Urologist
Approximately 15% of couples trying to conceive—about one in seven married couples—are unable to have children despite having unprotected intercourse for at least one year. Among these couples, one-third have problems solely on the male side, while one-fifth have issues in both the male and female partners.
Is infertility a common condition?
What diagnostic steps are taken for men who cannot conceive?
The first test that should be performed after examination for male infertility is a semen analysis (spermogram).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines published in 2019, men with results above the reference values are considered normal. However, even couples with normal values may experience unexplained infertility.
Men with sperm parameters below these reference values are not definitively infertile, but their chances of fathering a child naturally are reduced. The only cases where natural conception is deemed impossible are men with azoospermia (no sperm in the ejaculate) as identified through a semen analysis (spermiogram).
It’s important to note that men with suboptimal sperm parameters may still have options, such as assisted reproductive techniques (e.g., IVF or ICSI).
What male-related conditions cause infertility in couples?
Male-related problems are found in one-third of infertile couples. The most common cause of male infertility is varicocele disease.