Short answer
Male infertility treatment starts with finding why a man has difficulty fathering a child, using semen analysis, hormone blood tests and a scrotal ultrasound. The assessment usually takes 1-2 days, and treatment may include lifestyle changes, medication, varicocele repair or surgical sperm retrieval for assisted reproduction. Improvements in sperm quality are typically assessed after 3-6 months.
What is male infertility?
Infertility means a couple has not conceived after a year of regular unprotected intercourse. A male factor contributes in a significant proportion of couples, so assessing both partners is important.
Causes include low sperm count or movement, varicocele, hormone imbalances, blocked tubes, genetic factors, past infections, some medicines and lifestyle factors such as smoking, heat and weight.
Who is it for?
Assessment is for men whose partner has not conceived after a year of trying, or sooner if the female partner is over 35 or there is a known concern. It also suits men with very low or no sperm in previous tests. A doctor assesses you in person and reviews any earlier results you bring.
How assessment and treatment work
Your urologist takes a private history and examines you. Semen analysis, hormone blood tests and a scrotal ultrasound are usually completed within 1-2 days, and genetic tests are added where indicated. You then receive a written plan.
Your hotel, VIP transfers and a medical interpreter are arranged before you land, and a personal coordinator stays with you discreetly throughout.
- Lifestyle advice and treatment of infections or hormone problems
- Medication to support sperm production in selected cases
- Microsurgical varicocele repair
- Surgical sperm retrieval, such as micro-TESE, for men with no sperm in the semen
- Freezing of retrieved sperm for assisted reproduction such as ICSI
Recovery and results
Tests involve no recovery time. Sperm retrieval is a 1-3 hour procedure under general anaesthesia, and most men return to desk work within a few days. Because sperm take about three months to develop, the effect of medication or varicocele repair is usually assessed at 3-6 months.
Follow-up tests can be done in your home country and reviewed remotely. Metropolmed's own medical team performs the treatment in Istanbul, and 12 months of follow-up are included.
Your private consultation
Your consultation is private and looks at the full picture, not just one test. Before you travel, your coordinator asks for previous semen analyses, hormone results, any scans and a summary of your partner's fertility assessment if available. Your partner is welcome to attend. Please mention past illnesses such as mumps, any testicular surgery, and medicines or supplements you use, including testosterone, which can lower sperm production.
Consultations take place one to one in a private room, with a medical interpreter if you need one, and you can ask for a male or female interpreter and coordinator. Your records, photographs and test results are kept strictly confidential and shared only with the clinicians treating you. Metropolmed holds the Turkish Ministry of Health international patient authorisation (USHAŞ AK-0164), and its own TÜRSAB-licensed travel division (licence 13032) books your hotel.
Risks and safety
Semen and blood tests carry no meaningful risk. Surgical treatments can cause pain, swelling, bleeding, infection and, after sperm retrieval, a temporary drop in testosterone. Sperm cannot be found in every man, and no treatment can guarantee a pregnancy.
A doctor assesses you in person, explains realistic chances for your situation and discusses the next steps honestly.
Recovery timeline
- Day 1Consultation, examination and semen analysis
- Day 2Blood tests, ultrasound and treatment plan
- Week 1-4Treatment or surgery begins
- Month 3-6Repeat semen analysis
- Month 12Final follow-up review
Frequently asked questions
How should I prepare for a semen analysis?
Most labs ask for 2-5 days without ejaculation beforehand. Your coordinator sends clear instructions before you travel.
What if no sperm are found in my semen?
This is called azoospermia. Sperm can often still be found in the testicles with micro-TESE, depending on the cause.
Can lifestyle changes really help?
Yes. Stopping smoking, reducing alcohol, keeping a healthy weight and avoiding excess heat can improve semen quality over about three months.
Can retrieved sperm be stored?
Yes. Sperm retrieved during surgery can be frozen for later use in assisted reproduction.
