Male Infertility

Infertility is an increasing medical challenge to couples wishing to have a family. A couple experiencing problems with infertility should seek the help of their GP in the first instance to assess the problem and if appropriate, instigate the appropriate specialist referrals for formal assessment and advice. This usually involves specialists in Reproductive Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and/or Urology.

It can be difficult to pinpoint one specific medical problem causing infertility; most often it is a multifactorial problem involving both the female and male partners. As such, both partners need to agree and engage with appointments and investigations/treatment together.

If a male partner in an infertile couple is found to have a varicocoele (varicose veins) around the testicle, this might be contributing to either a low sperm count or in poor quality sperm with reduced motility or abnormal sperm formation. In combination with advice from Fertility Specialists or Consultant Urologists, when a varicocoele might be part of the problem, we can offer minimally invasive embolisation treatment.

The precise relationship between varicocele and infertility is unclear but it is thought that poor blood flow in the varicocoele may give a warming effect in the testicle leading to less sperm production which is usually optimal at around 35C rather than core body temperature of 37C. Some studies show that particularly the quality (but occasionally the number) of sperm can be improved in men when their varicocoele is treated but there are no guarantees. This effect will take some weeks so often the Fertility Specialist involved with your care will want to test the sperm around 3 months after any treatment.

It must be remembered that treating a varicocoele deals with only one aspect of a couple’s infertility but embolisation in this setting is a simple and relatively safe step which can be treated straightforwardly.

Please see the varicocoele page for further information.