01/08/2023
Evaluating Male Fertility
The evaluation of a man's fertility includes looking for signs of hormone deficiency, such as increased body fat, decreased muscle mass, and decreased facial and body hair. The evaluation also includes questions about the man's health history, including:3
Past injury to the testicles or p***s
Recent high fevers
Childhood diseases, such as mumps
Low s*xual desire (libido)
A physical examination of the te**es and p***s allows for identification of problems, such as:1
Infection, signaled by discharge or prostate swelling
Hernia
Malformed tubes that transport s***m
Hormone deficiency as indicated by small te**es or lack of facial and body hair
Presence of a mass in the testicles
Varicocele (abnormal veins in the sc***um)
A health care provider may also ask a man to provide a sample of semen to assess the health and quality of his s***m. To give a semen sample, the man is requested to refrain from ej*******on for around 48 hours before the test. He then provides a sample by ma********ng into a cup or by having in*******se using a special condom (without contraceptive) that collects semen without affecting the s***m. A man may need to provide a semen sample on more than one occasion, because s***m production can vary over time depending on the man's current health status, activities, and stress level.
Other tests may include:1,3
Measurement of hormones in the blood, including testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroid hormones, and prolactin
Biopsy of the testicle. A health care provider uses a needle to extract s***m from the testicle.
Genetic testing. In cases where no or very few s***m are found in the semen, a health care provider may do genetic testing before starting fertility treatments. Testing can identify chromosome abnormalities that may cause the lack of s***m or lead to developmental problems among offspring.0741491475
