Male Fertility
It takes two to tango. Emerging evidence has associated poor fertility outcomes in males with higher personal risk of other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease. As such there is heightened emphasis improving the health of men overall.
The Australian & New Zealand Assited Reproductive Database (ANZARD) classify male factor infertility into three main groups:
01. Spermatogenic (genetic diseases, chemotherapy, testicular damage, gonadotrophin hormone deficiency),
02. Obstruction (vasectomy or absence of vas deferens) &
03. Erectile & ejaculatory disorders.
FAQs
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Semen is analysed for three main parameters: count, progressive motility (speed) & shape. The current international standard is the 2021 World Health Organisation (WHO) sixth edition laboratory manual.
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Sperm can be frozen for future use. This may be part of fertility preservative, such as before an individual undertakes medical treatment such as chemotherapy for cancer. Another common reason for using frozen semen is from donor sperm.
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At times, sperm is not found in the ejaculate. Alternative methods of attempted sperm retrieval may involve needle aspiration, such as testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) & percutaneous epidydimal sperm aspiration (PESA). Other techniques may involve an open testicular biopsy (TESE), a micro testicular biopsy (microTESE) or sperm fine needle aspiration (FNA) mapping. We can provide access to surgical sperm retrieval as required.