In most situations, fertility evaluation begins simply with the female partner, but investigation should also include the male partner. Evaluating the male fertility factor is quite simple and entails a semen analysis. Typically, we almost always consider male factor as an evaluation of count and motility—the ‘quantitative’ factors. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that normal values for these quantitative factors as:
Concentration: > 20 million
Motility: > 40%
Volume: 1.5mL-5 mL
Often, male infertility diagnosis happens when sperm count and motility are not within normal range values. However, even if we consider sperm count and motility as “normal,” a male factor may still exist. In such cases, we recommend further evaluation of the sperm quality.
While sperm quantity is important, sperm quality measures are an even more important value. To fully understand male infertility, we need to examine the shape of the sperm, which we call morphology. A basic semen analysis plus morphology provides a comprehensive assessment which is necessary to gain a complete understanding of the issue. Therefore, a thorough examination of all aspects is essential for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.
MCRM Fertility and the Center for Male Infertility have experts who study semen samples. They aim to determine the factors that impact the likelihood of conceiving, getting pregnant, and maintaining a pregnancy. Additionally, we are able to perform, on-site, sperm DNA-fragmentation testing to further evaluate the sperm quality.
