Male Fertility: The Quick Reference
Male Fertility: the whole thing in five minutes, for when you want the numbers and nothing else.
The male contribution to conception, and what measurably affects it.
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.
The numbers, in one place
| 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 |
In one paragraph
A male factor is involved in around half of couples having difficulty, yet investigation still often begins and continues with the woman.
Worth doing
- 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
Worth avoiding
- 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
Where to go next
- Male Fertility: The Practical To-Do List
- Male Fertility: Common Myths and What Guidelines Say
- 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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