What do male fertility tests consist of?

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When a couple has been seeking pregnancy for a year without success, there is a series of tests that can be requested by the specialist in case there are fertility problems.

The male fertility test par excellence is the sperm or sperm test, which analyzes the semen quality, although there are other additional studies, such as the hormonal test.

Next you have an index with all the points that we are going to treat in this article.

Index

What are male fertility tests and how are they done?

What tests will I do?

In order to make a diagnosis of infertility, the couple should go to a doctor who specializes in fertility. He will ask you a series of questions to make a medical history and request medical tests for both. The goal is to determine the cause of infertility and decide the best treatment.

The basic tests of a male fertility study are a physical examination to look at both the general health of the male and his sexual organs and a seminogram to assess seminal quality. If this last test is altered, a hormonal analysis is requested to determine if there is any alteration in the male sex hormones.

Basic Male Fertility Tests

If you have doubts about the results of your fertility tests or what studies you should do, do not hesitate to consult us in our forum: Male infertility questions.





Physical exploration

The first test that is done to the man is a physical examination to rule out that the problems of fertility are due to testicular or ejaculation problems.

For this, the urologist usually carries out the following studies:

  • Weight and height recording
  • Abdominal and English examination
  • Exploration of the penis and prostate
  • Evaluation of the testicle's position, volume and consistency
  • Testicular ultrasound

The objective is to rule out the existence of anatomical problems and to evaluate if the man presents difficulties to deposit the semen properly. Whenever there are no alterations in these aspects, the next test is the analysis of the ejaculate.



Semenogram the spermogram

The seminogram, also called spermiogram, consists of the study of the semen characteristics that determine the quality of the ejaculate. To be able to do this test, it is essential to have between 3 and 5 days of abstinence.

The most important seminal parameters analyzed in the seminogram are:

Movility so that the sperm can reach the egg and fertilize it have to manifest a rapid and progressive movement. Sperm count or sperm concentration refers to the amount of sperm that is in a milliliter of ejaculate or in the ejaculate completo.Morfologíalos spermatozoa with a form altered or anomalous, they will find more impediment to move, to overcome the barriers of the female reproductive tract and to fertilize the ovule.Vitalidadexiste occasions in which we find dead spermatozoids in the ejaculate, incapable of fertilizing the ovum. It is important that there is a high percentage of mobile spermatozoa.

Other aspects such as semen volume, pH or viscosity are also studied.

The World Health Organization (WHO) establishes the minimum values ??to consider normal a semen sample. Depending on the results of the seminogram, we can know if there is any pathology or if the semen is normal (normozoospermia).

If there is any alteration, we can classify the pathology that man suffers in azoospermia (absence of spermatozoa), oligospermia (low number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate), asthenozoospermia (mobility problems) or teratozoospermia (morphology problems).

If you want to know more about the study of semen, access this article: What is the seminogram and how is it done?

Remember that in our discounts section you can find the seminogram at a cheaper price in a great variety of Spanish clinics: Seminogram discounts.



Hormone test for men

In case the seminogram presents altered results, a hormonal analysis can be carried out by means of a blood extraction. This study may help determine the cause of the seminogram with some parameters outside the normal range.

The production of sperm takes place in the testicle thanks to the action of sex hormones like testosterone, FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone) or prolactin.

Therefore, altered values ??of these hormones can alter spermatogenesis and, therefore, the quantity and quality of spermatozoa.

Learn more about male hormones by clicking here: Hormonal values ??in men.



Other studies of male fertility

When a negative result is obtained in the seminogram or there is any alteration in the parameters of concentration, mobility or morphology of spermatozoa, complementary tests are usually requested, such as those listed below:



DNA Fragmentation Study

In order for sperm to fertilize the egg correctly and give rise to a healthy embryo capable of implanting in the womb, it is important that the sperm DNA is not damaged.

A high degree of DNA fragmentation of the spermatozoa can produce fertilization problems and also early failures in the development of the embryo.



Sperm culture or semen culture

If there is more than 1 million leukocytes / ml in the seminogram, a seminal or sperm culture is performed, basically consisting of a bacteriological study.

It is also requested in case of testicular pain, swelling of the testicles, blood in the sperm or any change in the color and odor of the semen.

If the result of the culture is negative, which is the usual, it means that there is no infection.



Karyotype study

It consists of analyzing the chromosomes of the man to see if there is any alteration. This study is very important and is done routinely in cases of both male and female infertility.

If the parents have a genetic or chromosomal abnormality, it is very possible that this is the cause of their problem to conceive.



Hyposmotic test

This test is performed to check if the plasma membrane of the spermatozoa works properly or if it is damaged. To do this, the spermatozoa are placed in a hypotonic (low in salts) medium, which causes an osmotic imbalance in the cells, causing it to enter the middle of the spermatozoid and swell.

If the sperm membrane is not intact and is not functional, fertilization can not occur, hence the relevance of this test.



Testicular biopsy

It is a surgical procedure in which small fragments are removed from the testicles to check for sperm production. It is performed in the absence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate, an alteration called azoospermia.

Enter this link for more information: Testicular biopsy.



User questions



How do I know if I am a fertile man?

If you have a year of having unprotected sex and do not get pregnant, or if the man wants to know if it is fertile, a male fertility study can be done.



How much do the male fertility tests cost?

A male fertility study has a price that varies between 100 and 200 ?. It will depend on the center in which it is made. If additional testing is required, an increase in cost should be foreseen.



How can you tell if a man is sterile without medical evidence? Are there any home fertility tests or do they sell at pharmacies?

It can not be known if a man is infertile or sterile without performing the relevant medical tests. It is imperative that the male go to a specialist to have a seminogram and an examination to assess their fertility.

There are some tests at the pharmacy to measure sperm concentration, but it is important to analyze other seminal parameters to give a complete diagnosis.



Where are the male fertility tests done?

In an assisted reproduction center or a hospital with reproduction unit. They should be made by an urologist-andrologist with experience in the field of fertility.



Can male fertility tests be made free at Social Security?

Yes, fertility tests can be performed on Social Security for free. To be able to do them, it is essential to comply with the requirements for access to reproduction assisted by the Spanish public health system.



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