Question
My wife and I have been trying to get pregnant for about six months now but still haven’t had much luck. What can I do to help our chances of getting pregnant? I’m 36. I eat somewhat healthily and don’t smoke. Most days I have a beer after work and I drink with my mates a couple of times a week, either at the pub after work or at a BBQ on the weekend. My job isn’t stressful but I’m at my desk most of the day.
Answer
It is great that you enjoy good health and don’t smoke — and I trust you have a healthy body weight.
Having sex at least twice a week and at the right time is important, and you can go the Your Fertility website for more information.
The testes also need to be cooler than your body. The scrotum acts as an evaporative air conditioner through sweating. So wear loose-fitting underwear and no hot baths!
A beer or two with mates is fine, in fact the support of family and friends is important. Something I always ask my patients, have you talked to anyone else about these concerns?
The fact is that about 5% of men have reduced numbers of swimming sperm. Male issues account for a third of infertility and there is often nothing in his history to suggest a problem; the only way to know is to get checked.
Your GP will do a medical review, including a physical examination of the testes, and arrange a semen test. There may be blood tests and even a specialist review down the track. Obviously, this problem is on your mind but there’s a great deal that can be done to help your two start a family, so it’s time to get the answer. Make an appointment with your GP and take your partner with you — fertility, or infertility, is a couple’s problem so should be tackled together.
Robert McLachlan
Healthy Male Medical Director
Prof Robert McLachlan is a consultant andrologist and has been integral to Healthy Male from its inception as Andrology Australia in 2000. He has been Medical Director since 2006. In November 2020, Rob was awarded Life Membership of the Endocrine Society of Australia. Over his 30-year career, he has been passionate about educating doctors and the community about male reproductive health, particularly to normalise discussion of sensitive topics and to encourage men to seek help from their GPs. A past president of the Fertility Society of Australia, he has a strong connection in fertility practice and has raised the profile of infertile men involved in IVF. Rob has received several awards for his clinical research and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2016 for services to medicine in the field of endocrinology.
