Male Fertility: The Practical To-Do List
Male Fertility: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
The male contribution to conception, and what measurably affects it. A male factor is involved in around half of couples having difficulty, yet investigation still often begins and continues with the woman.
Key takeaways
- Share of cases involving a male factor: around 50 per cent
- Time to produce sperm: about 72-90 days
- Most useful single change: Ask for a semen analysis early rather than after months of female investigation.
- Commonest mistake: Spending heavily on fertility supplements; the evidence is weak.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- Ask for a semen analysis early rather than after months of female investigation
- Allow about three months after any change before re-testing
- Stop anabolic steroids and tell your GP if you have used them
- Have regular sex through the cycle rather than timing it precisely
Do not
- Spending heavily on fertility supplements; the evidence is weak
- Taking testosterone while trying to conceive, which suppresses sperm production
- Acting on a single abnormal result without a repeat test
The numbers behind the list
Where the items above come from.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Share of cases involving a male factor | around 50 per cent |
| Time to produce sperm | about 72-90 days |
| When to seek assessment | after 1 year, or 6 months if the woman is over 36 |
| First-line test | semen analysis, usually repeated |
| Clearly harmful | smoking, heavy alcohol, obesity, anabolic steroids |
If you change one thing
Ask for a semen analysis early rather than after months of female investigation. It is first on the list above. If the rest feels like too much at once, start there and leave the others.
Where to go next
- Male Fertility: Common Myths and What Guidelines Say
- New to Male Fertility? Start Here
- Male Fertility — the reference entry
- What the Guidance Really Says About Men and Health Services
- Testosterone: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to speak to a doctor
See a GP after a year of trying, or six months if your partner is over 36, and sooner if you have had undescended testicles, testicular surgery or injury, chemotherapy, or mumps after puberty. See a GP promptly for erectile dysfunction, very low libido, or testicular pain or swelling. Seek urgent care for sudden severe testicular pain.
Where this comes from
- NICE — Fertility problems: assessment and treatment
- Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority — male fertility
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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