Dr. Dimple Doshi (MBBS, MD, DGO)
Lady Gynecologist & Laparoscopic Surgeon
27+ years’ experience
20,000+ surgeries completed
When a couple is unable to conceive, the woman is often tested first, while the male partner’s evaluation gets delayed.
This can create stress, guilt, confusion, and unnecessary treatment delays for both partners.
In my clinical experience, infertility should always be evaluated as a couple’s condition — respectfully, scientifically, and without blame.
This guide explains male infertility causes, semen analysis, evaluation, treatment guidance, and when referral for andrology, IUI, IVF, ICSI, or sperm retrieval may be needed.
Male infertility means a male partner has a sperm, hormonal, anatomical, genetic, infection-related, or lifestyle-related factor reducing conception chances.
Male infertility is usually considered when a couple has difficulty conceiving after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse, or earlier if:
Male infertility does not mean a man can never become a father.
It means the cause should be identified correctly and treated or referred appropriately.
Male factor infertility may involve:
AUA/ASRM guidelines emphasize appropriate evaluation and management of the male partner in an infertile couple, including semen analysis, health risk assessment, lifestyle factors, and treatment/referral planning.
Dr. Dimple Doshi’s Tip:
A semen problem is a medical finding, not a personal failure. Male fertility evaluation should be handled with dignity and privacy.
Male infertility is also searched by patients using many everyday terms, and all usually need proper couple-based evaluation.
Common terms include:
Infertility is a couple’s condition, so testing only the woman or only the man can delay the correct diagnosis and treatment.
A couple may have:
At Vardaan Hospital, Goregaon West, Mumbai, we strongly encourage couple counselling because infertility care should be scientific, balanced, and emotionally respectful.
This prevents:
Dr. Dimple Doshi’s Tip:
The first fertility consultation is often more useful when both partners attend together. It helps us understand the full picture and avoid one-sided treatment.
Male infertility may be due to sperm production problems, sperm transport problems, hormonal disorders, infections, varicocele, genetic causes, lifestyle factors, or sexual difficulties.
Enlarged veins around the testis may affect sperm quality.
Low testosterone, pituitary problems, thyroid disorders, high prolactin, or altered FSH/LH may affect sperm production.
Past sexually transmitted infections, mumps orchitis, epididymitis, prostatitis, or genital tract infection may affect sperm.
Diabetes can affect erection, ejaculation, hormones, and sperm health.
Obesity may alter testosterone and sperm parameters.
Undescended testes, trauma, surgery, torsion, chemotherapy, radiation, or testicular failure can reduce sperm production.
Sperm may be produced but unable to reach the semen due to obstruction.
Some men with very low or absent sperm may need genetic testing.
Erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, retrograde ejaculation, or infrequent intercourse can reduce conception chances.
Frequent sauna, tight undergarments, high-heat workplace exposure, smoking, alcohol, anabolic steroids, and certain medications may contribute.
Mayo Clinic notes that male infertility can result from conditions affecting sperm quantity or quality, sperm delivery problems, infections, varicocele, hormonal disorders, genetic defects, diabetes, and lifestyle factors.
Semen analysis helps assess sperm count, movement, shape, volume, and other semen parameters, but it must be interpreted with clinical context.
Common semen report terms include:
Semen Report Term | Meaning | Patient-Friendly Explanation |
Oligospermia | Low sperm count | Fewer sperm than expected |
Azoospermia | No sperm seen in semen | Needs repeat testing and specialist evaluation |
Asthenospermia | Low sperm motility | Sperm movement is reduced |
Teratozoospermia | Abnormal sperm morphology | More sperm have abnormal shape |
Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia | Count, movement, and shape affected | Multiple sperm parameters are low |
Hypospermia | Low semen volume | May suggest collection issue, obstruction, or gland problem |
Leukocytospermia | Increased WBCs in semen | May suggest infection/inflammation |
One abnormal semen report should usually be rechecked, because sperm parameters can fluctuate due to:
The 2024 AUA/ASRM guideline amendment defines azoospermia as absence of sperm in the ejaculate and recommends centrifugation of the sample when azoospermia is seen.
Dr. Dimple Doshi’s Tip:
Please do not panic after one abnormal semen report. The report should be repeated properly and interpreted with both partners’ fertility factors.
A man should get tested early if conception is delayed, semen quality is suspected to be abnormal, or there are risk factors for male infertility.
Testing is advised when:
Male infertility evaluation usually begins with history, physical examination, semen analysis, and targeted blood or imaging tests when needed.
Cleveland Clinic notes that diagnosing male infertility generally involves checking whether healthy sperm are being ejaculated, and fertility testing often focuses on sperm-related problems.
Dr. Dimple Doshi’s Tip:
Male infertility evaluation should not stop at the semen report. We also review lifestyle, medical history, medications, sexual function, and female partner factors.
Treatment depends on the cause; some men improve with lifestyle, medicines, infection treatment, hormone correction, varicocele treatment, or specialist male fertility care.
The ASRM/AUA guideline includes evaluation and management options such as varicocele repair, sperm retrieval, obstructive azoospermia management, medical interventions, and assisted reproductive techniques when required.
A semen report is not the final word.
Let us help you understand what it means and what the next practical step should be.
Consult Dr. Dimple Doshi in Goregaon West for couple-based fertility evaluation.
Referral is needed when sperm parameters are severely abnormal, azoospermia is present, female age is advanced, or advanced reproductive techniques may be required.
At Vardaan Hospital, we guide patients honestly when they need care beyond our scope.
Referral may be advised for:
Vardaan Hospital does not provide IUI or IVF.
If advanced fertility treatment is required, we help couples understand the indication and guide them for appropriate referral.
Dr. Dimple Doshi’s Tip:
Referral is not a failure of treatment. Sometimes it is the most honest and time-saving decision for a couple.
Vardaan Hospital helps couples with ethical evaluation, diagnosis, female-factor treatment, semen report guidance, and timely referral instead of unnecessary delay.
We provide:
Not every couple needs IVF.
Not every couple can conceive naturally.
The correct role of a doctor is to identify where the couple stands and guide them without false hope or unnecessary procedures.
We do not offer IUI or IVF — but we do offer honest guidance.
Get evaluated correctly, understand your options, and move in the right direction.
Book your fertility consultation at Vardaan Hospital, Goregaon West.
Even when semen parameters are abnormal, female factors must also be assessed because infertility often has more than one contributing cause.
Female evaluation may include:
At Vardaan Hospital, Dr. Dimple Doshi provides advanced gynecological evaluation and, where appropriate, 3D laparoscopic surgery using the Karl Storz Rubina system for conditions such as:
A well-prepared consultation saves time, reduces repeat testing, and helps the couple receive a clear, practical fertility plan.
Please bring:
Follow the lab’s instructions carefully.
Many labs advise a specific abstinence period and timely sample submission.
If collection is incomplete or delayed, the report may not reflect the true picture.
Dr. Dimple Doshi’s Tip:
Bring both partners’ reports together. This helps avoid repeat testing and allows more accurate fertility counselling.
Male infertility can silently affect confidence, marriage, intimacy, and mental well-being, so counselling must be respectful and non-judgmental.
Many men feel:
Our message is simple:
A semen problem is a medical finding — not a character judgment.
With correct evaluation, many couples can find a practical path forward.
Results depend on the cause, female partner’s age, duration of infertility, semen parameters, ovarian reserve, and whether one or both partners have fertility factors.
Possible outcomes include:
Cleveland Clinic notes that male infertility does not always mean a man cannot have a biological child; treatment options exist and success depends on the underlying cause and partner factors.
Dr. Dimple Doshi offers ethical, couple-focused fertility evaluation with strong gynecological expertise and clear referral guidance when advanced fertility treatment is required.
Vardaan Hospital offers gynecology-led couple infertility evaluation, female-factor assessment, semen report guidance, and honest referral support.
Vardaan Hospital is conveniently accessible for couples from Goregaon West, Malad, Kandivali, Jogeshwari, Andheri, and nearby Mumbai suburbs.
The cost depends on consultation, semen analysis, female partner evaluation, blood tests, ultrasound, and whether further referral is required.
A basic evaluation is usually more affordable than delayed, repeated, unplanned testing.
The exact cost depends on:
Male infertility is common and should be evaluated without shame, blame, or delay because many couples can still find a practical path to pregnancy.
The most important points are:
Dr. Dimple Doshi’s Tip:
Do not let embarrassment delay testing. Early evaluation can save time, reduce emotional stress, and guide the couple toward the right treatment pathway.
Ans. Yes, some male infertility causes can improve with lifestyle correction, infection treatment, hormonal correction, varicocele treatment, or timing guidance.
However, severe sperm problems may require andrologist care or IVF/ICSI referral. At Vardaan Hospital, we do not perform IVF or IUI, but we guide couples honestly about when referral is needed.
Ans. Usually, one abnormal semen analysis should be repeated before making major decisions, unless the abnormality is very severe.
Sperm count and motility can change after fever, stress, infection, alcohol intake, medication, poor sleep, or collection error.
Ans. In some men, sperm count may improve if the cause is reversible, such as infection, fever, lifestyle factors, obesity, diabetes, heat exposure, or certain medicines.
But genetic causes, testicular failure, severe varicocele, or obstruction may need specialist evaluation.
Ans. No. Vardaan Hospital does not provide IUI or IVF.
We provide couple infertility evaluation, female partner assessment, semen report interpretation, basic male infertility counselling, gynecological treatment, laparoscopic surgery for selected female causes, and referral guidance when advanced fertility treatment is required.
Ans. Couples should not delay if the woman is above 35 years, AMH is low, semen count is very low, azoospermia is present, tubes are blocked, severe endometriosis is suspected, or there is recurrent pregnancy loss.
Early evaluation prevents loss of valuable reproductive time.
Ans. Stress may affect sexual function, hormones, sleep, lifestyle, and intercourse timing, but it should not be assumed as the only cause without testing.
A semen analysis and couple evaluation are still important.
Ans. Sometimes male factors, including severe sperm DNA damage or genetic issues, may contribute to recurrent pregnancy loss.
But recurrent miscarriage needs evaluation of both partners, including uterine factors, hormonal factors, chromosomal factors, autoimmune causes, and lifestyle factors.
Ans. A man should get tested if pregnancy has not occurred after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse, earlier if the female partner is over 35, or if there is abnormal semen report, varicocele, testicular history, diabetes, obesity, erectile problems, or recurrent pregnancy loss.
Male infertility is common, medically understandable, and should never be approached with blame or shame.
A semen report is only one part of the fertility picture. The couple’s full evaluation — including female factors, male factors, age, ovarian reserve, duration of infertility, and previous pregnancy history — helps decide the right next step.
At Vardaan Hospital, Goregaon West, Mumbai, Dr. Dimple Doshi provides couple-based infertility evaluation, semen report interpretation, female-factor assessment, gynecological treatment where needed, and honest referral guidance when andrology, IUI, IVF, ICSI, or sperm retrieval care is required.
Trying for pregnancy but not getting answers?
Start with a balanced couple evaluation — not blame, not delay.
Book a fertility consultation with Dr. Dimple Doshi at Vardaan Hospital, Goregaon West, Mumbai.
