Gretchen Irwin
Male fertility concerns include prevention of pregnancy and planning for conception, including management of infertility. Male-directed contraception is currently limited to condom use or vasectomy. Vasectomy is a safe, office-based procedure that reliably results in sterility. Several options for reversible male contraception are currently under investigation. Use of high-dose testosterone with or without progestin and use of new androgens provide several potential pathways for reversible male contraception. Reversible occlusion of the vas deferens may provide a nonhormonal option for male contraception. Whereas some men seek contraception, other men experience infertility. Semen analysis is a key study to diagnose male infertility. Specific assisted reproduction technologies such as intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection can prove useful in addressing male infertility. An important consideration for men who may be embarking on cancer treatment that could result in infertility is the use of sperm cryopreservation.