Before trying, the man should get a semen analysis, complete serologies, glucose and a blood count, plus total testosterone if he's 35 or older or shows signs of low levels. The male factor alone accounts for up to 30% of infertility cases, so his tests belong at the start, not after months of trying.
| Test | What it assesses |
|---|---|
| Semen analysis | Quantity, motility and morphology of sperm |
| Complete serologies | Same as the woman (HIV, hepatitis, syphilis) |
| Glucose and blood count | General health, diabetes |
| Total testosterone | Especially if 35+ or signs of low levels |
Source: Map to the Positive, Chapter 07.
The semen analysis is the core of the list. The book calls it the most important and most ignored test, and its results are read against the WHO reference values (2021).
Ignoring him is costly. Up to 30% of cases of difficulty conceiving involve a male factor alone, and another 20% a combined factor. Testing only the woman leaves a large part of the picture unexamined.
At your preconception visit, ask directly: does my partner need to get tested too, and which tests? And notice how the doctor answers. One of the book's signs that you may need a different professional is a doctor who doesn't consider your partner in the investigation.
If the result is unexpected, repeat it after 4 to 12 weeks before drawing conclusions. Sperm production varies naturally from month to month.
Sperm are produced continuously, in cycles of roughly 72 to 90 days. So a semen analysis today shows the effect of his habits over the past three months, and any change he makes now shows up in a later test. That's why the book puts his semen analysis in the very first month of preparation, alongside your own tests.
Some answers matter as much as the lab results. Check whether any of these apply to him:
When the semen analysis comes back abnormal on two evaluations, or his history raises a specific risk, the next step is a urologist, ideally one with training in reproduction.
His tests are in Chapter 07 of Map to the Positive, in Station I, Foundation, right after your own 11 preconception tests. The man's side runs through the whole map: Station III has a full chapter on his fertility, with the semen analysis reference values, the habits with proven impact in 90 days and when to see a urologist, plus targeted supplements for him.
Take 30 days. If it does not give you more clarity than everything you have read for free so far, ask for a refund and you get every cent back. We cannot promise you a pregnancy. We can promise you will not be guessing.
References: WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, 6th ed., 2021.