Why You’re Not Getting Pregnant

Male Factor

According to renowned fertility specialist Dr. William Schoolcraft, founder of the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, the “leading cause of infertility is male factor,” which is defined as anything from low sperm count and poor motility (i.e. slow swimmers) to structural abnormalities that can block the flow of sperm. How common is male factor? It accounts for a whopping 30-40 percent of infertility problems in couples.

Treatment:

The good news is there are things you can do to treat most male factor infertility issues. The bad news: men suffer from the emotional repercussions as much as women. “The first step is to see a doctor or urologist to diagnose the problem,” Dr. Schoolcraft says, “which can be treated with medication and surgery, depending on what it is.” A common work-around to low sperm count or motility is using in vitro fertilization (IVF), or a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in which a single sperm is injected into an egg. “With intercourse, only one out of four sperm make it up into the uterus,” explains Schoolcraft. Injecting a single sperm, using ICSI, may be all you need.