A problem with infertility - Expert Advice on Health and Fitness - Brief Article

Q My husband and I have wanted children for so long, but I have not gotten pregnant because I think my husband is infertile. If he is, is there anything that can be done to correct the problem so that we can start a family? N.E., New York City

A First, your husband should get a thorough examination. It is estimated that about 10 percent of all American men who are trying to become fathers have some kind of fertility problem. Usually, doctors say, the men aren't producing enough normal-sized sperm to fertilize an egg. And they point out that fertility problems aren't associated with impotence.

Your husband could be experiencing one of the two most common problems that reduce sperm production--enlargement of the veins in the scrotum or an obstruction that prevents the expulsion of sperm from the testes. In some cases, doctors can locate sperm inside the testicles, remove them and inject them directly into an egg.