Male Fertility Test
The man also needs to undergo some basic tests to detect any infertility problems. Male fertility test is different from female fertility test. Your doctor will take a sample of your blood, urine and semen to analyze your infertility problems.
1. Male Fertility Test Kit
You can find some male fertility test kits in the market to test your sperm count at home. However, these test kits have limitation. It is advisable to consult your doctor for further evaluation once you have the result. One home test kit you can use to test for low sperm count is Pre Conceive Plus Home Test Kit.
2. Blood Tests
A blood sample is taken to test your testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone and prolactin levels to detect any disorders. The blood sample is also used to detect infectious diseases like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis and syphilis and some viruses and bacteria that can lead to infertility.
2. Urine Analysis
Urine sample will be taken to check for presence of bacteria, white blood cells and sperm. White blood cells indicate infection within the urinary tract or prostate gland. A high concentration of sperm in the urine may indicate retrograde ejaculation, where sperm go backward into the bladder.
3. Semen Analysis
You have to refrain from sexual activity for at least three days before you collect your semen sample by performing masturbation. The semen sample is analyzed in a laboratory under a microscope.
Volume
The normal volume of semen should be 1.5 to 6 ml per ejaculation. Actual volume of semen does not necessarily co-relate with the number of sperm. Higher or lower may indicate low testosterone level or infection. Zero sperm in the semen may be due to retrograde ejaculation, where the sperm go backward into the bladder.
Thickness
Normal semen has a thick consistency at the time of ejaculation. It normally becomes liquid within 20 to 30 minutes after ejaculation. The test measures the time for the semen sample to liquefy. If it takes longer than 60 minutes, it may indicate infection or other problems.
Quantity
The normal quantity of sperm is about 20 – 15 million sperm per milliliter or 60 million per ejaculation. The quantity of sperm may be affected by many factors including flu, extreme stress and some medical condition.
Shape
If at least 60 percent of the sperm has normal shape, it’s a good sign of fertility. It is normal to have some sperm that are abnormally shaped. Abnormally shaped sperm usually cannot penetrate the egg.
Motility
Sperm with good motility can move through the female reproductive tract at the rate of two inches per hour. It is normal to have 50 percent of the sperm move forward through the cervical mucus to the egg. If a high percentage of the sperm has low motility, there may be infertility problems.
4. Antisperm Antibody (ASA)
A man may develop antisperm antibody that reacts against his own sperm. Antisperm antibody can be detected using semen sample. This condition adversely affects the sperm’s motility and ability to penetrate the egg.
5. Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE)
Your doctor may recommend testicular biopsy if no abnormality is found but the male is not producing sperm. A piece of tissue is surgically removed from the testicle under local anaesthesia and the sperm are extracted from the tissue for evaluation.
6. Hamster Egg Penetration
Hamster eggs are used to test the sperm’s ability to penetrate the egg. The outer coating of the hamster egg is removed. The outer covering prevents other animals from fertilizing the hamster egg. If the sperm can penetrate the hamster egg, they can generally also penetrate a woman’s egg.
7. Vasogram
Your doctor may recommend vasogram if he suspects a blockage along your reproductive duct. A small incision is cut into your scrotum to expose your vas deferens. A dye is then injected into your vas deferens and x-rays are taken. Vasogram can detect the exact location of the blockage so that corrective surgery can be done.
8 Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay
Research has shown that some sperm with abnormal DNA is not able to fertilize the egg. Damaged DNA can be found in the sperm of both fertile and infertile men. Causes of damaged DNA may be cancer treatments or variocele (a group of dilated veins in the scrotum). This condition can be treated with medication or surgery.
The male fertility test allows your doctor to determine the cause of your infertility problem so that appropriate treatment can be carried out.
