Male Fertility Care

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Male Fertility

One of the most common misconceptions is that fertility is a women’s issue only. Although various female-specific factors do contribute, men and their reproductive organs contribute to half of all couples seeking medical reproductive care. At our fertility clinics in Greater Vancouver, BC and Edmonton, AB, we provide comprehensive services for male fertility issues.

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The Benefits of Choosing PCRM for Male Infertility

PCRM boasts a team of highly skilled reproductive endocrinologists and fertility specialists who are adept at accurately diagnosing and treating various causes of both male and female infertility. Our commitment to comprehensive care ensures that patients receive personalized treatment plans tailored to their specific needs. Moreover, we understand the emotional and physical challenges that come with male infertility.

Causes of Male Fertility Issues

A number of factors may contribute to male factor infertility, including:

Sperm Disorders – To achieve pregnancy, males must be able to produce a certain amount of healthy sperm that are capable of “swimming” to the egg. However, when males have issues with sperm count, motility (i.e., the ability to swim), or morphology (i.e., the sperm’s shape), it is generally more difficult to impregnate a fertile female. One of the most common sperm disorders to impact male fertility is oligospermia, also known as low sperm count.
Hormonal Imbalances – Hormonal imbalances in men can disrupt the delicate interplay of reproductive hormones, leading to issues such as impaired sperm production, reduced sperm motility, and abnormal sperm morphology, thereby contributing to male infertility.
Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism (HH) – With hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, the testes produce few or no sex hormones.
Vasectomy – A vasectomy, also sometimes referred to as male sterilization, is a form of permanent birth control that prevents pregnancy by surgically severing the vas deferens. The vas deferens are long thin tubes that transport sperm to the semen. Patients who have vasectomies and then change their minds later in life typically have to undergo some kind of fertility care to achieve their family-building goals.
Varicocele – A painful condition involving enlarged testicular veins, affecting sperm number or shape.
Severe Abnormalities – Severe male fertility abnormalities can refer to a number of different types of conditions, including azoospermia (i.e., no sperm in the ejaculate), structural issues of one or more reproductive organs, and Klinefelter syndrome (i.e., a chromosomal disorder in which men are born with an extra X chromosome).
Infections – Infections in the male reproductive system, such as sexually transmitted infections or inflammations of the reproductive organs.
Lifestyle Factors – In addition to medical conditions, male fertility can also be affected by various lifestyle factors, including obesity, poor nutrition, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, wearing tight clothing, and exposure to certain environmental stressors (e.g., toxins, heat, radiation, etc.).

Signs of Male Infertility

With male infertility, other than the inability to conceive, the symptoms are often subtle. In many cases, men do not find out they are infertile until undergoing an evaluation. While aging doesn’t play as much of a role in male infertility as it does for women, being over the age of 40 can contribute. Men who are older typically don’t produce as much sperm or testosterone, a crucial sex hormone. Their sperm is also more likely to be lower in quality or have high levels of DNA defragmentation, which contributes to the risk of miscarriage.

That being said, there are a few signs and symptoms that can indicate a fertility issue in men. These include:

Abnormal breast growth
Reduced body and facial hair
Erectile dysfunction
Issues with ejaculation
Changes in semen color, texture, or amount
Testicular changes, including small, firm, swollen, painful, or tender testicles

If you’re struggling to conceive and/or experiencing any of the above symptoms, consider scheduling a consultation with a male infertility specialist as soon as possible. Only a semen analysis can give you real insights into your reproductive health.

Male Fertility Testing & Treatment Options

Male factor infertility is often relatively easy to treat, depending on the exact cause. There is a wide range of options and procedures available, including:

Medications, such as clomiphene citrate, which address hormonal imbalances by stimulating the pituitary gland in the brain
Other medications to address underlying conditions and contributing factors, such as infections
Surgery may be recommended to reverse a vasectomy, repair a varicocele, or address a different structural issue
Sperm extraction procedures, such as microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (Micro-TESE), which involves the precise removal of testicular tissue
Fertility treatments, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

Semen Analysis is an important component of fertility investigations. Having this testing completed prior to your new patient consult provides your care team with important information to create an individualized care plan. Semen Analysis can be completed on site at PCRM Edmonton. Appointments can be booked as early as next week. The cost of the test will be applied as a credit on your account to be used towards future reproductive therapy. Please contact the clinic for more detailed information or to book your appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Male Fertility

Low or abnormal sperm production, as well as blockages preventing the delivery of healthy sperm, can worsen infertility. It's essential to have a high sperm count; having fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen, or fewer than 39 million per ejaculate, may reduce the chances of fertilizing your partner's egg.
Male fertility issues are fairly common. According to The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC), it’s estimated that at least 30% of infertility cases are caused by male fertility factors.
While occasional stress is a normal part of life and is unlikely to cause male infertility, chronic or severe stress might have an impact. Prolonged stress can lead to hormonal imbalances, affecting sperm production and quality. Additionally, extreme stress can lead to behaviors such as unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and disrupted sleep patterns, all of which can indirectly influence fertility. However, it's essential to note that the relationship between stress and infertility is complex and may vary from person to person. Consulting a healthcare provider or fertility specialist is advisable for personalized evaluation and guidance.
Male infertility is diagnosed through a series of tests, including semen analysis and bloodwork to measure hormone levels.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a form of assisted reproduction technology that is performed alongside IVF. In a regular IVF procedure, sperm cells are combined with egg cells to allow for natural fertilization to occur; with ICSI, a single sperm is injected directly into an egg using an exceptionally small needle. This treatment is often recommended for men who have severe male infertility.

Semen Analysis & Sperm Screening

Need a Semen Analysis? Here Are Your Options

A semen analysis is often one of the first steps in evaluating male fertility. Depending on your needs, there are two options available for accessing testing.

Option 1: Basic Semen Analysis Through LifeLabs

LifeLabs offers semen analysis testing with a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner.

How to Get a Referral

To obtain a referral:

Book an appointment with your family doctor or nurse practitioner.
If you do not have a primary care provider, you can consider a walk-in clinic, TELUS Health, or another virtual healthcare provider.
Request a referral for a semen analysis.
Contact LifeLabs to arrange testing as directed by your healthcare provider.

This option is typically covered by your provincial health plan when medically appropriate.

Option 2: Private-Pay Sperm Screening at PCRM

PCRM offers private-pay sperm screening services for patients who would like testing performed directly through our fertility laboratory.

A Referral Is Still Required

Although this is a private-pay service, a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner is required before testing can be performed.

This requirement is important because semen analysis results should be reviewed and interpreted by a qualified healthcare provider who understands your medical history and fertility goals.

Our laboratory will perform the test, generate the results, and send the results to your physician for review. Our doctors can also review the semen analysis results with you; however, this service is offered only to patients who are proceeding with fertility treatment at PCRM.

Your referring physician or nurse practitioner serves as the healthcare provider responsible for:

Ordering the test
Receiving the results
Interpreting the findings
Discussing the results with you
Recommending any additional investigations or treatment, if needed

To ensure continuity of care and appropriate medical follow-up, PCRM sends the completed results back to the healthcare provider who ordered the test.

How to Get Started

Download the PCRM Referral Form.
Have your physician or nurse practitioner complete and sign the referral.
Submit the completed referral to PCRM by fax.
Our team will review the referral and contact you regarding appointment availability and next steps.

Insurance Coverage

Some extended health plans may provide coverage or reimbursement for fertility investigations or laboratory testing.

Coverage varies by provider and plan. We recommend contacting your insurance company directly to determine:

Whether fertility testing is covered
Whether a referral is required
Any reimbursement limits
Documentation needed for claims submission

Ready to Begin?

Need a referral?
Book an appointment with your family doctor, a walk-in clinic or a virtual care provider.

Interested in PCRM's private-pay sperm screening?
Download our referral form and have it completed by your physician or nurse practitioner before submitting it to our clinic.

Questions?
Contact PCRM at [email protected] and our team will be happy to help.

Note: Semen Analysis & Sperm Screening is only offered at our Burnaby location.

Other Fertility Preservation Options

Choose PCRM for Male Fertility Care in Greater Vancouver and Edmonton

At PCRM, renowned male infertility specialists Dr. Victor Chow and Dr. Kenneth Poon collaborate with our fertility doctors to provide expert male fertility evaluation and treatment services to patients across British Columbia, Alberta, and Western Canada. Contact PCRM for a consultation or any fertility inquiries, taking a significant step toward building a family.

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Male Fertility