Dr. Alexandra Berger, MD

Varicocele is a relatively common condition affecting the male reproductive system. Though not all varicoceles cause problems, they can sometimes lead to issues such as testicular pain, decreased sperm count, and decreased sperm quality that can affect fertility. For these individuals, varicocele treatment can help.

Embryo development is a delicate, multi-stage process. From the moment of fertilization, growth follows a pattern that can be influenced by many factors. With in vitro fertilization (IVF), that pattern closely mimics what happens in the human body during a natural pregnancy, when an embryo grows from a single cell to the blastocyst stage. However, rather than occurring in a fallopian tube and the uterus, the initial phases take place in a petri dish in a lab while being monitored by trained embryologists.

How an embryo develops in the first few days — specifically, its rate of growth and changes in structure — directly impacts whether the embryo will result in a healthy live birth. Learning how embryos grow during the IVF process can help patients understand what a desirable outcome looks like and whether their embryos have achieved certain milestones.

While both males and females can experience sexual dysfunction that affects fertility, erectile dysfunction (ED) in males is one of the more common and problematic concerns. The physical aspect of ED can mean an inability to perform during intercourse, as well as an impeded ability to deliver sperm. However, ED can also be a sign of other health problems and may lead to emotional distress, especially when trying to conceive.

Understanding what causes erectile dysfunction, who may be most at risk, and how it can be treated are all critical elements for reaching one’s fertility goals.

Sperm, or spermatozoa, are the reproductive cells (gametes) of a biological male. The reproductive cell of a biological female is called an oocyte, ovum, or egg.

The primary function of sperm is to reach and fuse with an egg. This process allows the sperm to deliver male genetic information (DNA) into the egg. In doing so, a zygote (fertilized egg) is formed, which can then go through stages of development to form a fetus.

Human DNA is contained within structures called chromosomes, which are found inside the nucleus of every cell. Most human cells are diploid cells, meaning they contain two sets of 23 chromosomes — one set from the sperm and one set from the egg that made them. Sperm and egg cells, however, are haploid cells, and contain a single set of 23 chromosomes. When a sperm fuses with an egg, the newly formed zygote will have two sets of chromosomes, one from the sperm and one from the egg. This fusion is how most human cells end up with a total of 46 chromosomes.

Sperm production occurs inside male testes (also called testicles). Unlike biological females, who are born with all the eggs they will ever produce in their lifetime, biological males’ sperm production begins once they reach puberty, and they will continue making sperm throughout their lifespan.

Sperm retrieval procedures are used to remove sperm from the testicles for the purpose of fertilizing an oocyte (egg). They may be used for males who have zero sperm count in their ejaculate (azoospermia) but still produce sperm in the testes.

There are two main techniques for surgical sperm retrieval: aspiration and extraction. Sperm aspiration involves using a needle to aspirate (remove) sperm from the epididymis or the testes. Testicular sperm extraction takes a sample of the tissue, known as a biopsy, to collect the sperm. There are also different variations or subtypes of these procedures, as well as non-surgical approaches for individuals with ejaculation limitations.

Though a vasectomy used to be considered a permanent sterilization procedure, modern developments have made reversal possible. This article will explain various vasectomy reversal procedures and the likelihood of success in restoring fertility. It will also review alternative fertility options.

It is estimated that male infertility is the sole cause of 20 to 30 percent of infertility cases, and a contributing factor in approximately half of infertility cases.ⁱ Sperm defects, including a type of sperm DNA damage known as sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), are a leading cause of male factor infertility. Doctors and researchers are still learning about SDF, including how it impacts fertility, what causes it, and how it can be treated.

Egg freezing is a fertility preservation technique that was first made available in the late 1990s to females undergoing cancer treatments that could potentially affect their fertility. The egg freezing process is now also used by individuals to preserve their fertility for a wide range of reasons. Previously considered experimental, egg freezing is currently considered to have minimal risk and is even covered by some employers in the U.S. through health insurance.