We’re conscious that in many fertility settings, the male partner can often feel excluded or left out, as fertility treatment can be very female-focussed. At NUH Life, we place great emphasis on treating the couple and we aim to include both partners in the treatment experience as much as possible.
Support
Thankfully, there is increasing awareness of how the emotional aspects of infertility affect men as well as women. For men with male factor fertility issues, there can be feelings of shame, embarrassment, anger, grief, loss of control and helplessness. These are all perfectly normal.
Fortunately there are also more and more resources available aimed specifically at supporting men. As well as our own support services, there are fantastic podcasts, online forums and support groups. HIM Fertility and Fertility Network UK are great places to start.
Services
NUH Life offers the following services around male fertility:
- Semen analysis
- Trial sperm preparation (test wash)
- Blood tests for hormonal or genetic causes of infertility
- Fertility preservation (sperm banking)
- Sperm donation – enquire here
Sperm quality
Sperm quality and quantity varies over time, and can be a reflection of your general health and wellbeing, as well as your genetics. There are a number of known external influences which can have a negative affect on sperm number or quality, such as:
- Medication
- Chronic illness
- Scrotal temperature
- Poor diet, smoking and excessive alcohol
- Steroid abuse
Read our blog post on improving your sperm count for some useful advice as to how you might be able to improve your fertility.
Collecting a sample by masturbation
Lots of people worry about trying to produce a sperm sample for analysis or treatment. You might feel embarrassed or uncomfortable with the idea. We get it. The good news is that most of our patients produce their sample at home and bring it to the clinic.
For those who are producing their sample at the clinic (for treatment, donation or banking) we have specially designated, well thought out, private rooms with sound-proofing.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can ask any of our team. We’ve been working in fertility for many years and we don’t find any of this embarrassing. In fact we would rather you speak to us about any concerns, so that we can put a plan in place. For example, the patient can attempt to collect a sample at home, be provided with a non-spermicidal condom for collection during intercourse, or freeze a “back up” sample before treatment.