Male Reproduction

Whatever your fertility needs, or infertility challenges, our multidisciplinary team of urologists and fertility specialists at Aurora BayCare provide you with comprehensive solutions

Male Infertility

A couple is considered infertile after failing to become pregnant after at least a year of having sex without contraception.  Male infertility plays a role about 50 percent of the time.

Low sperm production, blockages that prevent sperm delivery, and misshapen or immobile sperm are some causes of infertility. Additional factors include chronic health issues, illness, and injury.  Lifestyle choices regarding alcohol and drug consumption may also play a role.

If you and your partner seek assistance with fertility, you may work with both a urogynecologist—a doctor specializing in women’s urogenital health care, and a urology specialist in male fertility.

At your initial consultation, for questions of male fertility, expect to provide your doctor with your medical history and a semen sample.  Your doctor will also perform a general physical exam.

Additional tests can help pinpoint the cause of infertility, including:

• Ultrasound (scrotal and/or transrectal)
• Hormone testing
• Post-ejaculation urinalysis
• Genetic tests
• Testicular biopsy
• Anti-sperm antibody test
• Sperm function test

Treatment options vary depending on the cause of infertility, and may include non-invasive approaches such as medication, hormone treatments, and counseling. Assisted reproduction services such as in vitro fertilization are available through our full-service fertility clinic.  Our multidisciplinary team of urologist specialists and urogynecologists also provide surgical treatment options.

Vasectomy

A vasectomy is a form of permanent birth control for men.  A vasectomy does not stop sperm production.  Nor does it affect your ability to ejaculate or to have an orgasm.  It does stop the flow of sperm from the testicles to the penis.  During the procedure, the vas deferens from each testicle is clamped or sealed shut to prevent sperm from mixing with semen ejaculated during orgasm.

It takes several months to be fully effective once you’ve had a vasectomy. During that time, you should use a back-up form of birth control.

No-Scalpel Vasectomy at Aurora BayCare

At Aurora BayCare, we offer no-scalpel vasectomies. No-scalpel vasectomies are as effective as vasectomies performed with a scalpel. This procedure involves using a small clamp with pointed ends rather than a scalpel.

Vasectomy Reversal

Most men choose vasectomy reversal because their circumstances have changed and they wish to father children once again.

There are two types of vasectomy reversal—a vasovasostomy and a Vasoepididymostomy.

A vasovasostomy involves the reattachment of the tubes, or vas deferentia, that carry semen from the testicles to the penis.  A vasoepididymostomy is performed when a vasovasostomy cannot be performed.  In this procedure, the vas deferentia is attached directly to the epididymis—the small organ at the back of each testicle that holds sperm.

Reported pregnancy rates after vasectomy reversal range from 40 to 90 percent.