Male Infertility
Sperm problems will contribute to about 40% of infertility cases. The normal working of the male reproductive system involves first the production of sufficient numbers of functional sperm cells and then the delivery of these sperm to the ejaculate.
Common problems with sperm production
- Azoospermia – no sperm produced and/or found in the ejaculate.
- Oligoozspermia – low sperm count
- Teratospermia, where a high proportion of sperm is abnormally shaped
- Malformed sperm – in rare cases, genetic diseases may be at fault.
- Immunological infertility – when you develop antibodies against your own sperm.
- Blockages in the vas deferens – due to injury or vasectomy
- Poor-quality sperm – for a wide range of reasons, such as an unhealthy lifestyle
Diagnosis of male infertility
Key to the diagnosis of male infertility is a semen analysis, which assesses primarily sperm numbers, sperm movement and sperm form.
Treatment for male infertility
Male infertility can often be treated using IVF & ICSI.
When to seek help
If you know or suspect you have a condition affecting the male reproductive system, or you have been trying to conceive for more than 12 months (or 6 months if the female partner is over 35 years of age) without success we recommend you book an appointment with a fertility consultant.
