The male fertility Doctor – Andrologist or Urologist?!
It’s quite incredible how many men are completely unaware that there is a doctor out there who specialises in male fertility. Yet, ask almost any man what a Gynaecologist is and he’ll be able to tell you straight away.
Who does a guy go and see for fertility issues?
There are 2 schools of medicine when it comes to the important parts between our legs, Urology and Andrology. The difference is subtle, and the terms are often interchangeable.
Urology
Urology is the medical speciality that deals with the urinary tract in both men and women (kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra) but also covers the penis, scrotum and prostate.
Andrology
Andrology is the medical speciality that deals with the male reproductive system and will often encompass elements of urology. An andrologist will often have a specialist interest relating to certain male genital health issues such as penile cancer, erectile dysfunction, vasectomy and fertility.
An Andrologist is the man’s equivalent of a gynaecologist.
How do you get to see an Andrologist?
The typical fertility investigation route for most couples will start with a GP. A GP will run the basic initial tests for a man (i.e a semen analysis only) and may carry out a physical examination before referring a couple on to a specialist. Unfortunately, the current referral pathway from a GP for a couple trying to conceive will lead them to see a Gynaecologist. So regardless of whether it’s male factor or female factor (which is likely to be a 50 / 50 split) the man is still going to end up in front of a Gynaecologist alongside his partner.
The only way you a man is likely to end up in front of an Andrologist is if he reports any type of pain, if the GP picks up an issue from a physical examination or if there’s no sperm present in his semen analysis. It’s pretty unlikely that a man will end up in front of an Andrologist for routine fertility investigations. This means a man is very unlikely to be offered any form of advanced testing, investigations or even a comprehensive health assessment before he and his partner get pushed towards IVF.
What this means is that many couples end up going through IVF before the man has been thoroughly assessed. Therefore, the only option currently for a man to see an Andrologist and get properly examined and tested is to go private.
How do I find an Andrologist?
First of all, you have to find one and unfortunately, they are a rare breed. Interestingly there are roughly 4500 registered Gynaecologists in the UK yet only around 450 Andrologists despite the fact that male factor fertility issues are the main reason couples head to IVF!
So, trying to find one isn’t always that easy. You can search for a list of Urological surgeons via the British Association of Urological Surgeons website or alternatively there is a list of available on the Logixx fertility website.
What will happen when I see an Andrologist?
The first thing they will do is take a comprehensive health history. Understanding your history, lifestyle and any medication you’re on will help highlight any potential causes for concern or red flags. After that you will likely have a physical examination (don’t worry they’ve seen it all before) before they run further tests including (although this may vary):
Depending on your results and history you may be asked to undergo further tests or surgery but the Andrologist will discuss your results with you along with next steps.
Many men go undiagnosed with things like Varicocele and DNA fragmentation for many years becuase they haven't seen the right professional to assess them which can often be the reason why he and his partner aren’t conceiving.
By seeing an Andrologist and getting thoroughly tested and examined it puts you in a much better place to learn about your fertility and the options available if things don’t look right!
At testhim we want to make sure that all men are being properly tested and assessed before heading into potentially unnecessary fertility treatment.