Mar 13, 2009 6:44 am US/Eastern
HealthWatch: Male Fertility Tests
Millions Of Couples Can't Get Pregnant And Often The Woman Is Thought Of As The Reason, But Not Anymore
New Test Can Determine If Male Sperm Is Functioning Properly
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Getting pregnant isn't easy for some couples. It can come down to getting a lot of medical help and spending a lot of money. Most of the time the focus is on what's wrong with the woman.
But as CBS 2 HD found out recently, there are new tests that focus on the man.
More than 2 million married couples in the United States are having trouble getting pregnant.
"Women are typically the focus of fertility treatment while men are ignored," fertility specialist Dr. Kenneth Gelman said. "We need to be reminded that the sperm is 50 percent of the embryo and that the male DNA makes up part of the embryo."
a male infertility evaluation usually starts with a semen analysis in which sperm count, shape and movement are assessed. This is followed by a physical exam, hormone evaluation and genetic testing.
Discovering male fertility problems right away can mean earlier treatment and a successful pregnancy. It can also save women unnecessary discomfort and expense.
"You want to make sure the assisted reproductive technology attempt that you make is using the technology that is most appropriate for that couple," Dr. Gelman said.
New tests can identify whether a male may have a problem with his DNA. One such test is the sperm DNA decondensation test.
Egg extract is mixed with a man's sperm and then doctors look at the rate in which the tightly compacted DNA in the sperm expands.
"Think of it like this: a wrapper from a straw would be the sperm and this water would be the egg extract," Dr. David Brown said. "When then combining, the wrapper -- or the DNA in the sperm -- should expand to seven times its normal size in 15 minutes. If it doesn't, something is wrong with the sperm.
Brown developed the sperm decondensation test. He said 25 percent of the time he finds an abnormality and this helps patients hone in on their best treatment options.
"They may actually have sperm function that's actually better than they think," Brown said.
Through thorough testing of both the man and the woman, 85 percent of couples can discover the cause of their infertility. Many couples will become pregnant after the first year, with continued attempts and treatment.
Some insurance companies cover fertility examinations for both men and women.
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