Male Fertility Testing

Knowledge is power - understand your reproductive health with comprehensive male fertility testing at my Sydney fertility clinic.

You may want to consider tests for male fertility if you and your partner have been trying for a while to conceive without success. Though there is still some social stigma surrounding male infertility that needs to be overcome, seeking an expert opinion early can provide a diagnosis and pave the way for effective treatment, saving you and your partner from ongoing disappointment.

Semen analysis for male fertility testing

Semen is a combination of the fluid and sperm from the testicles. The semen sample you provide is sent to a laboratory for assessment of various parameters, including the volume of fluid, sperm count, and sperm quality. This test can identify various issues, including low sperm concentration, abnormal sperm shape (morphology), or poor sperm movement (motility). There are also advanced semen tests that may be necessary, which includes assessment of DNA fragmentation.

Imaging scans

Ultrasound or MRI may be required if there is a suspicion of a problem in the genital region.

Hormone testing

Your hormone profile helps to give us a bigger picture of any potential problems contributing to your fertility concerns, and what treatment can be considered.

Anti-sperm antibody testing

Antibodies are produced by your immune system. Although they are designed to protect against disease-causing microbes, trauma and injury or other conditions of the testes can result in antibodies being created that target your own sperm. Diagnosing the presence of anti-sperm antibodies will guide our treatment decisions.

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FAQs

  • Don’t worry if you’re unable to produce a sample on the day for the semen analysis. We can organise for you to do a home collection instead, but you need to get it to a lab as soon as possible. The lab will give you instructions on how to collect and store your sample properly.

  • Sperm turn over about every 2.5 months. This means benefits from the lifestyle changes you make now will only be seen in the quality of your sperm a few months later. You can improve your sperm quality by addressing any medical problems such as sleep apnoea, and avoiding toxins and hazards such as smoking, drugs, excessive alcohol, hot tubs, and testosterone supplements. Protective dietary factors such as antioxidants (green leafy vegetables, berries, green tea, dark chocolate) can also help to improve sperm health.

  • Yes! You are continually producing new sperm even into your older years, so if we can fix the underlying problem, your sperm parameters will improve and your fertility returns to normal. If we aren’t able to treat the underlying issue, we can still consider IVF, which is able to overcome many forms of male infertility, including sperm problems.

  • Having no sperm in your ejaculate is a condition known as azoospermia. Depending on the underlying cause, it may still be possible to father a child. If you are still producing sperm (and they’re just not being released through ejaculation), they can be extracted directly from your testicles through a minor surgical procedure known as testicular sperm extraction or testicular sperm aspiration. We then use this sperm sample for assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF.