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Little Cup-'o'-Phobia

Overcoming Fear of Sperm Count

By Johnathon Allen

Since the test can be thrown off (counts too low) if there has been a recent ejaculation, Dr. Kettel recommends that men do it only after they have abstained from sexual activity for at least three days. He also recommends couples have sex approximately five days before, because the test can be skewed (high number of dead sperm) if ejaculation has not occurred in a long time.

The most common cause for a consistently abnormal semen analysis is not, as popular male myth might have it, an inadequacy of manhood, but a condition known as a varicocele – a dilated vein around the testicle that raises its core temperature and can impair the process of making sperm. The correction of a varicocele involves a minor surgical procedure where the dilated vein is tied off in order to improve blood flow around the testicle.

"Male infertility is a common problem for couples trying to conceive," Dr. Kettel says. "Although the exact cause of the problem is often not known, there are a variety of effective treatments available. If a couple is adamant about creating a family, and they are having difficulty, both partners should conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation without hesitation. Using the right technology, even couples with severe male factor infertility now have options that are very successful."

"Fertility therapy is emotionally, physically and financially taxing, but the payoff of having a healthy family is invaluable," says Minnis. "Compared to that, what's a harmless date with a little cup?"

Want to see more?

• When is it Time to See an Infertility Specialist?
• Achieving Pregnancy: 10 Tips for Men
• Eight Ways to Help Improve Male Fertility
• Talk about it!