Are you male and worried about whether or not you are infertile? Thinking of undergoing a sperm count test or male infertility test anytime soon? If you and your partner have been unable to conceive even after a year of regular and unprotected sexual intercourse, then you may want to undergo male infertility tests. These could help you determine how low your sperm count is and if there is anything you could do to answer this concern.

Male infertility has truly posed as a concern for many men all over the world especially now that researches state that 25 to 40 percent of couples infertility cases are attributable to the male.

Here are the top 10 things you need to know about male infertility and sperm count tests:

Male infertility is very common. In fact, about one in twenty males is sub-fertile. In the United States alone, more than 2 million men are declared infertile annually.
Causes of male infertility include the disrupted formation of quality sperm and the interference in the successful transport of the sperm from the testes to the females vagina. If the testes, for instance, is exposed to high temperatures for quite a time, such would affect the formation of sperm.
Sperm count tests may produce low results because of various reasons, one of which is genetics. There are men who are born without the needed genetic makeup which could spur normal sperm production.
The normal sperm count is more than 20 million per milliliter. However, if your sperm count falls below this amount, it does not necessarily mean that you have severe infertility.
Men who are in infertile relationships may want to seek medical assistance from doctors with specialties on reproductive health. This is especially true if you have had genital surgery, infections, undescended testes or perhaps if you have been fertile before.
Doctors will ask you about the adequacy and frequency of your sexual relations. The doctor may also observe the size and texture of your testes during male fertility tests.
The quality of semen actually varies between men. Hence, there is a need that a male infertility or sperm count test should be done only after two to five days of sexual abstinence. This will ensure that the correct sperm count will be produced and determined.
Blood hormonal tests are usually performed during sperm count tests. Examinees will also be provided with an appropriate room which usually has the same temperature as with the room where the collected semen will be processed and stored.
The Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) test indicates the amount of sperm that is being produced. When the males testicle is rigorously damaged, the FSH level rises progressively. This shows that only a few or no sperm are being produced.
There are male fertility tests you could do at traditional clinics and those that you could administer at home. You can check Testcountry.com for the available home diagnostic screening tests that could collect and test two separate semen samples.

About the author: This Article is written by Lena Butler, the author of TestCountry Health Information Resources

Male infertility is caused by various factors, which could be hormonal, structural, neurologic or genetic in origin. Even with the advances in reproductive technology some defects, especially those which are genetic in origin, cannot be corrected. However, there are many ways through which a couple can still have a child, even with the present problem of male infertility.

In men who cannot naturally procreate due to neurological reasons, one form of treatment used is electro ejaculation. This uses electrical stimulation to produce semen which is then collected. The semen may then be artificially introduced into the woman‚Äôs uterus where fertilization can take place. This is often recommended for men who have undergone testis removal or are suffering from spinal injuries.

In cases of obstruction or absence of the vas deferens, sperm retrieval may be done. This involves making a small incision in the scrotum and sperm is extracted from the epedidymis, the coiled tubes which house the sperm for maturation. Sperm retrieval is a fairly short procedure done under local anesthesia.

Sperm washing is also another method to increase the chances of successful fertilization. Sperm is washed and purified of accompanying proteins and other elements which may hinder its motility. Sperm washing also concentrates the sperm which further increases the chances for conception.

When a guy has immotile sperm or sperm who move abnormally, intracytoplasmic injection may be an option. In this procedure one sperm is directly injected into a mature egg and fertilization takes place. Afterwards the embryo is transferred to the mother‚Äôs uterus where it can complete its development.

When a man is totally incapable of producing any sperm, the last resort may be artificial insemination using the sperm of a donor. The donor sperm is injected directly into the cervix of the mother where fertilization can take place.

Male infertility can be due to genetic, hormonal, structural, or neurologic causes. With today’s advances in medical technology most infertility problems can be corrected and reproduction made possible for men.

If the cause of the infertility is neurologic in origin one form of treatment is electro ejaculation, which uses electrical stimulation to produce semen, which is then collected for in vitro fertilization. This is recommended for men who have undergone testicular removal or have spinal injuries which make voluntary ejaculation impossible.

In men who have blocked ejaculatory ducts, sperm retrieval is often done. A doctor makes a small incision in the scrotum and through to the epididymis, where the sperm is housed. This is usually a short procedure and is done under general anesthesia.

Sperm washing is another method to increase the likelihood of successful fertilization. Once the sperm is retrieved it is washed off its accompanying proteins and other elements which can negatively affect its motility. Sperm washing also concentrates the sperm which increases the chances of success.

For sperm with an abnormal structure or difficulty in movement, intracytoplasmic injection can facilitate successful fertilization. This procedure may be performed in conjunction with in vitro fertilization to ensure that a sperm is able to penetrate and fertilize the egg. The sperm is injected into the egg using a very thin needle, and after the zygote is formed, it is implanted in the woman’s uterus.

Artificial insemination is the last resort if the man is totally incapable of producing any sperm. Fertilization can take place through in vitro fertilization or the sperm is directly injected into the woman’s cervix, if the problem is coupled with erectile dysfunction.