infertility

Sometimes, regardless of how hard they try, a couple just doesn’t get pregnant.  The woman may be recording her basal body temp and every other possible fertility sign, having sex on the appropriate days, and yet - nothing.  Sometimes, it’s just not an issue on the female side.

When there is no apparent problem with the female cycle, many physicians will request a semen sample so that the male factor can be examined.  Although the specimen will have to be examined in the lab, sometimes the sample can be produced at home and transported to the lab.  If you live more than 30 minutes away from the laboratory, though, this may not be possible.  Your physician will give you instructions regarding when and where to take the sample.  Most doctors will agree that it is best to abstain from intercourse (or any sexual activity) for three to five days before the test.

Azoospermia is a condition in which there are no sperm cells seen during the testing procedure.  This is a severe male factor issue, and further testing will be required.  Oligospermia is a condition which is often referred to as “low count”. There are insufficient sperm cells to likely produce a pregnancy.  This condition is confusing to many couples because, after all, it only takes one!  A low count isn’t the end of the world, and it can be overcome in most situations.  There are many reasons why a man may have a report of a low count.  For example, if all of the ejaculate wasn’t in the container, the ratio of sperm to liquid will be altered.  In addition, if the specimen wasn’t tested within the necessary time frame, counts and motility will suffer greatly.

If a semen analysis result comes back less than glowing, don’t worry.  Most doctors will ask that the test be repeated in a month or so just to double check the results.  In the world of fertility testing, one bad test doesn’t signal the end of the journey.  Repeated testing is needed to verify the results.  There are many holistic approaches to dealing with semen issues.  In a future blog, I will detail some of these possibilities.

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