If you and your partner have been attempting to get pregnant for a while without any success, it would be sensible to approach your doctor about being tested for infertility. One in every three cases of infertility is due to problems with the male partner, or problems with both the male and female partner. A man's fertility is judged by the quantity and quality of the sperm within his semen. To begin a test for male fertility, your doctor will ask for a semen sample, which will then be examined for:

• Sperm morphology - In a healthy sperm sample, 40% or fewer of the sperm may be unusually shaped and still be considered fertile. However, a condition called Teratozoospermia is diagnosed when the majority of the sperm are found to be abnormally shaped and faulty.
• Sperm Motility - Healthy sperm are fast and forward-moving, unviable sperm are slow. When the proportion of slow sperm outweighs the fast ones, this is called Asthenozoospermia.
• Sperm Count - In 1 to 4 milliliters of semen, there should be 20 to 600 million sperm. Oligozoospermia is when you have less than that.
• Absence of Sperm - When a man does not make any sperm whatsoever, he has a condition called Azoospermia.

How To Increase Male Fertility

There are many things that affect male fertility. If you find yourself suffering from infertility problems, there are a number of things you can do.

• Lose Weight - But not too much! Being too over or underweight can affect the quality of your sperm.
• Quit Smoking - And drinking, for that matter.
• Don't Smoke Cannabis - Both cannabis and bodybuilding steroids have been proven to lower sperm quality.
• Wear Loose Underwear And Pants - In order for sperm to be in tip-top condition, it should be kept at a temperature cooler than the human body.
• Prefer Showers Over Baths - Since it's important to keep your sperm cooler than body temperature, a long slow roast in a hot bubble bath won't do it any good.
• Have Good General Health - You want to avoid coughs and colds, so pay attention to your diet. Make sure that you eat enough vitamin C and zinc (a fertility booster).
• Go Green - Eliminating as many chemicals and pesticides as possible is a good idea for anyone, at any time. Many chemicals used in packaging and furniture are known to block an important male hormone -- Androgen. This has been shown to cause a lower sperm count.
• Get a Good Physical - Get any lumps or bumps examined.
• Review Your Prescriptions - Speak with your healthcare provider about the prescription medicine you currently take. A drug you're taking for an unrelated ailment could be the cause behind your lower sperm count.

Male Fertility Treatments

ICSI (Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection)

A single sperm cell is injected into the partner's egg, as part of an IVF treatment. These days ICSI is used in half of all IVF treatments.

Surgery

Surgery can remove or remedy many anomalies found in the testicles, such as when the tubes in the testicles (the epididymal) are blocked.