These tests for male infertility include the following:

• Semen Analysis (SA)

Semen analysis is a basic test that all men should perform as the first line of infertility research. It is a lab test that assesses sperm count, motility, and morphology, among other things. You should redo the test if a preliminary test were performed more than a year ago. Before the test, you must abstain from sexual activity for 3-5days.

The following sperm parameters are examined during sperm analysis:

1: Semen volume refers to the quantity of fluid in the sperm.

2: Sperm morphology describes the shape and size of spermatozoa and assesses the percentage of spermatozoa that appear normal.

3: The amount of sperm present inside the semen fluid is called sperm concentration.

4: Sperm motility assesses the percentage of spermatozoa moving intensely and offers information on how the sperm move.

• Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test (DFI)

The extent of DNA damage in your sperm is determined by a DNA sperm fragmentation test done on a semen sample. This test provides crucial information on the DNA integrity of your sperm and serves as a tool for evaluating the quality of your sperm. In several studies, increased levels of sperm DNA damage have been linked to unexplained infertility, failed IUI or IVF procedures, and recurrent miscarriages. If the degree of DNA damage in your sperm has escalated, we will provide you with precise advice on how to mitigate that damage. If the DNA fragmentation levels are heightened, we will send you to a urologist. When sperm DNA fragmentation is high, ICSI should be performed instead of IVF for egg fertilisation, even if the sperm parameters are otherwise normal.

• Oxidative Stress Test

Redox stress is caused by various endogenous and exogenous causes and is thought to have a role in the etiology of male infertility. The oxidative stress test assesses the balance of free radicals and antioxidants in a semen sample to detect if a patient has excessive levels of oxidative stress. Increased oxidative stress, particularly in sperm, can result in seminal DNA fragmentation, lipid peroxidation, and spermatozoa death. Damage to sperm due to oxidative stress is the primary cause of 30-80% of sperm failures.

But what is oxidative stress, exactly?

Our bodies naturally create “oxygen free radicals,” or ROS, which are active oxygen-based molecules. The redox system maintains a balance between ROS and antioxidants for our bodies to operate normally. If this equilibrium is disrupted for whatever cause, such as increased generation of ROS or a reduction in antioxidants, we have oxidative stress (reducing stress otherwise).

• Stress free preparation of spermatozoa

Centrifugation used to prepare sperm samples increases oxidative stress in spermatozoa, exacerbating a condition previously present due to disease in some instances. We recognise the need to simulate as closely as possible what occurs in a woman’s body during conception. As a result, we adopt stress-free sperm preparation techniques (avoiding centrifugation) to ensure that the spermatozoa used have endured the least amount of laboratory stress feasible. We also employ sperm preparation kits as part of this endeavor. So, depending on the sperm quality, we submit it to tailored therapy to produce spermatozoa suitable for fertilisation with the least amount of oxidative damage feasible.

• Sperm Aneuploidy Test (SAT)

SAT is a diagnostic test that uses a technique known as “FISH” to analyse sperm to determine the percentage of spermatozoa with chromosomal abnormalities. We can use it to determine whether sperm have an aberrant number of chromosomes (aneuploidy or diploidy). It examines chromosomal abnormalities commonly linked to spontaneous miscarriages and male infertility (chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y). The test’s findings are available in two weeks and can help treat couples who have had repeated miscarriages, failed IVF procedures, or a prior pregnancy with chromosomal abnormalities. SAT increases the likelihood of conception and reduces the chances of a miscarriage. Before IVF therapy, SAT can assist the couple in receiving individualised genetic advice.

• Advanced Infection Screen Test

Bacteria like chlamydia or other infectious microorganisms in the sperm may go unnoticed since they are typically asymptomatic. When these bacteria are present in sperm, the quality of the sperm is compromised, and the morphological parameters are impaired, thereby promoting male infertility. These harmful microorganisms can sometimes be found inside spermatozoa (intracellular) and then transmitted to the embryo, culminating in a miscarriage. We propose a sensitive test comprising a sperm sample evaluation using the potential benefit of the PCR method.

• Anti-Sperm Antibodies (MAR)

The MAR test looks for anti-sperm antibodies in the semen to determine an immunological cause of infertility. It checks for antibodies that attack sperm in the blood, vaginal secretions, or semen. When these antibodies are present, they can block sperm from penetrating the egg, preventing fertilisation and resulting in infertility.