Male Fertility Testing
Testing for male infertility is simple and routine. Male infertility is related to approximately 50% of all infertility cases, and male infertility alone accounts for approximately one-third of all cases. When a couple has not been able to conceive over the course of one year, both need to go through a comprehensive physical and medical history.
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What types of tests are performed?
A semen analysis is the most common testing procedure for determining if there is a male infertility factor. Sperm is collected into a specimen jar and presented to a lab technician who examines the sperm under a microscope to evaluate the count, shape, appearance, and mobility.
When assessing sperm count, the technician will be checking to see whether the sperm concentration is above or below 20 million sperm cells per milliliter of ejaculation fluid.
If the sperm count is low, your fertility specialist will probably test the blood testosterone, FSH, LH and prolactin levels.
A urinalysis may be used to look for white blood cells which may indicate an infection. The urinalysis will also determine if there is sperm in the urine, which would suggest that there is a problem with ejaculation known as retrograde ejaculation.
If the medical history, physical examination, and semen analysis are normal, attention should be directed to the female partner before further evaluation of the man.
Further male factor evaluation is unlikely to occur, but is sometimes needed. If so, additional laboratory and sperm analysis tests may be used. Here is a list of tests and a brief description of what each is examining:
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Sperm agglutination: This is a laboratory test which examines sperm under a microscope to determine whether the sperm are clumping together. Clumping prevents sperm from swimming through the cervical mucus.
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Sperm penetration assay: This is a laboratory test which uses hamster eggs to evaluate a sperms capability of penetrating the egg. This test is rarely used any more.
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Hemizona assay: This is a laboratory test that involves cutting a non-usable human egg in half. The purpose is to see if the sperm can penetrate the outermost protective layer of the egg.
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Acrosome reaction: This is a laboratory test which assesses whether sperm heads can go through the chemical changes necessary to dissolve an egg’s tough outer shell.
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Hypo-osmotic swelling: This is a laboratory test that uses a special sugar and salt solution to evaluate the sperm’s tail and ability to penetrate the egg. The tails of healthy sperm tend to swell in this solution whereas dead or abnormal sperm do not swell.
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Testicular biopsy: A small piece of tissue is removed from the tubules in the testes and examined to determine how well sperm are being produced.
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Vasography: An x-ray exam is used to determine if there is blockage or leakage of sperm in the vas deferens.
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Ultrasonography: This is an exam used to locate damage or blockages in the male reproductive tract, including the prostate, seminal vesicles, and ejaculatory ducts.
For further information about these testing procedures, consult with your fertility specialist.
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