"With infertility...in my practice, about a third of my patients come in and there is a discernible female factor. In a third of my practice, there is a discernible male factor. And the remaining third, there is neither male nor female factor found."
– Dr Ying Li
Table of Contents
What can be done about male infertility?
In many cases where male infertility is diagnosed, there are no obvious signs of a problem. Usually, you’ll be able to have sex, maintain erections and ejaculate without difficulty — and the quantity and appearance of your ejaculated semen can appear normal. So it’s always advisable to get tested.
The good news is that — even if there is a problem — many sperm conditions affecting fertility are preventable or reversible.
Because the lifecycle of sperm (the time taken for new sperm to fully mature) is 74-76 days, in a little over two months, with clean living, you can produce healthier and better-quality sperm.
Is my weight a factor?
Being overweight can hinder natural conception and reduce the success rates of fertility treatments like IVF. Obesity can decrease sperm count by up to 50% due to hormonal changes, including a decrease in testosterone levels and an increase in oestrogen production from fat tissue.
This hormonal imbalance reduces the production of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), leading to a decrease in sperm production. Additionally, increased body fat in men can raise testicular temperature, further affecting sperm production and function.
Male obesity is also linked to sperm DNA damage, known as sperm DNA fragmentation, which negatively impacts both natural conception and conception with IVF treatment, and increases the risk of miscarriage.
Fortunately, weight loss can improve fertility by restoring hormonal balance and enhancing sperm quality, leading to increased chances of conception and reduced risk of complications during pregnancy.
Consulting Rooms
- Level 3, 321 Kent St
Sydney NSW 2000 - 137 St Johns Rd,
Glebe, NSW 2037 - Suite 707, 31 Dora St
Hurstville NSW 2220
Phone and Fax
T: 1300 323 297
F: 02 8212 8944
What male fertility tests are available?
Testing for men is a straightforward process, with a basic analysis of your semen to test its overall appearance, and its acidity/alkalinity — determining three factors:
- Sperm count – the number of sperm per ml of ejaculate
- Sperm motility – the sperm’s ability to swim
- Sperm morphology – the shape and size of the sperm
There are a number of different non-invasive tests to determine the viability of your sperm:
Our Fertility Tests
Sperm Chromatin Integrity Test (SCIT)
High levels of sperm DNA fragmentation in sperm can be a factor in miscarriage and male infertility — so we can test for that.
Retrograde ejaculation evaluation
Here, we determine whether ejaculation is in fact retrograde, and if your sperm can be successfully isolated from the urine for an assisted conception procedure.
Post-vasectomy check
If you’ve had a vasectomy, we can test for the presence of sperm in your ejaculate as part of your routine follow up post-surgery, to verify the success of the procedure.
Semen microbiology
This test detects bacterial infections of the urinary tract that might affect sperm function.
Antisperm antibodies
Tests can also be performed on the semen or the blood of either partner to detect the presence of antisperm antibodies.
Genetic tests
For men with severely depressed sperm counts, we can run a genetic test for the likelihood of you passing the condition on to your children.