Infertility Overview

There’s no need to panic. Testing is simple and nearly all male infertility issues can be addressed.

10-15% of couples struggle with getting pregnant. Women are often the first to seek answers, but infertility isn’t just a women’s issue. Both partners should get checked before any treatment plan is pursued—because 30% of the time, infertility is due to the male partner alone, and 20% of the time, both the male and female have contributing factors.

Examining and treating only half of the equation is less likely to work, and can instead cause more lost time, stress and heartache.

Dr. Matson can help you and your partner see the whole picture and determine the best path forward.

Many couples find infertility problems upsetting, but Dr. Matson meets each patient and couple with compassion. He will educate and guide you on what can be done, and encourage you to be brave enough to face any issues and support each other In this journey.

Your first appointment with Dr. Matson will include a medical and reproductive history and physical exam. It’s common to then have at least two semen analyses done, in addition to some basic lab tests. (Yes, you can “collect” your semen at home. And yes, your partner can help.)

The evaluation may find nothing, or in a few visits, Dr. Matson can identify any male infertility factors and advise on what can be done to address them.

Male infertility issues can be divided into a few important categories.

Most men will be found to have sperm, but there may be a low count (oligospermia), low motility (asthenospermia), or abnormal morphology / shape and appearance (teratospermia), or sometimes, a combination of these factors. Depending on the results, Dr. Matson may order blood work to evaluate further or provide recommendations to improve the situation.

If the man has no sperm seen on the semen test, it is called “azoospermia”. These cases are worked up to see if there is a sperm blockage (Obstructive Azoospermia) or whether the body is not making sperm (Non-Obstructive Azoospermia – NOA). In the case of a blockage, Dr. Matson will evaluate why and where there is a blockage. If it seems there is no sperm production, further tests will evaluate hormone levels and genetic problems that can cause a lack of sufficient sperm production.

Treatment for male infertility can range from health and lifestyle adjustments, to hormones, to surgery to unblock the flow of sperm or extract them for IVF.

> Our FAQs provide more information about common causes and treatments for male infertility.

What, if any, treatment you need won't be clear until you start the process though. Remember, you and your partner are in this together–and if you know what the problem is, chances are, you can do something about it and achieve your goal of becoming parents.

Start the conversation. Request a consultation.