Male Fertility Program
Couples experiencing difficulty achieving pregnancy, despite trying for six months to a year (depending on their ages), should seek guidance from a fertility specialist. Male infertility contributes to about half of these cases. Still, numerous treatments are available that may enable men to become parents, even if they have been diagnosed with conditions such as a low sperm count.
When a couple consults with a Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI) specialist, the clinician assesses the health of both partners. A comprehensive health history is obtained, and a semen sample is analyzed. Our Fertility Center employs computer-assisted semen analysis, one of the most advanced methods for evaluating semen quality. This analysis assesses sperm count, morphology (shape and structure), and sperm motility—crucial factors in fertilization. If abnormalities are detected, patients may be referred to a reproductive urologist for further evaluation and treatment. Our Fertility Center is among the few in the country to offer on-site consultations with a reproductive urologist.
Our Approach
Poor semen quality is often the primary factor contributing to male infertility. Some patients may have insufficient sperm production or a complete absence of sperm. Others may produce enough sperm, but with abnormalities in morphology or motility. Anatomical abnormalities may also obstruct sperm passage or semen ejaculation.
Following a diagnosis, our reproductive specialists collaborate with patients to enhance their chances of achieving parenthood. In cases with a reduced but sufficient number of motile sperm, intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be recommended. Here, ejaculated sperm is washed and directly injected into the uterus by a clinician. IUI is often combined with ovarian stimulation medications to increase the chance of achieving a pregnancy.
If sperm quantity is insufficient for an IUI procedure, or if IUI proves unsuccessful, in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be employed to improve pregnancy success rates. A patient’s sperm is combined with their partner's egg in the IVF laboratory. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is often utilized, in which a single sperm is injected directly into the egg to facilitate fertilization. Subsequently, one of the resulting embryos is transferred into the partner's uterus.
For patients with complex male fertility issues, medications may be prescribed to enhance sperm production, or procedures may be performed to address physical barriers hindering sperm release. This may include repairing varicoceles, which are dilated blood vessels in the scrotum that impact sperm production.
In cases of severely diminished or absent sperm, advanced sperm retrieval techniques may be necessary. Our reproductive urologists perform microsurgical procedures to locate and extract sperm from the testes, a procedure available at only select fertility centers. Extracted sperm is then used in conjunction with IVF, ensuring optimal chances of fertilization.
Our male fertility program is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians with specialized expertise, providing comprehensive care for all aspects of male infertility on-site.
