Male infertility
Male infertility is a factor about one-third of the time when couples are struggling with fertility problems. In another third of the cases, male and female issues combine to cause infertility. Several things cause male fertility difficulties, including sperm disorders, obstruction, hormones, medication, varicoceles, retrograde ejaculation and immunologic infertility. Men need a physician who is an expert in male anatomy and men’s health issues to perform their male fertility evaluation. Our Austin urologists have the experience and expertise to help men who are facing obstacles to building their families.
A male fertility evaluation includes testing for several factors
If a man and his partner have been having unprotected sex for a year without conceiving, or if a man’s partner is over age 35 and hasn’t gotten pregnant in six months, it’s time to see a physician. We begin our evaluation by taking a medical history and performing a physical examination. Men also have a traditional semen analysis. This basic test, which involves providing semen for analysis, provides our physicians with valuable information. The test evaluates sperm count, volume, structure, concentration and movement or motility. If our Austin urologists don’t find the information they need to make a diagnosis and treatment plan, they look for other factors that can impact male fertility.
- Genetic factors – Some hereditary disorders, such as Klinefelter’s syndrome, can cause the male reproductive organs to develop abnormally. Genetic syndromes like cystic fibrosis and Kallmann’s syndrome can also cause male infertility. At our Austin urology practice, we offer all of our male patients Counsyl™ testing for a variety of genetic conditions that might affect their children in the future. We also perform karyotype testing, testing for Y chromosomal abnormalities and testing for cystic fibrosis.
- Hormonal factors – Hormonal imbalances can cause male infertility. It’s vital for men to see physicians like our urologists who understand that hormonal evaluation goes beyond testosterone. We evaluate prolactin, estrogen, LH, FSH, thyroid function and a variety of additional hormones, as well as testosterone. If a man’s hormones are out of balance, we normalize them to help optimize male fertility.
- Physiologic factors – There are several physical abnormalities that cause male fertility concerns, including the following.
- Abnormal blood flow
- Congenital abnormalities
- Physical trauma
- Infections that occur during early childhood
- Varicocele, which are enlarged veins in the testicles
Optimizing male fertility with lifestyle changes
We ask men a lot of questions about your lifestyle for a reason. Things that men do in their everyday lives can have a negative impact on their fertility. Here are some lifestyle factors that negatively affect male fertility.
- Smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Exposure to radiation
- Obesity
- Nutrition and diet
- Certain medications, including steroids
Our Austin urologists provide male fertility evaluation and treatment
Men who are struggling with male infertility find hope and support at Urology Specialists of Austin. Our entire team is there to help diagnose and treat male fertility problems with compassion and expert skill. Contact us for an appointment.