simply that pregnancy has not occurred. In other situations, there may be symptoms or medical history that make testing especially important. These can include:
- Changes in sexual function or ejaculation
- Testicular pain, swelling, or a noticeable lump
- A history of testicular injury or surgery
- Previous cancer treatment, chemotherapy or radiation
- Hormonal concerns
- Certain genetic or medical conditions
- A history of undescended testicles
- Previous infections that could affect the reproductive system
- Exposure to medications or substances that could affect sperm production
Having one of these risk factors does not automatically mean you are infertile.
And having no symptoms does not mean there is no male fertility factor. Testing can reveal information that symptoms alone cannot.
What Causes Male Infertility?
There is no single cause of male infertility. Sperm production and function can be affected by biological, medical, genetic, anatomical, lifestyle and environmental factors.
Sometimes testing identifies a clear explanation. Sometimes several factors are involved. Sometimes no definitive cause is identified.
Whatever the results, having more information helps your fertility specialist determine the appropriate next step.
Potential causes include:
- Low sperm concentration
- Problems with sperm movement or function
- Hormonal imbalances
- Varicocele
- Blockages that interfere with sperm delivery
- Genetic conditions
- Certain infections
- Previous surgeries or injuries
- Some medications or medical treatments
- Cancer treatment
- Problems with ejaculation
- Certain lifestyle or environmental exposures
Diagnosis at fsac
How Is Male Infertility Diagnosed at FSAC?
A conversation first
Male fertility testing at FSAC begins with a conversation about your medical history, reproductive history, lifestyle and any concerns you may have.
Semen analysis
Testing often starts with a semen analysis.
Additional testing, if needed
Depending on your history and results, additional testing such as hormone testing, ultrasound imaging, urinalysis or genetic testing may be recommended.
At FSAC, the goal is not simply to get a number. It is to understand what your results mean in the context of your fertility and determine what, if anything, should happen next.
Semen Analysis
What Is a Semen Analysis Test?
A semen analysis is one of the most important first steps in evaluating male fertility. It provides information about the semen and sperm and can help identify factors that could be making conception more difficult.
At FSAC, the andrology team evaluates several characteristics of the semen sample. The results are considered together to give your fertility specialist a more complete picture of sperm health and function.
Sperm Count and Concentration
Sperm concentration measures how many sperm are present in a given amount of semen. The total sperm count looks at the number of sperm in the entire sample.
A lower sperm concentration or total count can reduce the number of sperm available to reach and fertilize an egg, but the number is only one part of the evaluation.
Motility
Motility looks at how well sperm move.
For unassisted conception, sperm movement plays an important role in the sperm’s ability to travel through the reproductive tract and reach the egg. A semen analysis evaluates the percentage of sperm that are moving and provides information about how they move.
Morphology
Morphology refers to the size and shape of sperm.
The laboratory examines sperm under a microscope to evaluate their structure. Morphology is considered along with sperm count, motility and the other findings rather than being used by itself to determine fertility.
Semen Volume
Semen volume measures the amount of fluid in the sample.
Semen volume provides additional information about the ejaculate. An abnormal result can help your fertility specialist determine whether further evaluation is needed.
pH and Liquefaction
The laboratory also evaluates characteristics of the semen itself.
pH measures how acidic or alkaline the semen is. Liquefaction looks at how the semen changes from a thicker consistency after ejaculation to a more liquid state. These findings can provide additional information about the reproductive system and may help identify when something warrants a closer look.
What Do the Results Mean?
A semen analysis is not a pass or fail test.
Sperm count, concentration, motility, morphology and the other findings need to be considered together. One result outside a reference range does not automatically mean that someone is infertile, just as results within reference ranges do not guarantee fertility.
Semen parameters can also vary from one sample to another. If results are abnormal or unexpected, your fertility specialist may recommend repeating the semen analysis or performing additional testing.
Depending on the results and your medical history, that could include hormone testing, genetic testing or other evaluation to better understand what may be affecting fertility.
The goal is not simply to produce a laboratory report. It is to use the information from that report to help answer the questions that matter:
Could a male fertility factor be affecting conception?
Is additional testing needed?
And how should this information influence the treatment plan?
Mail-in option
Semen Analysis Infertility Testing With Fellow
We have partnered with Fellow to offer convenient mail-in semen analysis for male fertility evaluation.
Treatment Options
Male Infertility Treatment
There is no single treatment for male infertility because treatment depends on what testing reveals.
That is why the evaluation comes first.
Your fertility specialist can review your results, explain what they mean and determine whether additional evaluation or treatment is appropriate.
In some circumstances, fertility treatment can help address male fertility challenges. FSAC offers treatments including intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Recommendations are individualized based on your test results, medical history and family building goals.
The right path depends on more than a semen analysis. The egg and sperm factors involved, medical history, previous treatment, reproductive goals, timeline and personal preferences all matter.
Your story is one of a kind. Your fertility treatment should reflect that.
Get Answers About Your Male Fertility
Male fertility testing can provide information that symptoms alone cannot. A semen analysis and, when appropriate, additional testing can help identify factors that could be affecting conception and give you and your fertility specialist important information about what to do next.
Getting tested is a proactive step. It gives you the opportunity to ask informed questions, understand your options and take an active role in decisions about your fertility care.
One test result does not define your fertility or your path to parenthood. It is information that can help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Why Choose FSAC for Male Fertility Care?
Fertility testing gives you numbers. Understanding what those numbers mean for you is just as important.
At Fertility and Surgical Associates of California, fertility care is individualized. FSAC’s fertility specialists and laboratory team work together to evaluate your reproductive health and determine what makes sense for your circumstances and family building goals.
We also believe you should be an active participant in your care.
Ask questions. Understand your results. Know your options. Talk with your fertility specialist about what matters to you.
Good fertility care is not simply about ordering tests or recommending treatment. It is about having the information you need to make informed decisions about your next step.
Male Infertility FAQs
Male Fertility Care in Southern California
FSAC provides fertility care at three Southern California locations.
Virtual appointments are also available for appropriate visits.
Take the Next Step
If you have been trying to conceive without success, have semen analysis results you want to better understand, have a medical history that could affect fertility, or want to learn more about your reproductive health, testing can provide answers.
Those answers matter.
They can help identify factors affecting conception, guide treatment decisions and give you a clearer picture of what comes next.
At Fertility and Surgical Associates of California, we are here to help you get those answers and understand your options.