Male Fertility Potential

It is believed that approximately 10% to 15% of all men are born with some degree of male infertility, and approximately one third of the time infertility can be solely attributed to male infertility. For most men, there is no completely reliable test to assess male fertility. The diagnosis of male infertility is often facilitated by first excluding all possible female infertility factors.

 

In recent years, the prospect of being able to conceive one's genetic child has increased considerably for men with male factor infertility. In situations, where patients had to use a sperm donor in the past, we will now almost always be able to use the husband/partner's sperm to fertilize the eggs.

 

We can now overcome all but the most severe forms of male infertility with In Vitro Fertilization and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

 

Whether you succeed in getting pregnant does not depend on the presence or absence of male infertility. Most infertile men will be able to cause a pregnancy with medical help, but typically male fertility potential cannot be increased by taking medications or surgically (i.e., removal of a varicocele).

 

Unlike female fertility potential, male fertility does not significantly decrease during the first five to six decades of man’s life.

 

Men can be infertile because they do not produce any sperm. Through testing, it possible to distinguish between men whose testes are incapable of producing live sperm and those men who produce sperm but have a blockage in the sperm delivery system.

 

Blockages can be treated surgically or it is also possible to retrieve sperm from above the blockage and perform the ICSI procedure. The same technique can be used for men after vasectomy to avoid a vasectomy reversal surgery.

 

Most infertile men produce sperm, yet may not be able to cause a pregnancy through intercourse or artificial insemination. The vast majority of these men will be able to fertilize their partner's eggs with In Vitro Fertilization or other advanced reproductive treatments (Egg Donation, Gestational Surrogacy).

 

Sperm artificial insemination is not a treatment for male infertility and pregnancy probability under these circumstances is no higher than with intercourse.

 

If you have any questions regarding male fertility potential or to request an appointment, please contact us by phone at 650-322-0500, via email at care@BayIVF.com, or use the Contact Bay IVF Center form on this page.