Bottom line up front: Male factor infertility contributes to 40–50% of all infertility cases, yet most IVF content focuses almost exclusively on female factors. Colombian fertility clinics offer the full range of male infertility diagnostics and treatments — ICSI, TESA, micro-TESE, varicocele repair, and advanced sperm testing — at 50–70% less than US costs.
Common Causes of Male Factor Infertility
- Low sperm count (oligospermia): Fewer than 15 million sperm per millilitre
- Poor motility (asthenospermia): Fewer than 40% of sperm moving normally
- Abnormal morphology (teratospermia): Fewer than 4% normal-shaped sperm (strict Kruger criteria)
- Obstructive azoospermia: Sperm production is normal but blocked from reaching the ejaculate
- Non-obstructive azoospermia: Little or no sperm production in the testes
- Varicocele: Enlarged veins in the scrotum affecting sperm quality (found in 40% of infertile men)
- High DNA fragmentation: Sperm with damaged DNA that reduces fertilisation and embryo quality
Treatment Options and Colombia Pricing
| Treatment | What It Does | Colombia Cost | US Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semen analysis | Baseline assessment of count, motility, morphology | $30–$80 | $150–$350 |
| DNA fragmentation test | Assesses sperm DNA integrity | $150–$300 | $400–$800 |
| ICSI (with IVF) | Single sperm injected directly into egg | $800–$1,500 add-on | $1,500–$3,000 add-on |
| TESA | Testicular sperm aspiration (needle extraction) | $500–$1,000 | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Micro-TESE | Microsurgical testicular sperm extraction | $1,500–$3,000 | $8,000–$15,000 |
| Varicocele repair | Surgical correction of enlarged scrotal veins | $1,000–$2,500 | $5,000–$10,000 |
| Sperm freezing | Cryopreservation for future use | $200–$400 | $500–$1,000 |
ICSI: The Standard for Male Factor IVF
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) bypasses all natural barriers to fertilisation by injecting a single selected sperm directly into each mature egg. It is the standard of care for all moderate-to-severe male factor cases, and many Colombian clinics now use ICSI for all IVF cycles regardless of sperm quality — the fertilisation rates are consistently higher.
ICSI success rates are equivalent to conventional IVF fertilisation when sperm quality is the primary issue. The technique requires an experienced embryologist, which is why lab quality matters — ask about the embryologist's ICSI experience and fertilisation rates.
When Surgical Sperm Retrieval Is Needed
For men with azoospermia (no sperm in the ejaculate), sperm can often be retrieved directly from the testes or epididymis:
TESA (Testicular Sperm Aspiration) uses a needle to extract sperm from testicular tissue. It is less invasive, performed under local anaesthesia, and works well for obstructive azoospermia. Recovery is 1–2 days.
Micro-TESE (Microsurgical Testicular Sperm Extraction) uses an operating microscope to identify and extract the small areas of the testes where sperm production is occurring. It is more invasive but has significantly higher sperm retrieval rates for non-obstructive azoospermia — 40–60% success versus 20–30% for conventional TESE.
The male partner should have a comprehensive semen analysis — ideally two, separated by 2–3 months — before your IVF cycle begins. Discovering a severe male factor issue after the female partner has already started stimulation medications is stressful, expensive, and avoidable.
Male Factor Concerns?
Send us your semen analysis results and we will recommend the right diagnostic and treatment approach at Colombian clinics with experienced andrologists.
Get Free Consultation