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Make an appointment to see our SRM board-certified urologist, Dr. Dale Mcclure, at 206-301-5000 or on-line.
Impairment of any aspect of sperm function that affects its ability to fertilize an egg is called male factor infertility. Normally, sperm must travel through the female reproductive tract to reach and fertilize an egg. This requires large numbers of moving sperm that possess the biochemical capability to undergo fertilization.
How many couples are affected by Male Factor Infertility?
Approximately 30-50% of infertile couples may be affected by male factor infertility complications.
How is Male Factor Infertility diagnosed & treated?
There is no single test or treatment for male factor infertility. The most useful test is a comprehensive semen analysis to determine sperm count and motility and the presence of infection. Treatment may include medication, intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
If the sperm parameters are abnormal but not severe, IUI may be indicated. In our andrology laboratory, sperm is washed and concentrated down. An IUI is performed in which the best sperm is inserted into the woman's uterus, before she is about to ovulate. IUIs enhance a woman's ability to get pregnant in the face of a mildly abnormal sperm parameters.
If diagnosed with severe male factor infertility, IVF may be recommended in order to perform microinjection, otherwise known as ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection). This is a procedure performed in our IVF laboratory by an experienced embryologist in which single sperm is inserted into a woman's egg.
 Eggs are collected using IVF techniques and very sophisticated equipment is used to inject a single sperm into each egg to induce fertilization. In this way sperm function (or lack thereof) is bypassed entirely.
Worldwide success has been experienced with this procedure since its introduction in 1991. The recommendation for ICSI will be made by your SRM physician.
My partner has a normal semen analysis. Could he still have a fertility problem?
Yes. While a comprehensive semen analysis is a powerful tool, it does not measure the ability of sperm to actually fertilize an egg. This is extremely uncommon.
We have idiopathic infertility. Could Male Factor Infertility diagnosis and treatment help us?
Couples affected by infertility of an unknown cause may be helped by testing with the Sperm Penetration Assay (SPA). In this way, a couple's potential for success with intrauterine insemination may be measured. If IVF is used, the sperm's fertilizing ability can be examined directly and appropriate treatment selected.
However, SPA as a useful test has waned since further studies have not confirmed its validity. ICSI can be utilized in IVF cycles when there is concern regarding fertilization. Therefore, we no longer recommend a SPA be performed.
Can sperm be retrieved from the testis or epididymis and used to fertilize an egg?
Yes. This is indicated if you have severely low sperm count due to an obstructive problem or non-obstructive problem or a vasectomy. The procedure is done by our SRM qualified urologist, Dr. Dale Mcclure (link here for his profile), in consultation with your SRM physician. Such procedure is usually indicated when no sperm is detected on an ejaculated specimen.
Revised 7.17.06
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