Brinderjeet Kaur^1*

¹Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital and Research Center, Jaipur, India.

*Corresponding Author:Brinderjeet Kaur, Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital and Research Center, Jaipur, India. Tel: 9829229289, Fax: 9829229289

Citation: Brinderjeet Kaur (2023) Evaluation guidelines of male factor in sub fertile couple. Medcina Intern 5: 212.

Received: October 11, 2023; Accepted: October 20, 2023; Published: October 31, 2023.

Infertility is the inability of sexually active, non-contraception couples to achieve spontaneous pregnancy at one year. Both male and female factors are responsible for infertility where male factor contributes to 40-50 % of causes of infertility in couples. Unfortunately, in developing nation like India with lack of awareness and rampant illiteracy the onus of infertility is on women and are many a times proclaimed ‘barren’. The male infertility refers to abnormal semen parameters and at times can be present with normal semen parameters. Given the high prevalence of male factor in infertile heterosexual couples, a basic medical history and evaluation of the male partner is warranted at the outset. The aim of this review is to guide clinicians with strategies for evaluation of male infertility.

Key Words:Infertility, Male Factor, Diagnostic Evaluation.

Infertility examination is suggested for couples who fail to achieve pregnancy over 12 months of unprotected intercourse. An earlier examination is warranted for couples where female age is more than 35 years. (1) The initial evaluation of the male counterpart includes detailed reproductive history and at least one semen analysis. (2) A women’s health specialist may reasonably obtain the male partner’s medical history and order semen analysis. Any abnormality noted warrants referral to a trained specialist or urologist for complete evaluation. (2)

The approach to male infertility evaluation should be done in a step-by-step manner. (Fig-1)

Figure 1: Recommendations for the diagnostic evaluation of male infertility.

The following details the specific key male historical factors to elicit (2) and provide valuable information to decipher the exact cause of couple infertility.

• Coital frequency and timing
• Any evidence of sexual dysfunction, including erectile or ejaculation issues
• Duration of infertility
• Prior infertility
• Childhood illnesses and developmental history
• Systemic medical illnesses.
• Previous surgery e.g cryptorchidism with or without surgery
• Medication use including anabolic steroids and supplement and allergies
• Sexual history and sexually transmitted infections and
• Exposure to gonadal trauma or toxins.

General Examination, height, weight, BP etc.

• Secoundary sexual characters
• Genital examination of testes (volume, consistency), Epidydymis, Vasa deferentia (prescence, absence), Assess for any abnormalities.

The sample should be collected after a minimum of 2 days and maximum of 7 days of sexual abstinence. The man should record time of semen production and deliver the sample to the laboratory within 1 hour of collection. During transport to the laboratory the sample should be kept between 20 – 37-degree C. The semen parameters were measure using recommended method by WHO like volume- weighing or transferring to pipettes or graduated vessel, sperm count by hemocytometer on fixed, dilutes sample, motility at room temperature or 37degree C, morphology by Tygerberg method and vitality by vital dye (Eosin) method.

Table -1 shows the normal reference range for seminal fluid parameters. It is worth pointing out that statistical tradition is to take the 2.5th centile from a two-sided reference interval, however for semen parameters one sided reference interval was considered to be appropriate. These semen characteristics are highly variable and are not the sole criteria for fertility as neither those falling with 95% confidence limit guarantee fertility nor those falling below lower limit are all infertile as time to pregnancy is affected by female partners fertility and test interpreted in conjunction with clinical information.

Table 1: Normal reference range of seminal fluid parameters.

They are uncommon causes of male infertility. Hypothalamic pituitary testicular axis abnormalities are well recognized causes of infertility. Endocrinal evaluation is indicated for males with 1) abnormal semen parameters particularly sperm concentration, 2) Impaired sexual function and 3) other clinical findings suggestive of endocrinopathy. Bare minimal hormonal evaluation should include measurement of Serum FSH and Total testosterone (T). In cases of low T less than 300 mg/ml then second morning testing of free testosterone, LH, Prolactin, TSH and Inhibin B is suggested. (Table-2)

Table 2: Basal hormonal levels.

The test is useful to exclude retrograde ejaculation. It should be performed in men with an ejaculate volume < 1.0 ml but prior to testing one must rule out incomplete collection or short abstinence interval (

Trans rectal Ultrasonography reveals dilated seminal vesicles or ejaculatory ducts and or midline cystic prostate structures. Scrotal sonography can rule out varicocele, spermatocele, absent vasa, epididymal indurations and testicular cancer.

Anti sperm antibodies (ASA)

Sperm agglutination or asthenospermia are indications for performing ASA testing. The test relies on the fact that any break in blood –testis barrier and exposure of immune system to larger quantities of sperm antigens or after vasectomy, trauma, torsion, biopsy, orchitis and vasectomy leads to increase in ASA titers.

Standard semen parameters do not seem to be associated with the risk of pregnancy loss. (3) Routine semen analysis does not take into account the genetic constitution of sperm which is essential for embryo development and implantation. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown elevation of SDF and it negatively affects fertility.(4) and has been proposed as a cause of miscarriage.(5) Current European society for human reproduction and embryology (ESHRE 2017) guidelines recommend sperm DNA fragmentation testing for men whose partners experience recurrent pregnancy loss, unexplained infertility, arrested embryo development, poor blastocyst development, multiple failed IVF, recurrent miscarriage, advanced age, varicocele and toxin drug exposure are some conditions benefitted by sperm fragmentation test.

There are several methods to test SDF, the most commonly used are terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase d UTP nick end labeling assay, the sperm chromatin dispersion test & the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). SCSA in brief measures susceptibility of sperm DNA to denaturation when it is exposed to heat or acids. Sperms are stained with fluorescent probe that interacts with DNA molecule. The fluorescent signal changes when the DNA is fragmented. These changes are monitored using flow cytometry. DNA fragmentation Index (DFI) is percentage of sperm cells with damaged DNA, normal reference range is less than 15% indicating good to excellent sperm head integrity. DFI more than 50% denotes very poor sperm DNA integrity and the threshold for susceptibility is 25%.

A met analysis of 16 cohort studies involving 2,969 couples found a significant increase in miscarriage in patients with high SDF. (6) Recent cohort study suggest SDF was significantly higher in couples with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) compared to a group of fertile men. (7, 8) Therefore, it’s reasonable to offer SDF testing to couples with RPL. Besides, advanced paternal age, many environmental factors, such as smoking, obesity, exogenous heat, and exposure to toxins, have been associated with increased SDF. There are reservations pertaining to routine testing of SDF as a part of workup for RPL (9, 10), however ordering the test could be useful and could help strengthen the decision to pursue lifestyle modifications. (11)

Genetic testing

In extreme cases genetic studies like cystic fibrosis gene (CFTR gene), chromosomal abnormalities like Klinefelter’s syndrome (47, XXY), chromosomal aneuploidy and Y chromosome micro deletion studies are done to ascertain the cause of male infertility.

The prognosis depends on the following factors:

• Duration of infertility
• Primary or secondary infertility
• Results of semen analysis
• Age and fertility status of female partner.

Table-3 Causes of Male Infertility.

Table 4 summarizes the collective evidence and suggested guidelines for various disorders related to male infertility- genetic, obstructive, varicocele, infections and ejaculation disorders. We briefly describe the evidence (in blue) and then the recommendations as suggested by consensus opinion of European guideline (orange).

Table 4: Summary of evidence & recommendations for various disorders of male infertility.

I hereby declare that I have no conflict of interest.

None.

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