Male infertility - the other side of the equation

• Published in: Australian family physician Vol. 46; no. 9; pp. 641 - 646
• Main Authors: Katz, Darren J, Teloken, Patrick, Shoshany, Ohad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Copyright Agency Limited (Distributor) 01-09-2017
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Analysis; Androgens; Congenital diseases; Diagnosis; Endocrine System Diseases - complications; Evaluation; General Practice - trends; Humans; Infertility; Infertility, Male; Infertility, Male - diagnosis; Infertility, Male - etiology; Infertility, Male - physiopathology; Laboratories; Life expectancy; Lifestyles; Male; Male reproductive health; Men; Mens health; Middle Aged; Patients; Physical Examination - methods; Physicians; Pregnancy; Semen; Semen Analysis - methods; Sperm; Spermatogenesis; Testosterone; Trauma; Treatment; Urology; Australia
• ISSN: 0300-8495; 2208-7958

Background: A male factor contributes to infertility in approximately 50% of couples who fail to conceive, causing significant psychosocial and marital stress.
Objective: This article reviews the general practitioner's (GP's) evaluation of male infertility and indications for referral to a male infertility specialist, and gives an overview of the specialist management of male infertility.
Discussion: Male infertility can result from anatomical or genetic abnormalities, systemic or neurological diseases, infections, trauma, iatrogenic injury, gonadotoxins and development of sperm antibodies. When a couple fails to achieve pregnancy after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse, a screening evaluation of both partners is essential. For the male partner this includes history, physical examination, endocrine assessment and semen analysis. Several lifestyle and environmental factors can have a negative impact on male fertility, and the GP has a pivotal role in educating patients about modifiable factors.