MALE INFERTILITY: 

Etiology, Investigation, and Treatment 

The testes, vulnerable to systemic and environmental insult, play a vital role in a man's ability to father a child. Understanding this role is an important part of the complex process of evaluating and treating the growing numbers of men seeking treatment for male infertility. The number of couples affected by infertility is currently estimated to be 15% of all couples attempting to have children.
The difficulties are attributable to a significant male factor alone in 30% of couples and to a combination of male and female factors in an additional 20%. Therefore, in 50% of all infertile couples, an abnormal male factor contributes to reproductive failure. 

The primary care practitioner often is the first health care professional the patient seeks and, consequently, is responsible for the absolutely critical initial evaluation of the subfertile male. This evaluation involves a thorough history and physical examination and laboratory tests, including at least a semen analysis and hormonal evaluation. Finally, it may be appropriate to refer the couple to an infertility specialist. 

Division of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery
Scott Department of Urology
Baylor College of Medicine
Scurlock Tower
6560 Fannin Street, Suite 2100
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: (713) 798-6163
Fax: (713) 798-6007