Previously infertility was generally thought of as the fault of the woman, but nowadays researchers are discovering that men and women are equally liable when it comes to struggling with infertility. While your lady will need to go through some testing to find out precisely where the problem lies, you will have to have a male infertility test to see what part you have to play. In actual fact this ‘test’ includes a number of tests and the structure of your personal male infertility test will depend on the exact details of your infertility.

Your doctor will want to review your complete medical history – any childhood diseases, any operations , any STDs, any medication – be ready to lay it all out! You doctor must be fully clued-up to reach an accurate diagnosis so be thorough. Many lifestyle factors might affect your fertility, including alcohol, caffeine, smoking, recreational drugs. The doctor will also want a record of your complete sexual history: when you reached puberty, your first sexual encounters, any STDs, the number of sexual partners, any high risk sexual behaviors – all of these are significant. Even though you are timid about talking about past STDs or similar things you don’t want to waste money and time having blood tests for the doctor to figure it out anyway. The doctors are there to help, not to criticize.

Visible abnormalities such as variococeles (enlarged veins on the scrotum) or undescended testes can be discovered through a full physical examination. The physical exam may also assist the doctor to diagnose any hormonal irregularities.

The most essential male infertility test is the semen analysis. You could need up to three tests to ensure that results are accurate. You will need to do your thing in a cup – either at the doctor’s rooms, or at home as long as you can deliver the sample to the laboratory quickly. You may be advised not to ejaculate for a few days before to get a more reliable sperm count.

Various characteristics will be tested:

· [Quantity|How much|Total volume]? – Around a teaspoon of semen is adequate for successful fertilization.

· Movement of sperm – Are the sperm moving well? Crawl, backstroke, it makes no difference – are they strong?

· Sperm count – How many spermies are there in all? The testers will separate a small sample of the semen and check how many spermies are present and then estimate the number for the full amount of semen. About 40 million spermies for each ejaculation is usual.

· Sperm quality – Undeveleoped or malformed sperm may not be able to get through the hard layer of the egg, if they even make it to the egg to begin with.

· pH levels – Slightly acidic semen is most helpful to sperm.

· Semen – The semen has to be just the right consistency for the sperm cells to be able to swim effectively.

Depending on the outcomes of these tests you might require extra testing. This might include:

· Blood testing – to monitor general health and hormone concentrations.

· Testicle tissue test – to look for healthy sperm manufacturing cells.

· Scans to check for obstructed ducts or enlarged veins.

· A sperm penetration assay to check that the sperm can penetrate an egg by testing them out on a hamster egg or a dead human egg. There is no possibility of obtaining a living embryo from these trials.

· Sometimes men’s or women’s bodies make anti-sperm antibodies so this possibility must be ruled out.

· Genetic testing could also identify irregularities with sperm.

· A post-coital test. Strictly speaking this is a joint test because both the man and the woman are tested. This test is usually performed the day after sex, which obviously occurs during ovulation. This is to verify how many sperm actually get to the cervical opening and how healthy they are.

Don’t let arrogance get in the way of a male infertility test. You may save yourself and your partner much discomfort and pain!

Here is more information on Signs of Infertility. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Infertility.