What is Infertility?
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive a child after one year of unprotected intercourse. For women who are older than 35, this time period drops to six months.
Male Factor Infertility
Approximately 15 percent of all couples are infertile. Up to 50 percent of these infertile couples will have a male factor component and 30 percent of couples will not be able to conceive solely because of a male factor. For this reason, if a couple is having trouble conceiving, it’s important to have both the woman and the man evaluated.
Evaluating for Male Factor Infertility
Tennessee Urology male sexual and reproductive health specialists recommend a complete evaluation for male patients, including a semen analysis, to identify the cause of a couples’ infertility. The evaluation is a critical component of solving the cause of the infertility and needs to be performed and managed by experienced physicians and a competent reproductive laboratory. Additionally, male hormone levels may influence sperm counts and should be evaluated by a male fertility specialist.
Every man who is having problems conceiving with his partner requires an evaluation, which includes:
- A complete history and physical examination
- Reproductive history of both male and female partners
- Screening semen analysis
- Blood work
- Exam to identify varicoceles, which are similar to varicose veins in the leg and are also a known cause of male infertility
- Possible advanced testing with ultrasound
If there are any abnormalities found on preliminary screening, your physician will discuss one of the many options that may be available to you and your partner.
Physicians
Mark G. Bowles
M.D.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/BPH, Bladder Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction, General Urology, Kidney Stones, Overactive Bladder (OAB), Prostate Cancer, Urethral Stricture Disease, Vasectomy
Katherine M. Cameron
M.D.
Female Incontinence, Female Pelvic Health, Female Urology, General Urology, Interstitial Cystitis, Kidney Stones, Overactive Bladder (OAB), Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Stress Urinary Incontinence, Vaginal rejuvenation
Stuart A. Chasan
M.D., F.A.C.S.
Adult circumcision, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/BPH, Bladder Cancer, General Urology, Kidney Stones, Peyronie's Disease, Prostate Cancer, Vasectomy
Walter William Chiles
M.D., F.A.C.S.
Female Incontinence, General Urology, InterStim Neuromodulation Therapy for OAB, Kidney Stones, Laser prostatectomy, Rezum Therapy for BPH, Robotic Prostatectomy, UroLift, Vasectomy, Xiaflex® for Peyronies disease
Lee Congleton, III
M.D., F.AC.S.
Artificial sphincter, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/BPH, Bladder Cancer, Cryosurgery for Prostate Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction, Female Incontinence, Female urinary incontinence, General Urology, Hematuria, Kidney Stones, Low Testosterone, Male Incontinence, No-Scalpel Vasectomy, Overactive Bladder (OAB), Penile Prosthesis, Peyronie's Disease, Prostate Cancer, Rezum Therapy for BPH, Robotic Prostatectomy, Urethral sling surgery, Urethral Stricture Disease, UroLift, Voiding dysfunction
Brandon S. Cottrell
M.D.
Adult circumcision, Artificial sphincter, Bladder Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction, General Urology, Kidney Stones, Male Infertility, Overactive Bladder (OAB), Peyronie's Disease, Prostate Cancer, Prostatitis, Urethral Stricture Disease, Vasectomy
Sean M. DeLair
M.D., F.A.C.S.
Bladder Cancer, Cryotherapy, Kidney Cancer, Kidney Stones, Overactive Bladder (OAB), Penile Prosthesis, Prostate Cancer, Testicular Cancer, UroLift
Christopher D. Harris
M.D., F.AC.S.
Adult circumcision, General Urology, Low Testosterone, Prostatitis, UTI, Vasectomy
Timothy J. LeRoy
M.D., F.A.C.S.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/BPH, Bladder Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction, Female Pelvic Health, InterStim Neuromodulation Therapy for OAB, Kidney Stones, Low Testosterone, Male Sexual Health, Peyronie's Disease, Prostate Cancer, Rezum Therapy for BPH, Robotic Prostatectomy, Urinary Incontinence, UroLift, Voiding dysfunction
Garrett H. Lischer
M.D., F.A.C.S.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/BPH, Bladder Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction, Female Incontinence, Kidney Stones, Low Testosterone, Male Incontinence, Male Sexual Dysfunction, Overactive Bladder (OAB), Penile Prosthesis, Peyronie's Disease, Prostate Cancer, Robotic Prostatectomy, Stone Disease, UTI, Vaginal rejuvenation, Voiding dysfunction
Eric R. Nicely
M.D., F.A.C.S.
Artificial sphincter, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/BPH, Bladder Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction, Female Pelvic Health, General Urology, Hematuria, Interstitial Cystitis, Kidney Stones, Low Testosterone, Male Infertility, Overactive Bladder (OAB), Penile Prosthesis, Peyronie's Disease, Prostate Cancer, Robotic Prostatectomy, Testicular pain, Urethral Stricture Disease, Urinary Incontinence, UTI, Vasectomy
Brian Parker
M.D.
Artificial sphincter, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/BPH, Bladder Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction, Female Pelvic Health, General Urology, Hematuria, Interstitial Cystitis, Kidney Stones, Low Testosterone, Male Infertility, Overactive Bladder (OAB), Penile Prosthesis, Peyronie's Disease, Prostate Cancer, Urethral Stricture Disease, Urinary Incontinence, Vasectomy, Voiding dysfunction
Randall E. Pearson
M.D.
Adult circumcision, Bladder Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction, General Urology, Kidney Stones, Male Infertility, Overactive Bladder (OAB), Peyronie's Disease, Prostate Cancer, Urethral Stricture Disease, Vasectomy, Vasectomy reversal
Christopher E. Ramsey
M.D.
Bladder Cancer, General Urology, Hematuria, Kidney Stones, Prostate Cancer, Robotic Prostatectomy, Robotic surgery, UroLift, Vasectomy
T. Preston Shepherd
M.D., F.A.C.S.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/BPH, Bladder Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction, Interstitial Cystitis, Kidney Stones, Low Testosterone, Male Infertility, Penile Prosthesis, Peyronie's Disease, Prostate Cancer, Testicular pain, Urethral Stricture Disease, Urinary Incontinence
Adam Shrewsberry
M.D.
Artificial sphincter, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/BPH, Bladder Cancer, General Urology, Hematuria, Kidney Cancer, Kidney Stones, Overactive Bladder (OAB), Prostate Cancer, Robotic Prostatectomy, Robotic surgery, UroLift, Vasectomy, Voiding dysfunction
