How can we assess male factor fertility?
Male factor problems contribute to at least 35% of infertility and male infertility is the sole cause of infertility in about 20-25% of infertile couples.
There are many causes of male factor infetility. A story of mumps in adult life may indicate the possibility of problems but most male factor problems are identified from microscopic assessment of a fresh semen sample (semen analysis / male fertility test).
The volume of semen produced at ejaculation should be greater than 1ml. There is debate about the minimum concentration of healthy motile (freely moving) sperm required to achieve pregnancy. The count varies according to Frequency of intercourse and from day to day. As an approximate guide, there should be at least three million actively motile sperm per ml.
Sperm Quality and Male Factor Infertility
- No sperm (azoospermia) accounts for 3-4% of male infertility.
- Poor sperm quantity (oligospermia) or quality e.g. low motility (asthenozoospermia) or a high percentage of abnormal sperm (teratozoospermia). Antisperm antibodies, etc. This subgroup may account for about 90% of male infertility.
- Sperm dysfunctional, where there is a normal semen analysis but the sperm lack or have a defective fertilizing capacity, resulting in complete failure of fertilization or poor fertilization of the eggs in IVF. This accounts for 3-6% of male infertility.
In the majority of men suffering male infertility, physical and genital examinations reveal no cause of infertility, but in a few cases, it may reveal abnormalities such as poor facial and bodily hair, enlarged breasts, undescended testis, small testes or varicocele.
As an example, a semen sample has a volume of 2mls this is normal. There is a count of 30 million sperm per ml and 33% are motile total motile count is 10 million. Of these, 50% are actively motile actively motile count is 5 million per ml and the result is normal.
The use of cell phones may have an adverse effect on semen quality.0801
Related Medical Abstracts - Click on the paper title:-
- Effect of the total motile sperm count on the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization (2001)
Please click on the required question.
- 1 What is infertility?
- 2 How prevalent are infertility problems?
- 3 What are the main causes of infertility?
- 4 What are the objectives of our infertility investigations?
- 5 Have there been any noticeable changes in fertility requirements in recent years?
- 6 What is the effect of our age on fertility?
- 7 I smoke cigarettes. Can this have an effect on my fertility?
- 8 Does my weight influence fertility?
- 8A Obesity! How can I lose weight?
- 9 I have fibroids. Could these reduce my fertility?
- 10 I have been told that my womb has an abnormal shape and that was the way that I was born. Could this reduce my fertility?
- 11 I have endometriosis. Could this reduce my fertility?
- 12 I have been told that I have cervicitis or a cervical ectopy (erosion). Could this impair my fertility?
- 13 My doctor tells me that my womb is retroverted (tilts backwards). Could this reduce my fertility?
- 14 I have had an ectopic pregnancy. Does this affect my future fertility?
- 15 We are worried that we may have a fertility problem. What should we do?
- 16 How will our doctor be able to identify the cause of our infertility?
- 17 How can we tell if I am releasing my eggs (ovulating)?
- 18 Investigations have shown that I have a problem releasing my eggs (anovulation). What could be the cause of this?
- 19 How important are my Fallopian tubes in fertility?
- 20 How can we tell if my Fallopian tubes are functioning?
- 21a What are the causes of male factor infertility?
- 21 How can we assess male fertility?
- 22 What is the purpose of a post-coital test (PCT)?
- 23 We have had our infertility investigations and our problem remains unexplained. How can this be?
- 24 What are our chances of achieving a pregnancy?
- 25 Where can I obtain more information?
- 26 Could we have some recommended infertility support groups?
Thank you for choosing to visit us.
This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.
