Difficulty conceiving (getting pregnant) affects about 1 in 7 couples.
Couples who have spent more than 3 years trying to get pregnant with no success will find that the chances of them conceiving naturally in the following year will drop to 1 in 4, maybe even less.
If you are struggling to conceive it could be time to test your fertility just in case you have any problems. Although it may sound like it could be an expensive and complicated thing to do we assure you it is not.
What are the signs of infertility in men?
Symptoms for infertility in men can actually be quite vague. Infertility in men can often go unnoticed until they try to have a baby. The symptoms will depend on what is causing infertility.
Some symptoms can include:
- Changes in hair growth
- Changes in sexual desire
- Pain, lump, or swelling in the testicles
- Problems with erections and ejaculation
- Small, firm testicles
What are the main causes of male infertility?
Most commonly the cause of infertility for men is some sort of problem with sperm such as:
- Low sperm count, which means you have too few or no sperm in your semen.
- Your sperm don't move as well as they should, which is called low sperm motility.
- You have abnormally formed sperm.
- Your sperm ducts are blocked.
- Another common problem is a temporary drop in the amount of sperm you make. This might happen when your testicles get injured. For instance, it could be that your testicles were too hot for too long. Or it might be you were in contact with chemicals or took drugs that affect the way you make sperm.
You should also bear in mind that a man's fertility can decrease on account of smoking and drinking alcohol. Men over the age of 40 will also likely have lower fertility.
Many other things may affect a man's fertility such as:
- Age – fertility decreases with age
- Weight – Being obese or overweight (if you have a BMI of 30 or over) can reduce fertility.
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) – some STIs can affect fertility such as chlamydia.
- Smoking – Smoking can definitely affect fertility. This includes passive smoking. It can reduce semen quality and it can affect the chances of conceiving.
- Alcohol – If you are drinking too much alcohol then that can also affect the quality of sperm (the chief medical officers for the UK recommend adults should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, which should be spread evenly over 3 days or more)
- Environmental factors – Being exposed to some solvents, metals and pesticides has been shown to affect people's fertility this is especially true for men.
- Stress – If you have a lot of stress in your life not only could this affect your relationship with your partner and potentially lower your sex drive, but it could also affect sperm production and ovulation.
- No evidence proves that drinks containing caffeine such as coffee, tea and cola are connected to fertility problems.
Low sperm count can affect fertility, this makes it important to understand what factors can cause this so that you can find treatments and/or solutions for it.
There are a few things that can be part of the cause of a low sperm count such as:
- Varicocele: This is a condition in which the veins of the scrotum become enlarged, and this can lead to a decrease in sperm production. In fact, this is a common cause of male infertility and can be found in 35% of men with primary infertility and 75% of men with secondary infertility.
- Hormonal imbalances: Hormonal imbalances can cause infertility in men. Hormone imbalance alludes to things including testosterone imbalance which can affect sperm production.
- Lifestyle factors: Things like smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, diet, using drugs, being obese and many more can be lifestyle factors that can greatly affect male fertility.
- Genetic factors: There are some genetic factors that can affect fertility and you should be clear on that. One of these conditions Klinefelter syndrome is only one condition that can lead to infertility.
- Infections: Any kind of infection that affects your reproductive system can definitely affect your fertility.
- Medication: Some medications that you may be prescribed can also affect your fertility. Medications such as chemotherapy drugs can have this effect.
- Age: The quantity and quality of a man's sperm may decrease as he gets older and can contribute to problems with infertility.
What is the cost of a male fertility test?
So, how much will it cost you to test your fertility?
Well, we cannot tell you how much every at-home test is but we can tell you our prices and how we can help you at officialrapidtests.com. Our at-home test kit has an accuracy rating of 98.2% and advancements in technology are constantly helping us.
We can offer you an at-home testing kit to simplify the whole process. Simply order it online.
£14.99
The Instant Male Fertility at-home test can detect the sperm concentration in human semen within 5 minutes with 98.2% accuracy.
What comes in the box?
- Collection Cup
- Dilution Buffer
- Test Cassette
- Transfer Device
How does it work?
- Order your Instant Male Fertility Test
Fill in your details and order your test kit online with Free standard delivery.
- Take the test at home in minutes
Follow the instructions on how to perform the non-invasive swab test.
- Receive your result fast - no lab waiting times!
Save the hassle of sending your tests back to a lab.
Advantages of using a Medical Laboratory Management Software
It has become increasingly difficult for laboratories to handle the sheer volume of tests they need to do. Digital health services like Medical laboratory management software (LIMS) have more modern methods that get speedy results. This is what our at-home tests use.
LIMS is an online platform that is used by health providers to get quicker and more accurate results. This lab software is created according to the different lab's different needs. There are so many advantages to using this software such as:
- Quick Response
- Eliminate Errors
- Saves a lot of Time
- Lower Expenses
- Doesn't need repetition
- Integration
- Manage Inventory and Supplies
- Reports are directly distributed among patients
- Keep your data private
- Transparency in Billing
Can male infertility be treated?
There are most certainly ways to treat infertility so do not lose hope.
Some possible treatments for low sperm count include:
- Varicocele surgery: You could have surgery to repair a varicocele which could improve sperm quality and production.
- Hormone replacement therapy: If you have low levels of testosterone it could be suggested to you that you get hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
- Antibiotics: If you have an infection that is causing you to have a low sperm count then antibiotics could be prescribed for this and should get rid of the infection.
- Lifestyle changes: You could potentially need to treat a low sperm count with lifestyle changes. Reducing the consumption of alcohol, quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy weight are all lifestyle changes that could improve sperm count.
- Medications: There are some medications that you could be given that should stimulate the production of sperm such as clomiphene citrate or gonadotropins.
- Assisted reproductive techniques: In some cases, if other treatments have been unsuccessful, it may be recommended that you try assisted reproductive techniques. This includes donor insemination, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) amongst other techniques.
It is essential that you know that not everyone with a low sperm count can be treated. This is when assisted reproductive techniques may be used. You should know that whichever way you do it so many couples can beat male infertility to be able to start their family.
When you should see a doctor.
If you have been trying to conceive with your partner for more than a year with no signs of success it is time to test your fertility and potentially see your doctor for advice.
If you have a history of any conditions that could affect fertility like chemotherapy or testicular cancer then you will want to talk to your doctor as they will know how to best help you move forward.