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For many couples, it’s a complete surprise to learn that in approximately 50% of infertility cases, there is some male factor, resulting from abnormalities in sperm count, sperm motility or sperm morphology. In over 25% of those cases, the male is the sole factor behind the couples’ inability to conceive. Everyone knows that a woman’s fertility declines as she grows older…but did you know that the same holds true for men?!?
Like his partner, a male should undergo a thorough physical examination including bloodwork. Additionally, he should undergo a semen analysis. A semen analysis will analyze three main things:
- Sperm Count: how many are counted in one collected sample;
- Sperm Motility: how the sperm move about; and
- Sperm Morphology: the shape of the sperm
As you might guess, there are many factors affecting the quality of sperm produced by an individual at any given time. These factors include, but aren’t limited to items such as: elevated body temperature, unusual or undue stress, certain medications, or testicular injury. The male should bring to the attention of the physician or medical staff any temporary conditions which may affect sperm quality.
Did you know that a male ejaculate may contain from 50-500 million individual sperm? As one-half of a human’s genetic makeup, it’s very important to make sure that the sperm quantity and quality are optimal for fertilization.