Is routine examination of the male partner of any prognostic value in the routine assessment of couples who complain of involuntary infertility?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether routine examination of the male partner is of value in assessing couples complaining of involuntary infertility. The relationship between male age, a previous paternity, male physical characteristics, and fertility outcome was examined. Life table analysis was performed after accounting for known female factors. Five hundred forty-four couples were recruited to the study. All conceptions were independent of treatment to either partner in which the female partner was found to be "normal" on investigation. Although male age and several physical characteristics were related to fertility outcome when all couples were examined, this was, by virtue of these variables, being related to female age and the length of involuntary infertility before investigation. When only those couples were examined in which the female partner was normal on investigation (n = 250), past paternity (x1(2) = 4.21, P = 0.040, RR = 1.81) was the only variable that retained a significant relationship to fertility outcome. It was concluded that routine examination of the male partner is of no prognostic value for couples complaining of involuntary infertility.