An estimated 15 percent of couples trying to conceive are unable to do so after one year of unprotected intercourse.  Male factor may be the cause or contribute to the cause in 30-50 percent of these couples.  It is extremely important in the evaluation of infertility to consider the couple as a unit in determining the treatment.

The diagnosis of male factor infertility is often begun with semen analysis.  Once an abnormal finding on a semen analysis is identified, the male partner may be referred to a urologist, preferably one that is subspecialty trained in andrology for an examination and a review of his medical history.  Other tests such as anti-sperm antibodies, egg penetration assays, and sperm survival test can be done, but are controversial and may not be consistent in the prediction of infertility.

Male factor should not be viewed as a single condition, but rather a manifestation of a number of possible reproductive system disorders.  The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized 16 categories of male infertility.