Male Infertility

If you and your partner are having problems conceiving after at least one year of unprotected intercourse, you and/or your partner may be considered infertile. Pregnancy success rates depend on many different factors, some relating to male infertility, others to female infertility, and in certain cases, a combination thereof. In men, there are a variety of conditions that can temporarily or permanently affect sperm and prevent conception. If you are facing male fertility problems, the Urologists at Academic Urology & Urogynecology of Arizona can help alleviate your concerns and provide you with advanced treatment options.

Causes for Male Infertility Include, but are not Limited to:

• Hypospadias, which is when the opening of the urethra is on the underside of the penis instead of at the tip.
• Varicocele, which is a mass of enlarged and dilated veins that develops in the spermatic cord within the scrotal sac.
• Hydrocele, which is a fluid-filled sac surrounding a testicle that results in swelling of the scrotum, the loose bag of skin underneath the penis.
• Defect or Obstruction in the Reproductive System
• Limited Sperm Production

If you suspect you may be infertile, contact Academic Urology & Urogynecology of Arizona to schedule a consult to speak with one of our Urologists. At your initial urological visit, we will conduct a thorough medical history, physical examination, and a semen analysis. You will be asked to abstain from ejaculation for approximately 72 hours prior to the urological visit. On the day of the visit, you will be asked to provide a semen sample so that we may analyze it for volume (amount) of ejaculate, sperm density (count), percent motility (the percent of sperm moving), and speed (forward progression).

During the physical examination, we will check your testicles and prostate gland for any abnormalities. To determine an accurate diagnosis, other tests may be performed to gauge the sperm’s ability to swim through cervical mucus and bind to and penetrate an egg.

Academic Urology & Urogynecology of Arizona offers three categories of treatment options for male infertility: assisted reproduction, drug therapy, and surgery. For men who have problems with limited sperm production, we may prescribe medications in the form of an antiestrogen agent to stimulate the male hormone release, leading to testosterone production. Men who have previously undergone a vasectomy and want to restore their fertility may be good candidates for a vasectomy reversal to re-connect the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles into the semen.