Male Infertility Overview

Contrary to popular belief, infertility affects men and women equally; in about 40 percent of cases, the disorder is discovered in the woman, while in another 40 percent, it is found in the male partner. In 20 percent of cases, there are combinations of problems between both parties. An infertility case that can be attributed to the male partner is called “male factor infertility.”

For the benefit and convenience of our patients, Abington Reproductive Medicine is closely associated with Steven J. Hirshberg, M.D., who serves as director of Male Infertility Services at Abington Memorial Hospital’s Toll Center for Reproductive Sciences. Dr. Hirshberg, the only fellowship-trained reproductive urologist in the Delaware Valley, is one of the region’s foremost experts in diagnosing and treating cases of male factor infertility.

What causes male factor infertility?
Azoospermia (complete absence of sperm) and oligospermia (few sperm cells produced) are two of the most common causes of male factor infertility. Other causes include malformed sperm cells or sperm cells that die before they reach the egg. In rare cases, male factor infertility can be attributed to a genetic disease or chromosomal abnormality.

How is it diagnosed?
After taking a careful history and physical exam, we perform a semen analysis on a masturbated specimen provided by the male partner. The specimen is evaluated by a Computer-Aided Semen Analyzer (CASA), a state-of-the-art machine that tests a patient’s sperm volume, count, motility (the percentage of sperm moving), morphology (the shape of the sperm) and forward progression. The machine also can detect the presence of bacteria and calculate a patient’s white blood cell count.

When indicated, we also may test for sperm penetration, sperm-egg membrane binding and antisperm antibodies in both the male and female. A postcoital test, which measures the progress of the sperm in the female’s cervical mucus, may be ordered as well.

How is it treated?
Treatment will depend on the nature and cause of the patient’s infertility issue and is often based on his age, overall health, medical history, medication tolerance and personal preferences. Some of the more common treatment options include