| Updated: 4/11/2007 4:48 pm |
Published: 4/11/2007 4:48 pm |
There are several services available for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. The first step in diagnosing male infertility problems is semen analysis. To conceive, a man must be able to produce a certain number of healthy, moving sperm. The sperm must then be able to pass through the male reproductive tract without obstruction. The semen analysis measures a specific specimen for sperm count, movement, and percentage of normal shapes. There are many factors that can contribute to abnormal sperm counts, with fatigue and stress being two of the most common. A second test, the postcoital (post-COY-tal) test, is an analysis of the sperm-cervical mucus interaction after intercourse. This test can spotlight problems such as infectious processes, poor ejaculation, or abnormal mucus. Based on the test results, treatment recommendations can be made to increase the chance for fertilization.
