When trying to get pregnant, many different factors can affect the likelihood that you and your female partner will get pregnant. Your medical history, sperm concentration, and lifestyle can all affect how easy it will be for you to conceive.
If you think that you might be struggling with male infertility and aren't sure, conducting a few simple fertility tests can help you understand what's going on. By speaking to your health care provider, you can see what's really causing the delay in conception.
This guide to male fertility testing will help guide you through what you need to know about male infertility and tests to see what's going on with your body. Let's take a look at what to know about male infertility tests.
What Is Male Infertility?
Male infertility is classified as any health issue that affects a man's ability to get a woman pregnant. Contrary to popular belief, this is a pretty common issue. In fact, 13% of couples are unable to get pregnant with unprotected sex.
Male infertility is just as common as female infertility. Luckily, with a simple blood test and some semen samples, most male infertility issues can be easily solved.
Risk factors for Male Infertility
While anyone can struggle with infertility issues, several factors can make a man more or less likely to be able to naturally conceive children. A few of the more common risk factors for male infertility include:
- Drinking alcohol
- Smoking tobacco or illicit drugs
- Having past or present STDs and other infections
- Toxin exposure
- Excessive weight
- Overheating of the testicles
- Trauma or injury to the testicles
All of these risk factors can impact how easy it will be for a man to get pregnant. If you have any of these risk factors, getting a sperm analysis or lab work done can help you figure out what's really going on.
Causes of Male Infertility
There are many different reasons why men may not have optimal sperm production. Health problems could stop sperm cells from growing or could prevent men from producing a high enough sperm concentration.
Here are a few of the more common causes of male infertility that you should be aware of:
- Retrograde ejaculation
- Lowered sperm count
- Obstructions in the reproductive tract
- Sperm disorders
- Medicines
- Hormones
- Varicoceles
- Blockage in the vans deferens
These are only a few of the many reasons why a man may not be able to get a woman pregnant. To fully understand the reason, a physical exam and lab testing are required to see what's going on.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Male Infertility?
Certain physical signs and symptoms can indicate that you have male infertility. Keeping an eye out for these issues can help you identify early on if it will be difficult for you to get pregnant.
A few common signs and symptoms of male infertility include:
- Ejaculation issues
- Lumps, pain, or swelling on the testicles
- Respiratory infections
- Loss of smell
- Gynecomastia
- Decreased body hair
- Chromosomal abnormalities
- Low sperm count
Remember, just because you have one of these symptoms doesn't mean that you are necessarily infertile. You will need to get the proper tests done to truly find out whether or not you can have kids naturally.
How Is Male Infertility Diagnosed?
If you suspect that you have male infertility, there are a few lab tests that you can take. The process of diagnosing male infertility requires several steps.
To start, you'll undergo a physical exam in which you'll go over your medical history. From there, you'll typically undergo several genetic tests as well to see what else might be affecting your fertility.
Next, you'll need to take several lab tests. These tests typically include hormonal tests, a semen evaluation, and a urinalysis. With this information, most doctors can tell if you have an infertility issue.
However, if the doctor can't provide you with a clear diagnosis, he or she may require additional testing. Additional tests include:
- Testicular biopsy
- Ultrasound
- Sperm penetration assay
- Anti-sperm antibodies test
- Semen leukocyte analysis
- Seminal fructose test
- Post ejaculate urinalysis
- Kruger and WHO Morphology
- Vasography
Each of these tests will tell the doctor something different about your body and what might be going on. Once you've had all the necessary tests conducted, your doctor should be able to tell you whether or not you have an infertility issue.
Benefits of Male Infertility Lab Testing with Ulta Lab Tests
Ulta Lab Tests offers highly accurate and reliable tests so that you can make informed decisions about your health. Here are a few great things to love about Ulta Lab Tests:
- You'll get secure and confidential results
- You don't need health insurance
- You don't need a physician's referral
- You'll get affordable pricing
- We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee
With all those benefits, getting a fertility test for men done at Ulta Labs can be a great way to help you combat male infertility and start getting pregnant. And, it's a great way to avoid Vitro fertilization and other expensive pregnancy methods if you don't need it!
Get Started With Male Infertility Tests
Running male infertility tests can be a great way to help you conceive faster and see what's going on behind the scenes. And, it's a way to help rule out other health issues and keep you and your partner safe.
If you're ready to get started with male infertility tests, you're in the right place. Order your hormone lab tests today, and your results will be provided to you securely and confidentially online in 24 to 48 hours for most tests. Take control with Ulta Lab Tests today!
