The Male Fertility Factor: What Fertility Clinics Need to Know About Shifting Diagnostic Trends
As reproductive medicine continues to evolve, one trend is becoming increasingly clear: male-factor infertility plays a larger role in couples’ fertility challenges than previously recognized.
Recent studies estimate that male factors contribute to approximately half of all infertility cases. Yet for decades, male fertility diagnostic testing has changed very little, and couples have struggled to find testing that helps them get the answers and address underlying issues.
Today, new diagnostic technologies are emerging that provide deeper insight into sperm function. It’s critical for patients, providers, and fertility clinics to understand new tools (and how they compare with one another) to determine which tests are right for them.
Here are several tests that are a part of the evolving diagnostic toolkit—and how PS Fertility measures up.
Why Traditional Semen Analysis is No Longer Enough
Standard semen analysis evaluates sperm count, morphology, and motility. These measurements can be a great starting place, as they verify that sperm are present and mobile, which are required for sperm to reach an egg. However, they do not capture whether sperm are capable of fertilizing an egg. As a result, many men who fall into “normal” semen parameters still experience infertility.
This diagnostic gap often leads to misdirection in treatment. When male-factor infertility is overlooked, couples may pursue multiple rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI) or IVF without ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection). These treatments are less likely to be successful if a male infertility factor exists. In addition to the physical, emotional, and financial toll of these procedures, these treatments may not improve the chances of pregnancy if male infertility is still a possibility.
Now, more advanced, function-focused male diagnostics are helping to close this gap.
Emerging Trends in Male Fertility Diagnostics
To complement traditional semen analysis, physicians and providers increasingly rely on tests focused on DNA that provide additional insights into sperm quality. Here are a few leading diagnostic technologies.
Sperm DNA Fragmentation Testing
DNA fragmentation testing—most commonly SCSA, TUNEL, and SCD—measures the degree of DNA damage within sperm. Elevated fragmentation is linked to lower blastocyst formation rates and higher miscarriage rates. AUA/ASRM, the male and fertility physician societies, recommend DNA fragmentation for couples with recurrent pregnancy loss or failed IVF cycles. It is not recommended for all couples experiencing infertility, as evidence is limited as to whether testing changes outcomes for most couples.
Emerging Epigenetic Tests
Newer tests analyze DNA to see if sperm genes are incorrectly activated or silenced. These alterations, called DNA methylation, can impair the sperm’s ability to fertilize an egg, contributing to male infertility. One study has shown that these tests help predict success for IUI, but have no significant predictive value for IVF. A major drawback of these tests is the timeline because the lab must perform complex molecular sequencing, which typically takes a few weeks. It is also unclear how the variability in DNA methylation patterns correlates with the causes of infertility.
The PS Fertility Difference
As new diagnostics and testing options expand, PS Fertility remains focused on advancing clear, clinically relevant diagnostics like PS Detect.
PS Detect is a convenient, discreet test that measures the percentage of phosphatidylserine, a biomarker on sperm essential for fertilization. A 2019 study identified PS as an essential biomarker that must be present on the surface of sperm in order for fertilization to occur. Unlike other semen analysis tests, PS Detect is a functional test that examines how a molecule, PS, is actively involved in fertilization. Data has shown that most men who have achieved a pregnancy have a normal PS Score.
Research shows PS Detect also provides critical insights into the benefits of varicocele repair, a procedure for treating enlarged veins in the scrotum. Varicoceles are a leading yet often undiagnosed cause of male infertility, affecting over 41% of infertile men. Identifying patients whose fertility would improve from the procedure has historically been challenging due to a lack of testing options to measure whether the procedure would be effective.
One study has shown that varicocele repair successfully restored PS Scores to normal in all study participants who started with a PS Score below normal. Therefore, if a male with a varicocele tests his PS Score and finds that it’s below normal, a varicocele repair would likely improve his PS Score, thereby improving his fertility. PS Score is not correlated with the size or grade of a varicocele.
PS Detect complements the standard semen analysis by providing a more complete picture of male fertility. With the help of PS Fertility, patients and providers can get early, actionable insights, empowering more personalized, effective, and timely fertility care.
The Path Forward for Fertility Clinics
Male-factor infertility is no longer a secondary consideration. It is a central component of reproductive medicine. As diagnostic options grow, fertility clinics that adopt evidence-based male testing like PS Detect will be better positioned to:
- Improve diagnostic accuracy
- Tailor treatment plans to each couple’s needs
- Reduce unnecessary procedures
- Shorten the time to pregnancy
With ongoing research and innovation alongside leading clinicians, PS Fertility is helping shape a future where couples receive faster, clearer answers as they seek to grow their families.
