How to Test Male Fertility

Step 1

Schedule a complete medical examination. According to the Mayo Clinic, the first step to testing a man for fertility is to make sure he is in good overall general health. The exam will usually included taking a medical history, examining his genitals and discussing his sexual development and any past surgeries or chronic medical issues.

Step 2

Submit to a sperm analysis. Another early option in testing his fertility capabilities is to test his sperm. This typically involves your partner masturbating in a room at the health care office and capturing the semen in a sterile container. The sample will be sent to a lab where it will be tested for size, number, shape and movement. The lab will also test for infection which can impact a man’s fertility.

Step 3

Have an ultrasound. A scrotal ultrasound is used to see if he has an anatomical obstruction in the sperm storage areas of his testicles. The doctor might also order a transrectal ultrasound, which is a procedure that requires a small wand be inserted to your partner’s rectum. It checks the tubes from the prostate to be sure they are properly formed and not blocked by scar tissue, tumors or malformation.

Step 4

Have a post-ejaculation test. This test requires your partner to collect urine in a container immediately after ejaculation. The urine is then analyzed for the presence of sperm. If sperm is found, it means that your partner’s sperm is traveling backward into the bladder instead of frontward, out of the penis.

Step 5

Biopsy the testicles. In a testicle biopsy, samples are removed that will allow the doctor to analyze whether your partner is actually producing sperm. This test is usually ordered if your partner’s semen test does not indicate any present sperm.