Lifestyle Fertility Evaluation
The average sperm takes between 90 and 120 days to be produced, mature and then be ready to be ejaculated. This means that virtually anything that affects overall health can impact sperm function, maturity, and appearance, and can influence fertility for months, even after changes are made. Lifestyle factors can play a big role in male fertility. These can include smoking, excessive alcohol use, radiation exposure, obesity, and diet.
Our evaluation will help to uncover aspects of your lifestyle that may be impacting your fertility including activities you consider healthy, such as long-distance cycling or extreme dieting. We can help men who use tobacco to stop. We will assess alcohol use and offer recommendations on moderation. We have an in-house program to help men lose weight. And we will carefully personalize a supplement program based on your diet, age, and fertility goals.
Physiologic Fertility Evaluation
Structural features of the testicle and medical conditions specific to a particular individual have the most obvious impact on fertility. Abnormal anatomy, abnormal blood flow, prior trauma, early childhood infections and congenital abnormalities can be discovered on a thorough genital examination. Certain features of the physical exam can also suggest causes of male fertility problems. The size and firmness of the testicles as well as the presence of any abnormally enlarged veins, called varicoceles, can suggest the cause of fertility problems. Any testicular masses or abnormalities in the formation of the penis that could interrupt normal semen deposition should be investigated. Also, there can be certain features of the body habitus that can suggest underlying genetic diseases that may prompt additional testing. When necessary, a testicular ultrasound may be performed.
Just as important as anatomy, however, is the possibility that medical conditions could be impacting fertility. This is a very commonly overlooked factor in most male fertility evaluations. Simply having an abnormal semen analysis is a risk factor for a man to develop cardiovascular disease early in his life. Elevated cholesterol, hypertension, and regulation of blood glucose all can impact fertility. Early identification of these problems, can impact both a man’s fertility as well as help him live longer.
Your cardiometabolic examination and our office will include a full physical examination as well as a full laboratory examination that often includes advanced lipid testing. We will assess your cardiovascular risk, measure your blood pressure and assess your risk for diabetes. This information will then be used to determine if an abnormal semen parameter could suggest an underlying cardiovascular disease as well as potential treatments that may be offered in conjunction with traditional fertility treatments to improve both fertility status as well as overall health status.
Contact us for fertility lifestyle and physiologic evaluation.