Chapter 7 - Treatment options for male infertility

Summary

Male reproductive dysfunction is the sole or contributory cause in half of infertile couples. Some health issues are more prevalent in infertile men and must be sought and the opportunity taken to assess and improve general and sexual health. Spontaneous conception may occur in many couples with male factor subfertility. In counseling patients, the severity of the male's reproductive problem, the duration of unprotected intercourse, and its frequency and timing, and the female partner's age and reproductive status are all important variables. There is a substantial background rate of spontaneous conception in subfertile men such that about 30% of couples with sperm densities of 1-5 million/ml as the only apparent fertility issue, achieved pregnancy over a two- to three-year period. Depending on the couple's age and reproductive history, some couples are happy to delay treatment in the hope that they will conceive while others express a wish for immediate intervention.