Fertility Is a Shared Conversation

When a couple has difficulty becoming pregnant, the conversation often focuses first on the female partner. Patients may discuss ovulation, ovarian reserve, fallopian tubes, uterine lining, PCOS, endometriosis, IUI, or IVF while male fertility receives much less attention.

However, fertility is a shared process. Male factors alone account for a meaningful portion of infertility cases and may contribute alongside female factors in many others. For this reason, professional guidelines recommend evaluating both partners as part of the initial fertility assessment rather than waiting until extensive testing has already been completed for one partner(American Urological Association & American Society for Reproductive Medicine [AUA/ASRM], 2024).

Including male fertility in the conversation is not about assigning blame. It is about gathering the information needed to make fertility care more complete, efficient, and individualized.

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What Is Male Factor Infertility?

Male factor infertility refers to reproductive factors involving sperm production, sperm function, or the delivery of sperm. The World Health Organization notes that common male-related causes include absent or low sperm levels, reduced sperm movement, abnormal sperm shape, and problems with semen delivery (World Health Organization [WHO], 2025).

Possible contributing factors may include hormonal conditions, varicocele, genetic differences, prior infections, blockages, medications, sexual dysfunction, heat exposure, smoking, obesity, or certain occupational and environmental exposures. In some cases, no single cause can be identified.

A male partner may appear healthy, have no obvious symptoms, and still have changes in semen quality. This is why fertility cannot be assessed through appearance, age, sexual function, or general health alone.

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Why Semen Analysis Matters

A semen analysis is an important part of the initial male fertility evaluation. It typically measures semen volume, sperm concentration, movement, and morphology, which describes sperm shape.

No single semen parameter determines whether pregnancy is possible. Results can vary between samples, and values should be interpreted together with the couple’s medical history, length of time trying to conceive, and other fertility findings.

An abnormal result also does not automatically mean that pregnancy cannot occur. It may instead indicate that additional testing, repeat semen analysis, lifestyle review, or consultation with a reproductive urologist is appropriate.

The AUA/ASRM guideline recommends that the male partner’s reproductive history and at least one semen analysis be included in the initial evaluation of an infertile couple. When semen results are abnormal or a male factor is suspected, evaluation by a clinician with expertise in male reproductive health may help identify potentially treatable conditions (AUA/ASRM, 2024).

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How Male Fertility Can Affect IUI and IVF Planning

Male fertility findings can influence the type of treatment a fertility specialist recommends.

For IUI, the total number of moving sperm available after processing may affect whether insemination is considered a reasonable option. If sperm count or movement is significantly reduced, a fertility specialist may discuss whether IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, commonly called ICSI, is more appropriate.

During IVF, sperm still plays an important role in fertilization and embryo development. Even when ICSI is used, male fertility evaluation may help identify medical, hormonal, genetic, or structural factors that could influence treatment planning.

Testing the male partner early may prevent unnecessary delays and help the couple understand the full reproductive picture before beginning treatment.

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Lifestyle and General Health Factors

Sperm develop over a period of several weeks, which means changes in health and lifestyle may take time to appear in a semen analysis.

Smoking, heavy alcohol use, recreational drugs, anabolic steroids, excessive heat exposure, poor sleep, and certain medications may negatively affect reproductive health in some men. Weight, metabolic health, chronic illness, and occupational exposures may also be relevant.

However, lifestyle advice should not become another source of blame. Not all male fertility problems are preventable, and healthy habits cannot correct every genetic, structural, or medical cause.

Men who are trying to conceive should discuss medications, testosterone use, supplements, and significant lifestyle concerns with an appropriate healthcare professional. Testosterone therapy is particularly important to disclose because external testosterone may suppress sperm production.

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How Acupuncture May Support Male Fertility Care

Acupuncture has been studied as a complementary approach for men experiencing reduced sperm motility, low sperm concentration, and other semen-quality concerns. Several clinical studies have reported encouraging improvements in sperm-related measures following acupuncture or electroacupuncture treatment.

A 2023 systematic review and network meta-analysis found that acupuncture performed significantly better than placebo for improving total sperm motility. The reported improvement was approximately 17.8 percentage points compared with placebo, suggesting that acupuncture may offer meaningful support for selected patients with reduced sperm movement (Chen et al., 2023).

A randomized clinical trial involving men with infertility and varicocele also reported favorable results. Acupuncture produced improvements in semen parameters that were comparable with varicocelectomy during follow-up, and the increase in sperm concentration was greater in the acupuncture group. Pregnancy rates were reported as 33% in both groups during the follow-up period (Kucuk et al., 2016).

More recent research has examined electroacupuncture. A 2024 clinical study reported that electroacupuncture significantly improved progressive sperm motility and total motile sperm count in men with infertility. These measures are clinically relevant because they reflect not only the number of sperm present, but also how many are moving effectively (Budihastuti et al., 2024).

Acupuncture may be especially relevant for patients seeking integrative support while addressing lifestyle factors, completing fertility testing, or preparing for IUI, IVF, or ICSI with their fertility specialist.

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An Integrative Approach to Male Fertility

An integrative approach recognizes that male fertility is connected to reproductive health, general health, emotional well-being, and the fertility experience of both partners.

The most appropriate plan may include semen analysis, consultation with a reproductive urologist, lifestyle support, treatment of an identified medical condition, and assisted reproductive care when indicated. Acupuncture may be added as a complementary option for patients seeking support with stress, sleep, and overall wellness.

The goal is not to place responsibility on either partner. It is to make sure both partners receive timely, respectful, and evidence-informed care.

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Ready to Try PrimeLife Acupuncture?

At PrimeLife Acupuncture in Bethesda, we provide individualized, evidence-informed acupuncture care designed to support patients throughout their fertility journey.

Book your appointment today with the experts at PrimeLife Acupuncture, the top-rated acupuncture clinic in Bethesda.

Curious to learn more about how acupuncture may support other fertility-related concerns? Explore our Fertility and Perinatal Care page or visit our Blog for further insights.

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References:

• American Urological Association, & American Society for Reproductive Medicine. (2024). Diagnosis and treatment of infertility in men: AUA/ASRM guideline. American Urological Association.
• Budihastuti, U. R., Murti, B., Prakosa, T.,Nurwati, I., Laqif, A., Melinawati, E., Hadi, C., Susanto, L., Sukmawati, M.,Prasetya, H., Wijayanti, A. S., & Ahmad, M. F. (2024). Effect of electroacupuncture on total motile sperm count and sperm motility. Journal of public health research, 13(3), 22799036241272394. https://doi.org/10.1177/22799036241272394
• Chen, Z., Hong, Z., Wang, S., Qiu, J., Wang, Q.,Zeng, Y., & Weng, H. (2023). Effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical intervention on sperm quality: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Aging, 15(10), 4253–4268. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204727
• Kucuk, E. V., Bindayi, A., Boylu, U., Onol, F.F., & Gumus, E. (2016). Randomised clinical trial of comparing effects of acupuncture and varicocelectomy on sperm parameters in infertile varicocele patients. Andrologia, 48(10), 1080–1085. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.12541
• World Health Organization. (2025). Infertility. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infertility

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Disclaimer:

This website and its contents are intended for informational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Whenever possible, patients are advised to seek professional care from a qualified healthcare professional for proper medical evaluation and treatment.

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