Sperm quality, varicocele and the fixable things first
Quick answer
Roughly half of male infertility has a correctable cause: varicocele, infection, hormonal disorders, heat exposure and habits such as smoking. Stem cell research here is early stage and not standard care, so a proper cause workup always comes first.
The baseline workup is at least two semen analyses spaced apart, hormone testing (FSH, LH, testosterone) and a physical exam for varicocele. A single result is not conclusive, since values fluctuate with illness and stress.
The self-correctable factors that genuinely matter are stopping smoking, cutting alcohol, losing weight, avoiding scrotal heat and controlling chronic disease. Effects appear after about three months, the length of one spermatogenesis cycle.
Stem cell work in azoospermia remains experimental, and any offer promising guaranteed results deserves particular caution. The better-evidenced route is assisted reproduction such as ICSI combined with surgical sperm retrieval.
No proven human method exists; work remains largely laboratory and preclinical.
After 12 months of trying, or 6 months if the female partner is over 35.
Last updated: 2026-08-28 · This content is for information only and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified doctor before making treatment decisions.
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