Although the focus is often on the female partner when investigating fertility, both male and female fertility play a role in the chances of conception. In couples experiencing fertility issues, female infertility causes about 30% of cases, while male factors contribute to around 30% of cases. In approximately 30% of cases, male and female factors both play a role.1
As is the case for women, a variety of factors also influence fertility for men. Infertility affects approximately 8-9% of males in Australia.1
If you are family planning or curious about your fertility, getting a male fertility test can help you understand your reproductive health and whether certain treatment options or lifestyle modifications may improve your chances of conceiving.
Dr Parmar looks into both male and female factors that may be impacting conception for a couple. Her clinic, backed by Genea Fertility’s innovative and pioneering scientific methods, offers advanced clinical testing so you know you are getting accurate and thorough answers to help you make informed decisions for your next steps.
Age is one of the major contributing factors to female infertility, and while not as significant for men, the quality of sperm in males also declines from approximately 40 years of age.
Other factors can include:
Problems in the testes, such as varicocele (swollen veins), occur in one‐third of infertile men and in 10–15% of men in the general population.2 These conditions may interfere with sperm production.
An obstruction from congenital abnormalities, injury, or infection can block the passage of sperm and prevent them from being included in the semen in sufficient numbers for successful fertilisation.
Hormonal disruptions or imbalances can affect sperm production. For example, in a small number of cases, male infertility can be related to insufficient levels of the gonadotropin hormone, which stimulates the testicles to produce sperm.
Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking or vaping, recreational drug use, a poor nutritional diet, high BMI, exposure to excessive heat and toxins can all play a negative role in male fertility.
Health conditions such as diabetes and genetic conditions can also influence reproductive potential in men by affecting sperm production and quality.
For couples who have been trying without success for over 12 months, or six months or more if the female partner is over 35 years old, fertility tests for men can offer helpful insight into the potential barriers to falling pregnant.
Even if the female partner is of a younger age, advanced paternal age can be associated with poorer sperm quality, testicular function, lower chances of conception, and poorer fertility treatment outcomes.
Other reasons it might be beneficial to take a male fertility test include if you are aware of a fertility-impacting health condition, or if you have had previous injury, infection, or surgery to your testicles.
Male fertility tests will typically start with a comprehensive review of your medical history, including:
If you have already undergone previous fertility tests, Dr Parmar may also review these results at your initial consultation.
Fertility testing for men may include:
One of the main and most helpful tests for male fertility is the semen analysis. The semen sample can either be produced at one of Genea’s private andrology suites or collected at home, after a two to five-day period of abstinence from ejaculation. If collected at home, the sample needs to be brought to the laboratory within one hour of collection.
In most cases, this test will need to be repeated in order to confirm results or to see if interventions or changes in lifestyle have been effective.
A semen analysis can offer insights into:
Advanced semen analysis tests may be carried out, especially for cases of recurrent miscarriage or previous unsuccessful IVF cycles:
Blood tests can help assess for hormone imbalances or deficiencies that can interfere with normal sperm production.
In addition to a review of medical history, Dr Parmar’s investigations may also include a physical examination to check for abnormalities such as undescended testes. For some men, an ultrasound may be necessary to get a more detailed view of the reproductive organs and the structure of the testicles.
A testicular biopsy may be performed to look for any obstruction in the reproductive system or issues with sperm production.
Depending on what the tests reveal as potential causes, there is a range of treatments to address these issues.
If addressing underlying fertility issues is not sufficient to enable you and your partner to conceive, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can still help you along your way to parenthood. Some couples may also benefit from the help of a sperm donor.
