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Assessment of Male Infertility
Male infertility is present in up to 50% of childless couples. Consequently, it is essential that the male partner receives a complete history and physical examination. When a couple seeks infertility treatment, semen analysis remains the cornerstone in the evaluation of a man's infertility. If needed, a more extended evaluation should be explored, including urological and endocrinological interventions. At the Jones Institute at West Penn Allegheny Health System, the male partner is evaluated at the same time as the female's infertility diagnosis, so as not to lose time during treatment. Any evaluation(s), diagnosis or treatment will be provided by physicians, staff or independent contractors of The Western Pennsylvania Hospital or Allegheny General Hospital.
Our unique clinical team allows reproductive endocrinologists and urologists to combine their efforts to diagnose and treat sperm disorders. In addition, Allegheny General Hospital possesses the most qualified andrology laboratory in the area, with a team that maintains national standards and state-of-the-art equipment, allowing for a comprehensive semen evaluation. Continuous treatment performed by a team of doctors, nurse practitioners, and laboratory personnel are offered to couples.
There are many different types of therapies to help men experiencing infertility. Extensive therapeutic options are currently available for male disorders. However, if initial simple therapies have failed, or if the sperm disorders are of moderate to severe intensity, then the couple is offered either intrauterine insemination therapy (IUI) or advanced reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intractoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Intrauterine inseminations (IUI) using the partner's sperm can be performed in couples suffering from male infertility if the sperm disorders are mild or moderate. Advanced techniques, including in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) - which has revolutionized the treatment of male infertility - are much more efficient for advanced male infertility.
Today, we can effectively treat any type of sperm disorder, including very low sperm count, motility, or morphology, and the presence of antisperm antibodies. Additionally, treatments are available for men without any sperm in their ejaculate (azoospermia). In this case, sperm can usually be retrieved from the testes or epididymis through simple outpatient surgical procedures, combined with ICSI.
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