UMHC Disclaimer

UMHC Privacy Policy

Skip to Main Content

Valid HTML 4.01 Transitional

Valid CSS!

Logo: University of Missouri Women's Health Center-Reproductive Medicine & Fertility
Picture of loving father with baby
Text: Male Factor Infertilty...
Go here to read about Semen Quality in relation to medications, lifestyle and toxic Exposures
Nearly half of all infertility involves a male factor, usually with abnormalities seen by semen analysis.  Andrology is the study of male reproduction.  Our Andrology Laboratory offers the full range of semen testing.  In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a Urologist for further evaluation.

When a sperm problem exists that cannot be corrected, the basic principle of treatment involves getting the sperm closer to the egg.  This can be done by a number of methods.

IUI (intrauterine insemination):  Injection of sperm into the woman's uterus.

IVF (In Vitro Fertilization):  Mixing the sperm with the patient's eggs in the laboratory, where fertilization will take place. IVF + ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection):
  • Used in cases where there are very low sperm counts/motility/ and/or low percentages of normal appearing sperm (morphology).
  • Injecting a single sperm individually into each egg in the laboratory to improve the chances for fertilization.
In cases where there are no partner sperm available, or when the patient prefers to avoidIVF or related treatment methods, donor sperm for insemination can be utilized provided that the Fallopian tubes are open

In male partners who have undergone surgical sterilization, vasectomy reversal may be an option.

Testicular or Epididymal sperm aspiration:
  • May be an option when no sperm are found in the ejaculated specimen
  • Sperm can be directly removed from the testicle or epididymis by a urologist and then frozen for a future IVF + ICSI cycle.
For more information, see the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) video Causes of Male Infertility and fact sheet Diagnostic Testing for Male Factor Infertility.

Return to Previous Page Go to Home Page Go to Site Map Search our Site

Call for information:  (573) 817-3101  or   E-mail us  with questions or comments