Of the 15% of couples having difficulty conceiving, almost half have a male factor as the sole or contributing cause. It is currently recognized that the quality as well as the quantity of sperm greatly influences reproductive outcomes. It was once thought that assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and more so, [...]
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The semen analysis is the cornerstone of testing for male infertility problems. This test provides important information about the quality and quantity of the sperm. The semen sample is analyzed for volume, viscosity (thickness), pH and color of the ejaculate, sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and forward progression of the sperm. The sample is also examined [...]
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Varicocele is a dilation (enlargement) of the internal spermatic veins that drain the testicle (picture below). It is a similar condition to varicose veins that people get in their legs. It is a very common condition present in 15% of the general male population and 40% of men evaluated for infertility. A varicocele develops because [...]
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Until several years ago the belief among most reproductive specialists (including myself) was that if a man had live sperm then they were suitable for use with IVF / ICSI and if the female partner didn’t get pregnant or a miscarriage ensued then it was probably an egg quality issue. Several studies had implied that [...]
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What has become clear over the last several years is that our ability to treat men with severe male factor infertility has far surpassed our understanding of its causes. Over 20% of male cases were considered idiopathic i.e. “we don’t know why”. Recent advances and interest in molecular biology, genetics and technology have enabled scientists [...]
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Sperm aspiration refers to the group of procedures used to obtain viable sperm from the male reproductive tract. The collected sperm are intended specifically for use with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). A frequently asked question is can the sperm…READ MORE
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A new surgical technique has been developed to detect sperm in the testicles of men who have poor sperm production (non-obstructive azoospermia). Prior to the era of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), these men were considered sterile. With ICSI, the requirements for sperm have been reduced to 1 live sperm per egg. Many men who have [...]
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