Urology

Specialties and Specialists

Male infertility

Infertility is a challenge you probably never expected, but patience, support, and knowledge can help you deal with it. Infertility is any medical condition that impairs a couple’s ability to conceive and give birth. Most recent estimates indicate that infertility affects over 6 million American men and women, representing 10% of the population in their childbearing years. Couples should seek medical consultation if they are unable to achieve pregnancy after 1 year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. Marshfield Clinic’s Department of Urology offers comprehensive infertility services for the treatment of male infertility.

Evaluation

Marshfield Clinic urologists with specialized training in male infertility will perform a physical exam focused on, but not limited to, the reproductive system. Detection of testicular abnormalities, varicocele, or interruption of the vas tube may be key to treatment options available.

A detailed medical, personal, and marital history is taken to help determine any underlying or hereditary issues possibly contributing to the problem of male infertility. A complete semen analysis is performed to determine whether the semen or sperm are contributing to fertility problems. The process includes a computer-assisted semen analysis, which uses technology to accurately calculate the number of sperm in a sample and to evaluate sperm movement and shape. A morphology evaluation is performed to calculate the percentage of normal forms of sperm, and a membrane function test determines if the membrane of the sperm is functioning normally.

Treatment

Contrary to popular belief, medical treatment for male infertility is not necessarily “high-tech” or experimental. In fact, a majority of cases can be treated with therapies such as medication or surgery. Several treatment options are available at the Marshfield Clinic. These include varicocele repair, vasectomy reversal, TESE (Testicular Exploration with Sperm Retrieval), and cryopreservation of harvested sperm.