Get Started

Good Morning America’s online wellness article features SGF Medical Director, Dr. Eric Widra who talks about getting pregnant using fertility apps and whether more technology is really helpful for women who are trying to conceive (TTC).

New fertility technology such as fertility bracelets, in-ear sensors, vaginal sensors, and more than 100 fertility apps are now on the market targeted to women trying to conceive. These tools are intended to help women know their most fertile window to maximize their chances of conceiving and are continuing to grow in popularity.

1 in 8 couples have trouble conceiving and about “12 percent of U.S. women from the ages of 15 to 44 have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The question is – are fertility apps and other fertility gadgets really helpful for women TTC? 

Dr. Eric Widra says, “It is good to empower women but there may be a line that gets crossed into taking advantage of their anxieties. We also don’t want women to feel disadvantaged if they don’t have access to these tools, or feel priced out.”

The concern many doctors have about these apps and wearables is that people are relying too much on the apps and gadgets to help them get pregnant, that they are delaying seeking medical advice, when month after month they are unsuccessful.

Not only are people delaying seeking fertility care, but these items can also be costly, which can add to the already stressful process of trying to conceive.

“The rapidly growing number of options and varying claims of success can make it confusing for women to navigate the options available to them, see if they are backed up by research, and find the one that works the best for their lifestyle and needs,” Widra added.

On average, there is only a 20 percent chance of getting pregnant each month for a healthy, 30-year-old woman with no known fertility issues. That means that for every 100 fertile 30-year-old women trying to get pregnant in one cycle, 20 will be successful and the other 80 will have to try again.

The important takeaway is there are multiple factors that can impact fertility so a good result on a fertility app doesn’t mean you’re going to get pregnant, just like a bad result doesn’t mean you won’t get pregnant.

While the apps can be successful, for those who are having difficulty conceiving, we recommend seeking an evaluation from a fertility specialist if you meet the following criteria:

• Under 35 with regular cycles, unprotected intercourse and no pregnancy after 1 year
• 35 to 39 with regular cycles, unprotected intercourse and no pregnancy after 6 months
• 40 or over with regular cycles, unprotected intercourse and no pregnancy after 3 month.

It’s important to note, women of any age with any of the following should proactively talk with a physician about how these conditions could affect their ability to get pregnant:

• Irregular menstrual cycles (a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS), severely painful periods, or no period on a regular basis (monthly)
• A history of pelvic surgery (such as the removal of an ovarian cyst, ablation of endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, tubal surgery, or ruptured appendix)
• Diagnosis of endometriosis

For women with any of these conditions, if you’re having difficulty conceiving, we recommend seeking an evaluation right away as early diagnosis and treatment leads to better outcomes.SC

To learn more about when to seek a fertility evaluation or to schedule an appointment with an SGF fertility specialist, please contact the New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete the brief online form.

Once you’ve decided to start or grow your family, you want your new addition to happen quickly. When you’re waiting to welcome your new little one, even the 9 months of pregnancy itself can seem interminable, let alone the time spent beforehand trying to conceive.

You work that first month to get pregnant, only to find at month’s end that you’re no closer to goal.

No problem. It’ll happen next month, you tell yourself.

But another 30 days pass. Then another. And with each turn of the calendar, you grow increasingly frustrated and eager—even desperate—for answers.

For many women, the logical next step is to use an at-home fertility test. After all, a quick stroll down the family-planning aisle attests to a market flooded with testing options. Now, you can buy at-home kits that promise to do everything from predicting your time of ovulation to assessing your partner’s sperm count.

But for all of the options, what you really want to know is this: Do they work?

SGF’s own Dr. Naveed Khan weighed in, and the unfortunate answer is…not necessarily.

“Before you trust your family expectations and emotional well-being to one of these kits, make sure you can distinguish myth from fact regarding at-home fertility tests,” advises Dr. Khan.

Myth #1: Using a variety of at-home fertility tests will provide the same quality of information you could get at a fertility center.

Fact: “It’s true that there are lots of different types of tests available. But even taking a variety of them is no guarantee that you’ll be able to pinpoint any (let alone all) of the challenges that may be preventing you from getting pregnant,” adds Dr. Khan.

Different products test for different indicators, so each has unique benefits and weaknesses. The most common at-home fertility tests include:

• Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs) – These can be useful for women who have regular cycles and are looking for alternatives to taking daily basal body temperature and monitoring cervical mucus. “OPKs aren’t useful for everyone, however. If you’re having irregular cycles, your levels of luteinizing hormone (LH)—the hormone such tests attempt to detect—could be outside of the normal ranges, making this test potentially unreliable for you,” reminds Dr. Khan.
• Ovarian Reserve Tests (FSH test) – At-home ovarian reserve tests assess the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level in your bloodstream. Large amounts of this hormone can indicate that your ovaries are working extra hard, suggesting that you have fewer viable eggs remaining. “However, these at-home readings don’t provide sufficient information to understand what’s really happening with your eggs and can even be false, causing you unnecessary worry or giving false hope,” adds Dr. Khan.
• Sperm Test – “At our center, there are three important facets of the sperm that we measure: the movement (motility), the shape (morphology), and the count. At-home sperm tests only tell you whether the sperm count is in the low, medium, or high range, while providing no information about sperm quality. Because this test provides such limited information, the at-home version of a semen analysis doesn’t provide any actionable facts regarding male fertility,” says Dr. Khan.

Dr. Khan continues, “It’s also important to remember that you’re not really saving any time or testing by going the at-home route before visiting a doctor. Even if you take the results of these tests to your fertility specialist, your fertility care team will to have test again, as the quality of information you receive from at-home tests won’t be robust enough to meet clinical standards.”

Myth #2: Many of these at-home fertility tests are 99% accurate.

Fact: Lots of at-home fertility test packages feature promises of accuracy. But it’s important to understand that, while a test may be 99% accurate for some—as manufacturers may have found in laboratory tests—it won’t be that reliable for all. “There is a difference between real-world application and laboratory-proven accuracy. Many factors could make these tests decidedly less reliable. For example, if your body’s hormone levels fall outside of normal ranges, for example, any test that depends on a specific hormone—like an ovulation test—may be less accurate than advertised,” says Dr. Khan.

As with home pregnancy tests, the accuracy of at-home fertility tests is subject to human error. If you don’t use the test strip exactly how and when indicated, your results will vary.
Dr. Khan adds, “Keep this in mind: while OTC tests are convenient, there is a downside. Any time you make something more accessible and relatively less complicated, you compromise the accuracy.”

Myth #3: All at-home fertility tests are thoroughly tested and evidence-based.

Fact: A fertility test purchased in the drug store will likely be tested and approved by the FDA; however, if you buy overseas or from a potentially disreputable internet source, there’s no guarantee the item will have been tested at all.

Even if a fertility product claims to have been “tested,” however, that doesn’t mean its testing was evidence-based. “In order for testing to be considered evidence based—and therefore reliable—it must be based on true scientific process and subjected to rigorous scrutiny, including the careful selection of an adequate number of test subjects and controls,” reminds Dr. Khan. “Because at-home fertility tests aren’t evidence based, we can’t actually say whether using one of these tests to inform your conception efforts will increase your likelihood of getting pregnant,” adds Dr. Khan.

Myth #4: Using at-home fertility testing is imperative for women who are older and trying to conceive.

Fact: If you’re beginning your attempts to conceive after the age of 35, it may seem that using at-home tests would help speed conception by identifying your most fertile days. While being over this age won’t necessarily impact the reliability of the results, you should be especially careful not to waste precious time with these kits.

Timing is of the essence. You don’t want to miss your window of opportunity because you’ve spent too much attempting to get pregnant without medical support. See When to Seek Help to know when it’s time to see a fertility specialist. Early intervention offers the best possible chance at a positive outcome.

Myth #5: You should try to conceive for 6 months to a year before using an at-home fertility test.

Fact: “If ever, I always tell my patients, these tests should only be used in the early stages of trying to conceive. If you are under 35 years old and have been having unprotected intercourse for a year without conception, it’s time to complete a fertility evaluation. If you’re 35 to 39 with regular cycles and no pregnancy after 6 months of unprotected intercourse, a fertility evaluation is warranted. If you’re 40 or over, a fertility evaluation is warranted immediately. See Do You Know How Your Doctor Defines “Trying to Conceive” to learn more.

Myth #6: Using an at-home fertility test will save you money.

Fact: In actuality, you may be spending more money on these at-home kits than you would pay for a simple fertility workup. While some at-home fertility tests are quite affordable, others—like the Clearblue monitor—sell for over $100 each.

At Shady Grove Fertility, 90 percent of our patients have coverage for their initial consult and approximately 70 percent have at least some coverage for treatment. By going to a fertility specialist, you can get more comprehensive and accurate answers for less money.

Myth #7: At-home fertility tests can prevent frustration by providing early information regarding fertility.

Fact: “I often tell my patients, using OTC tests may wind up being more emotionally damaging than helpful. I’ve seen couples who use ovulation kits or other at-home fertility monitors burn out or start panicking before they’ve even begun seeking the guidance of someone who can help them. We understand the emotional toll that trying to conceive can take, and we prioritize getting you the answers you need quickly,” adds Dr. Khan.

Myth #8: At-home fertility tests will work for anyone trying to conceive.

Fact: Dr. Khan says, “If you have regular menstrual cycles and are just starting out in your efforts to get pregnant, these tests could help you catch your LH surge. But if you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year—or six months if you’re over the age of 35—you’ve met the medical definition of “infertility” and should not depend on these tests. Once you reach this point, we strongly encourage that you work with a fertility doctor who can properly assess your situation and support your conception efforts.”

Benefits of Working with a Fertility Specialist

Generally, infertility isn’t caused by just one thing. You and your partner could be experiencing male-factor infertility (seen in 40 to 50 percent of cases), female-factor infertility (seen in 40 to 50 percent of cases), or both or unexplained (as seen in 20 percent of cases). There could also be anatomical, hormonal, or other medical issues at play—or combination of a few. So you need a comprehensive evaluation to give you and your partner your best chance.

You need direction.

You need answers.

Real answers.

And real support.
 

Early intervention offers the best chances of success, so let us help you get started. To learn more about at-home fertility testing or to schedule an appointment, please call our New Patient Center and one of our New Patient Liaisons will happily assist you. Please call 1-877-971-7755 or click to complete this simple form.

This blog was originally posted in January 2017, but was updated in August 2019.

“Should I be having sex every day?” “Can alcohol impact sperm health?” “Does a healthy diet increase your chances of conceiving?” Men have questions and we have the answers. The Beat Infertility Podcast turned to SGF Reproductive Urologist, Dr. Paul Shin, to shed light on how to help overcome male factor infertility through lifestyle changes.

Host: Let’s discuss some solutions to male factor infertility with lifestyle changes. Should men avoid hormone disruptors like BPA?

Dr. Shin: “The specific concern with BPA is that it’s in a lot of plastics, and plastics are in everything we come into contact with. BPA is estrogenic, meaning it has higher levels of estrogen, which we know can be detrimental to male fertility. That being said, it’s nearly impossible to avoid plastics in our day to day life. The push behind being ‘BPA free’ is to limit your exposure to these estrogen-like compounds, particularly the ones that you ingest in the food service industry.”

Host: How important is the timing of sexual activity? Should couples have sex every day during their fertile window or wait every other day?

Dr. Shin: “With regard to sexual activity, I think a little bit of that is contingent on what the overall sperm count is for a man. If a man has a reasonable sperm count at about 20-30 million motile sperm or above, I don’t see any reason why that couple can’t have intercourse every day during the fertile window. But for men who have lower sperm counts, there is some credence to waiting every other day in an effort to ‘build up’ sperm for ejaculation.”

Host: Should men be avoiding tobacco, steroids, and recreational drugs?   

Dr. Shin: “The general advice I give to people is whatever would make sense to you in terms of a healthy lifestyle choice is going to make sense in regard to your fertility. Tobacco has a ton of free radicals and other chemicals that we know play a role in sperm production and can negatively affect your sperm count. Having a cigar on the weekend will probably not make a difference, but if you’re a two-pack-a-day smoker, you can expect this to put a burden on your health and fertility.”
“Marijuana is the same way. We know that chronic marijuana smokers have lower rates of motility, lower sperm counts, and can have disruptions on the hormone axis. Steroids are a huge ‘no,’ and this is a mistake that I, as a reproductive urologist, see a couple of times a week. Young men of childbearing age put on testosterone without any counseling, which can negatively impact sperm counts. Testosterone in any form whether its gel you put on your skin or pellets you implant, all work negatively to drive down your levels of sperm production.”

Host: Does alcohol influence a man’s infertility?

Dr. Shin: “This question, again, needs to be considered in the realm of common sense. There’s some medical literature that would argue that daily, very scaled back, moderate consumption has other health benefits, but if you are an alcoholic or have liver dysfunction then this assault on your overall health will prevent your body from devoting any energy to reproduction. I think that’s probably the most holistic way to think about it. A small amount of alcohol on a social basis is not going to make a big difference, but higher levels of consumption can not only impact your fertility but your overall health as well.”

Host: Many times, men hear about the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and eating right. What do you define this as, and what do you feel is a “healthy” diet?

Dr. Shin: “This can often be a controversial area in medicine because of people’s different frame sizes. BMI (body mass index) isn’t always the best indicator of a healthy weight and being overly focused on weight can be a gateway to other issues like eating disorders. A healthy weight for me is being able to do the things you want to do, like climbing stairs, exercising, and generally keeping a BMI under 25.”

“When it comes to defining a healthy diet, this is probably the number one question we get in regards to male fertility because diet and lifestyle habits are things within our control. Sometimes the infertility aspect is beyond your control. Eat at home more often than eating out and don’t make a habit of eating processed foods. There isn’t one magic food group to include or avoid. Eat a broad based diet with reasonable portions and try to minimize the amount of fast food you consume.”

Host: What are your thoughts on cycling and men’s sperm health?

Dr. Shin: “Cycling has been implicated in many negative things within the realm of urology, from prostate and urinary problems to sexual function issues. The main issue with riding a bike is that if your seat does not conform to your pelvis very well, you can get the compression of the nerve and artery that you need to maintain effective penile erections for intercourse. So the translation there is that you can have difficulty with sexual function. The best indicator that your bike seat doesn’t fit your pelvis correctly is if you get off your bicycle and you have numbness in the area behind your scrotum, within the scrotum itself, or in the penis.”

“Spending long amounts of time road cycling on the weekends really shouldn’t impact your fertility from a sperm making perspective. I think it’s more important to think of things from the sexual function aspect.”

Host: What are some positive ways to manage stress?

Dr. Shin: “When a couple goes through an infertility struggle, that is arguably the first major marital test. There are a lot of different subtexts to how people manifest this stress. Men oftentimes feel inadequate if they can’t get pregnant with their partner. Stress management is a critical part of that, whether it’s through counseling or exercise or just taking time for yourself to do the things you like to do. You need that anchor to take care of yourself. While it’s not physically a big deal, mentally and emotionally infertility and the stress associated with it can be devastating.”

Host: When it comes to medication, when is clomid recommended and how does it work?

Dr. Shin: “Clomid is probably the medication I use the most. It works in the pituitary gland to increase levels of LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), therefore driving downstream the better production of sperm and testosterone. It’s a tablet, not an injection that tends to work pretty well for most men. Indications for using clomid are either low levels of testosterone or low sperm count combined with a very low level of FSH as well. If you’re looking to boost either one of those hormones, clomid is a rather effective and cheap way to do it.”

Dr. Shin sees patients in our K Street, Woodbridge, Frederick and Fair Oaks offices. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Shin or any other SGF physician, please contact the New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete our brief online form.

Googling “how to get pregnant” gives you 540,000,000 results in only .66 seconds. In less time than it takes to pee on an ovulation stick, you have unlimited access to advice on natural conception, suggested sex positions, and unregulated herbal remedies that all swear to gift you with the two lines you’ve been waiting for. But which ones actually work? To find out, TODAY.com turned to Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) Richmond’s Dr. Michael Edelstein for answers.

Here’s your road map to navigating the Internet’s everlasting highway of fertility rumors.

1. To “boxer” or to “brief”?

It’s not uncommon for men to believe that wearing looser fitting undergarments will improve the health of their sperm, and the idea might not be too far out of reach either. Unlike a few of the myths below, this one has some science behind it.

“It’s an old wives’ tale, but it’s one that may have a bit of truth to it,” said Dr. Edelstein. “We know that for optimal sperm production, the testicles have to be at a temperature lower than the body’s core temperature. So there may be some evidence that wearing boxers as opposed to briefs can keep the temperatures of testicles lower.”

“It’s also for this reason that men should avoid spending too much time in hot tubs,” Dr. Edelstein added.

2. Does putting my legs up the wall after sex really work?

We tend to think that sperm responds to gravity the same way that anything else does – it’ll fall further and faster when inverted. Unfortunately there’s no scientific evidence to support that the “legs up the wall” method will keep some sperm from falling out any more than it already does.
“If a woman wants to keep her legs elevated after sex for 5 or 10 minutes, go for it, but there’s no evidence it will make a difference,” Edelstein said.

If you feel better laying down with your legs in the air, go for it. But know that each time you and your partner have sex, a certain amount of sperm won’t make the journey.

3. I can get pregnant as soon as I stop the pill… right?

Yes and no. The birth control pill will take a little while to leave your system but after a month or two most women begin ovulating regularly and their fertility returns to its normal state, says Dr. Edelstein. However, this assumption becomes complicated because the pill also disguises infertility symptoms the way that ibuprofen veils pain.

“While birth control pills don’t cause any fertility issues, they might mask fertility issues, like if a woman has underlying ovulation problem,” Dr. Edelstein said. “You wouldn’t know it when you’re on the birth control pill.”

4. If I relax I’ll get pregnant faster.

First, no. And second, absolutely not. Infertility is fundamentally stressful, and no evidence points towards a correlation between a woman’s stress levels and her pregnancy rate. There’s nothing more frustrating than hearing, “Stop worrying about it and just let it happen,” because when all you want is for it to “happen” you can’t help but feel lost when it doesn’t.

Infertility isn’t the cause of stress, but it is a byproduct.

5. If I’m healthy, my eggs will be healthy.

This is a commonly known myth and an important one to dispel. A woman’s health may influence her ability to get pregnant, but no research indicates that exercise or eating right equates healthy eggs.

There are two factors that far outweigh the importance of a healthy lifestyle: your age and your anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels. Your reproductive health declines as you get older, especially in your upper 30s, which is why it’s important for women to see a fertility specialist if they’ve been trying for a year and are 35 or younger. Your AMH levels can also be a predictor of your fertility health, as it can measure how many eggs you currently have.

Dr. Edelstein sees patients in Richmond, VA. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Edelstein or another SGF physician, please call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete our online form.

It’s a concept we’ve all learned, yet probably know very little about. You may be able to define it, but when it comes time to mark your calendar, you can’t quite remember how it works even though it’s essential to becoming pregnant. You’re not the only woman without a clear understanding of what ovulation is, so SGF Richmond physician, Dr. Michael Edelstein spoke with TODAY.com to answer common questions about your fertility window.

Let’s start from the beginning.

What is Ovulation?

Ovulation is the stage during a woman’s menstrual cycle when a mature egg is released from the ovary and enters the Fallopian tubes, where it either becomes fertilized with sperm or disintegrates. For women who have regular cycles, ovulation will typically occur 14 days before the start of your next period.

During this time a woman’s luteinizing hormone (LH) surges.

Your “fertile window” is generally 6 days leading up to and ending on the day of your ovulation, so in order to optimize pregnancy, it’s important to know your body’s schedule.

How Do I Know When I’m Ovulating?

“Examining your LH levels is an effective way to measure your ovulation cycle since the hormone is only released right before you ovulate. Ovulation predictor kits can be used to gauge these LH spikes,” says Dr. Edelstein. “It is possible to have the LH surge but not actually ovulate, but if you’re having regular menstrual cycles, you’re probably ovulating.”

That surge happens about 24 hours prior to an egg releasing, so when the LH surges, that is the optimal time to conceive.

By testing your urine on the predictor strips each day, you can accurately track your cycle and plan sex with your partner accordingly.

Alternatively, you can use your temperature to monitor your ovulation. Some women see a brief rise in temperature right after they ovulate and can use this metric to predict next month’s cycle. Though this method isn’t as reliable as the predictor kits, it can still provide you with a general window of when to have intercourse.

Within one cycle, you have around 3 to 5 days to take advantage of your most fertile period. This is why it’s suggested that you have sex every 24 to 48 hours leading up to ovulation. “We believe a woman is fertile probably a couple days before she ovulates and maybe a day or so after she ovulates,” says Dr. Edelstein. Sperm can also live in a female’s body for a number of days, meaning that even after a woman ovulates she still has the ability to become pregnant.

What’s the Likelihood of Pregnancy during Ovulation?

There are plenty of factors to consider when it comes to conception; therefore, the chances of getting pregnant vary for each couple. A fertile woman in her 30s only has about a 15 percent chance of conception each month, so it’s expected that you continue trying for a number of months before being successful. Timing is everything when it comes to ovulation, but it’s not easy getting it right every month. Women under the age of 35 who have normal menstrual cycles and have been having unprotected intercourse without conception for 1 year are recommended to see a fertility specialist for an evaluation. Women who are 35-39, an evaluation is recommended after 6 months, and women who are 40 and older, should see a specialist after 3 months or right away.

If you do not have a normal menstrual cycle and/or are having trouble conceiving, a very simple fertility evaluation will help determine if you are ovulating or if there are other factors. Shady Grove Fertility’s team of dedicated New Patient Liaisons is available to answer your questions and schedule a consultation with a physician. Call 877-971-7755 or fill out this brief form.

Ask Men turned to Shady Grove Fertility Reproductive Urologist, Dr. Paul Shin, to talk about fertility-friendly lubricants, when it’s time to seek help from a fertility specialist, and how common male factor infertility really is (hint: 40 to 50 percent of all cases of infertility are a result of a male factor).

Most couples think when they’re ready to start a family, it’ll just happen. Fact of the matter is, getting pregnant is often more difficult than we realize, especially as we age. The rate of conception is highly dependent on the quality and quantity of the woman’s egg. “Even under ideal conditions, couples only have a 15 to 20 percent chance at best of achieving pregnancy in a particular month,” says Dr. Shin.

We’ve all heard the common myths about boosting fertility. Boxers vs. briefs, legs elevated after intercourse, best sex positions for conception. The list goes on and on. How about lubricants—can they help you get pregnant or hurt your chances – which ones are best? Dr. Shin clears the air about using lube when trying to conceive (TTC) and advises on which products to avoid.
[Read: Getting Pregnant FAQ]

Best Fertility-Friendly Lubricants

While we’re on the topic of intercourse, your choice of lubricant may be impacting conception. Certain components of water-based lubricants can make it more difficult for sperm to make their way into the cervical canal. These lubricants include many of the popular drugstore brands, so couples who are trying to conceive should use lubricants designed to mimic natural fluids or mineral oil.

“My advice to couples is I would still rather have you use a little bit of whatever lubricant you’re using, and have more comfortable intercourse, versus avoiding anything at all,” says Dr. Shin. “Practically speaking, if you use a little bit of lube, and you’ve got a reasonable amount of motile sperm, I don’t think it’s going to be a deal breaker.”

Choosing a fertility-friendly lubricant such as pre-seed can help alleviate dryness and not negatively impact sperm.

When to Seek Help from a Fertility Specialist

How do you know if you have infertility? Traditionally, a fertility specialist will assume infertility is present based on the following definition. When a woman is:

• Under 35 with regular cycles, unprotected intercourse and no pregnancy after 1 year
• 35 to 39 with regular cycles, unprotected intercourse and no pregnancy after 6 months
• 40 or over with regular cycles, unprotected intercourse and no pregnancy after 3 months

Women of any age with any of the following should proactively talk with a physician about how these conditions could affect their ability to get pregnant:

• Irregular menstrual cycles (a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS), severely painful periods, or no period on a regular basis (monthly)
• A history of pelvic surgery (such as the removal of an ovarian cyst, ablation of endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, tubal surgery, or ruptured appendix)
• Diagnosis of endometriosis

For women with any of these conditions, if you’re having difficulty conceiving, we recommend seeking an evaluation even sooner than what we typically recommend.

Do Men Have Infertility?

YES, and this is why we must test both the male and female for infertility when a couple is having difficulty conceiving. Infertility is often thought of as a female problem. This is a myth.

In 10 percent of cases, sperm are severely compromised, and this can be the exclusive reason why couples have failed to conceive. Nearly 40 percent of semen analyses demonstrate abnormal sperm, which may contribute to infertility.

“Testing is pretty easy to do,” explains Dr. Shin. “Couples need to understand that it is essentially a 50/50 split. It definitely takes two to tango, and you have things on the male side, you have things on the female side. And you have to approach them both individually and as a couple to really figure out your optimal solution for helping couples conceive.”

A man can overcome male factor infertility with a variety of treatment options. A diagnosis of male factor infertility is categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. The goal with any treatment is to get the sperm as close to the egg as possible. The severity of the case, the fertility status of the female partner, and comfort level of the couple together dictate the planned course of treatment. Luckily, this form of infertility is easily overcome with the right diagnosis, lifestyle choices, and treatment.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or fill out this brief form.