Male Fertility
Infertility in Men: Diagnosis and Treatment Winston-Salem & Wake Forest, NC
Conception relies on the fertilization of a female egg by male sperm. However, approximately 13 out of 100 couples cannot conceive a child. There are many possible reasons for this, but about one third of the time, male factors are the cause of infertility. Problems with sperm production or sperm delivery may be due to:
Factors Affecting Male Fertility
- Low levels of hormones
- Prolonged elevated scrotal temperature (high temperature exposure which reduces sperm quality)
- Varicocele, a vein abnormality in the scrotum
- Antisperm antibodies
- Retrograde ejaculation in which sperm is redirected to the urinary bladder
- Blockage of the vas deferens, the tube that transports sperm from the testicles to the urethra
Other factors that can have an effect on sperm quality are smoking, certain medications, infection, excessive alcohol, and exposure to heavy metal toxins.
If you and your partner are having difficulty conceiving, you may want to rule out a male fertility problem by undergoing a thorough evaluation including a physical exam and semen analysis. If additional testing is necessary, it may include a hormone analysis, imaging studies to check for obstructions in the sperm passage, or a testicular biopsy, which can be performed in an outpatient setting.
Wake Forest Men’s Health has a full range of treatments to deal with male fertility issues, ranging from medications for hormonal disorders to corrective surgical procedures. For example, if varicocele is diagnosed, a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure can repair dilated scrotal veins.
Or, if you have had a previous vasectomy, surgery can be successful in reversing the obstruction in certain patients. Other types of obstructions causing infertility can also be surgically corrected.
In many cases, fertility problems can be overcome by using a combination of medications, surgical approaches, and assisted reproductive techniques.
Contact Dr. Terlecki Today for Male Fertility Tests
Dr. Ryan Terlecki directs the male fertility program at Wake Forest Baptist Health, specializing in hormonal optimization, vasectomy reversals, and sperm extraction for assisted reproduction. To learn more about our male fertility services or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Terlecki, call (336) 716-4131 or request an appointment online.
