Advanced Care for Male Infertility in Pennsylvania
Discover your path to parenthood with Main Line Fertility, the leading fertility clinic for comprehensive male infertility care in the Greater Philadelphia region. Our team of highly-skilled fertility experts combines the most cutting-edge techniques and treatments with a warm and supportive approach to male fertility.
Understanding Male Infertility
Male infertility is defined as the inability to impregnate a female partner, typically due to factors related to the male reproductive system. Although infertility is often mistakenly thought to be a female issue, approximately 50% of all infertility cases are partially attributed to male factor infertility; in about 20% of infertility cases, male factor infertility is the sole cause. Male infertility is often caused by problems with sperm production, sperm motility, structural abnormalities of the reproductive system, and other factors.
Causes of Male Infertility
The most common causes of male infertility pertain to problems with sperm. Although semen parameters can vary from person to person, a normal semen sample typically consists of the following characteristics:
- Volume: >1.5 mL
- Concentration: 15 million spermatozoa/mL
- Total Sperm Number: 39 million per ejaculate
- Morphology: 4% normal forms
- Vitality: 58% live sperm in sample
- Progressive motility: 32%
- Total motility: 40%
Individuals who have a low sperm count, poor sperm motility, and/or a significant percentage of abnormal sperm morphology are more likely to experience difficulties when trying to conceive. Sperm issues can be caused by a wide variety of factors, including production issues, genetic factors, hormonal imbalances, testicular infections, varicoceles (i.e., enlarged veins in the testicles), or other medical conditions.
Outside of sperm production, there are several other factors to consider when it comes to male infertility, including lifestyle factors (e.g., smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, obesity, etc.), environmental factors (e.g., exposure to heat, toxins, etc.), certain medications (e.g., chemotherapy medications, steroids, etc.), and erectile dysfunction.
Diagnosis of Male Infertility
The main test for male infertility is a semen analysis, which is a test designed to evaluate the characteristics, quality, and quantity of a semen sample.
To prepare for semen analysis, patients must abstain from ejaculation for two to five days to ensure they produce a quality semen sample. The semen sample is provided by the patient, typically through masturbation or by using a special condom during intercourse. In most cases, patients produce the semen sample themselves in a private room at the fertility testing site; if producing the semen sample at home, it’s crucial that the semen be brought to the fertility clinic within one hour of production. The sample is then evaluated by an andrologist and the patient’s physician to assess sperm count, motility, morphology, and other factors.
Get Advanced Care for Male Infertility in Pennsylvania
At Main Line Fertility, we use the most cutting-edge technologies to create personalized care plans for every patient that walks through our fertility clinic doors, including those seeking help for male infertility. We understand the emotional impacts that infertility can have on individuals and couples who wish to become parents and offer a wide range of diagnostic and treatment modalities to address all types of infertility. With six convenient locations throughout the Greater Philadelphia area, you’re never far from the world-class fertility care you need to take your first step to parenthood.