Five Reasons Why Male Fertility Patients Seek a Second Opinion From Our Practice

Receiving an infertility diagnosis is a difficult moment in any person’s life. Traditionally (and incorrectly), society assumes that if a fertility issue is present, it is the result of a female-factor condition. This is true, but only for ⅓ of the cases of infertility that occur in the U.S., with another third being attributed to unexplained infertility and the final third being attributed to male-factor infertility. Essentially, this means that male factor fertility issues are equally responsible for couples experiencing infertility. If this surprises you, you’re not alone. Infertility diagnoses across male patients are often entirely unexpected, with many considering themselves to be young to relatively young, healthy, and without any other underlying medical issues.

Because this type of diagnosis can come as a surprise, but also bring significant decisions about the next steps (fertility treatment, medications, IVF, sperm donation, etc.), it is common for male fertility patients to seek a second opinion. Male Fertility & Sexual Medicine Specialists has worked with countless men and their partners who’ve come to our practice to seek a second opinion, and treatment if desired/necessary.

Why you may consider seeking a second opinion about a male infertility diagnosis

1. You are under the age of 50 with no underlying health conditions. As noted above, although it is entirely possible to face infertility as a healthy individual under the age of 50, you may consider a second opinion with our practice if you believe that you and your partner need a better understanding of the results of any testing you’ve already undergone, especially in conjunction with a potential female-factor fertility issue.

2. You already have a child/children and have been told you’re experiencing secondary infertility. Secondary infertility is a very real condition that is particularly surprising because it develops after a successful pregnancy and delivery. Because secondary infertility can stem from both female and male sources, proper testing and review of treatment options are needed to save patients time, energy, and financial commitments.

3. You have not received proper male fertility testing. Male fertility testing needs to begin with a comprehensive semen analysis where your sperm is assessed across its motility, volume, concentration, and morphology. This will tell your fertility specialist how severe the fertility issue is at hand and which form of treatment is the best route to proceed with.

4. You have already completed multiple treatment cycle rounds without success. Sometimes, fertility treatment simply takes multiple rounds to reach a successful outcome, but these cycles come at the time, energy, and expense of patients. If you have any concerns about the duration of repeat treatment(s), seeking a second opinion is a valuable option.

5. You are uneasy about an aspect of your treatment plan. If there is an area of your treatment plan that you have doubts about entering into, for any reason, consider seeking a second opinion. Fertility care, as noted, is a serious commitment for many couples, you should feel confident about the path ahead so you can proceed with as little stress as possible.

If you’re ready for a second opinion, you can request a consultation with our team. We treat male infertility cases including low sperm count and no sperm count, impotence, urological issues, and provide vasectomy reversals.