Male Infertility Specialists in The Chicago Area
We Provide Treatment for Male Factor Infertility
When considering infertility and pregnancy issues, women are not alone. A male factor contributes to the etiology of infertility in 40-50% of couples that present for evaluation. Infertility can be a stressful, frustrating experience for both you and your partner. You deserve to find answers and a path through this period of your life. The team of specialists at Reproductive Medicine Institute is dedicated to helping you achieve these goals. Our caring team of doctors has over 20 years of experience treating male factor infertility. If you believe you could benefit from our diagnostic or treatment services, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
What Causes Male Factor Infertility?
Male factor infertility could be caused by a wide range of lifestyle, environmental, or medical factors. You may be more at risk for infertility depending on exposure to certain environmental elements, such as industrial chemicals and heavy metals. Lifestyle choices and health issues also play a significant role. The possible medical factors, including the following, are categorized as pre-testicular, testicular, or post-testicular:
- Pre-Testicular Factors: Just like follicle and egg recruitment and growth, sperm production depends on a delicate balance of messages from the brain. Generally, pre-testicular causes for abnormal sperm counts involve low levels of messages sent from the brain. Sperm production cannot be properly accomplished without these messages. Causes for this issue may include genetic conditions, obesity, and prior radiation treatments.
- Testicular Factors: Testicular factors refer to testes-related conditions that may affect sperm production. These causes include primary testicular failure, trauma, a previous history of mumps or malaria, advanced age, history of testicular cancer, or exposure to chemotherapy.
- Post-Testicular Factors: Post-testicular factors include obstructive abnormalities to the male genital tract and issues related to ejaculation. These can include the absence of the vas deferens, which is a condition that can be seen in men who carry mutations for cystic fibrosis. Other causes include obstruction of the ejaculatory ducts or vas deferens, prior vasectomies, prostatitis, prostate inflammation, and erectile dysfunction.

How is Male Factor Infertility Diagnosed?
Our team of specialists provides diagnostic services at our Chicago surgical center. Diagnostics may feel like a daunting process when you and your partner desperately want answers. Our caring staff members understand the weight of the situation and are here to support you throughout the process. Determining the cause of infertility may involve multiple tests, thorough physical exams, and discussions about your medical history, chronic health problems, and prior surgeries. Our infertility testing process typically includes a combination of the following:
- General Physical Exam
- Discussion of Medical History
- Semen Analysis
- Scrotal Ultrasound
- Hormone Testing
- Post-Ejaculation Urinalysis
- Testicular Biopsy
- Specialized Sperm Function Tests
How is Male Factor Infertility Treated?
We offer a variety of treatment options for male factor infertility at our surgical center. Your doctor will build a personalized treatment plan to provide the best option for you. Depending on your unique diagnosis and medical history, we may choose to move forward with one of the following infertility treatment options:
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): IVF is a procedure intended to help patients overcome fertility challenges. This treatment method stimulates, retrieves, fertilizes, and transfers an egg without any work from sperm. Our staff takes an egg, fertilizes it in our lab, and then places it into the uterus. This accomplishes egg fertilization without the need for fallopian tubes that may inhibit the process. We have provided numerous patients with IVF treatment on their path to starting a family.
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): This form of artificial insemination involves placing sperm directly inside a woman’s uterus around the time she is ovulating. This technique helps sperm get closer to the egg, reduces the time and distance sperm must travel, and facilitates fertilization. IUI differs from IVF because it still requires a sperm to fertilize the egg on its own accord. It is less invasive, can be coordinated with a woman’s typical cycle, and can be completed with the assistance of fertility medications.
- Lifestyle Modifications: Our doctors often recommend lifestyle modifications to help optimize male fertility. These modifications include maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol intake, and not smoking.
- Medications: Some hormonal imbalances and infertility issues may be able to be treated with medications. This treatment option typically takes effect over the course of two to three months.
Choose Reproductive Medicine Institute for Your Male Factor Infertility Treatment
If you or your partner are dealing with male factor infertility, you deserve to find answers and relief from your frustrations. Our doctors are ready to support you through this process and help you build a treatment plan that works for you. If you have any questions for the Reproductive Medicine Institute team or would like to schedule an initial consultation, give us a call today to get started.