Infertility problems during attempts to have a baby are not uncommon. Men usually have the burden and responsibility of being tested first, simply because fertility problems are more typically found in men than in women. So guys, if you're having troubles making a baby, it might be time to get tested for a low sperm count.

While a low sperm count is often a culprit of low male fertility, there are other factors involved. Seminal fluid needs to have a certain amount of sperm cells per mL in order to be considered 'healthy' enough to conceive. That number is 20 million cells per mL. Beyond that, there are other things that need to be taken into account.

The overall health of the sperms must be considered. Are they swimming properly? Are at least 60% of them considered motile? Are a high percentage of them malformed, with crooked tails or otherwise? All these must be looked at - not just the actual count of sperm cells per mL. This can only be done with a proper test.

Male fertility testing is performed at a clinic by a specialized doctor or nurse. Your specimen will be tested for overall numbers and health of the sperm cells. This isn't too expensive and will go a long way in telling the patient if he is fertile enough to conceive with his partner. You might also consider performing a home test on your sperm count.

Home fertility testing is now available through a couple manufacturers. Performing the test is easy enough - you'll need a fresh specimen of your semen (not older than 24 hours). By using an eye-dropper, some small dishes (provided with the fertility kit), and some chemical solutions, you'll be able to see if you have enough sperm in your semen. What these tests can't do is check the actual health of the cells.

A good way of using these home sperm count tests is this:

• If you pass the test, you have a high enough count of sperm in your semen
• If you fail the home test, you need to go to a fertility clinic
• Even if you pass the test and are still having trouble conceiving, you might want to visit the doctor

The reason you might be infertile after passing a home test is that although you have enough sperm cells, they may not be healthy. They may have a high percentage of malformed cells, which can be common among men who work with chemicals. Passing the home test is no guarantee of being fertile, it should only be used as the first step towards determining your overall fertility factor.

Don't forget that it's not always the man in the partnership that could be struggling with fertility issues. It is more common for men than women, but women are sometimes as susceptible to low fertility as men. It's best to check and test the male partner first before you delve much deeper into checking the female partner - unless there is reason to think that it may be her (such as her history, previous operations, etc).

If you think you may have a low sperm count or other male fertility issues, it's best to get checked out as soon as possible so that you're not wasting your time and efforts trying to conceive a baby.