Treatments for Infertility in Men

The treatment and management of infertility in men will depend on the underlying cause or causes of the infertility. Treatment will focus on correcting any structural or hormonal abnormalities that may be influencing infertility. This may be accomplished through medications or surgery. Lifestyle changes and other treatments, such as assisted reproductive technologies (ART), may be used to enhance semen quality and increase the likelihood of fertilization.

The ultimate goal of infertility treatment is a pregnancy ending in the birth of a healthy baby. Infertility treatments can be lengthy and expensive. They are not always covered by medical insurance, and they are not always successful.

Treatment involves the following:

Lifestyle changes Medications Surgery Alternative and complementary therapies

References

Infertility. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated August 23, 2012. Accessed September 14, 2012.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Guideline: management of infertility caused by ovulatory dysfunction. Obstet Gynecol. 2002;99:247-258.

American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Guideline: optimal evaluation of the infertile female. Fertil and Steril. 2004;82:S169-S172.

Male infertility. American Society for Reproductive Medicine website. Available at: http://www.asrm.org/topics/detail.aspx?id=1331 . Accessed September 14, 2012.

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association website. Available at: http://www.resolve.org/ . Accessed September 14, 2012.

Sharlip ID, Jarrow J, Beiiker AM, et al. Report on optimal evaluation of the infertile male. J Urol. 2002;167:2138-2144.

Shefi S, Turek PJP. Definition and current evaluation of subfertile men. Internat Braz J Urol. 2006;32:385-397.

Vasectomy. EBSCO Health Library website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/healthLibrary/ . Updated May 2011. Accessed September 14, 2012.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Adrienne Carmack, MD
Review Date: 09/2012
Update Date: 00/92/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.