Is a male infertility clinic of any use?

Two methods of statistical analysis were used to evaluate the results from an infertility clinic (the couple-months method and Cox regression analysis). The results were in general agreement and validated the couple-months method. The total trying time, sperm motility, sperm density and results of the wife's investigation were all shown to be highly significant prognostic factors. The age of either husband or wife, semen volume, sperm morphology, size of the testes, presence of a varicocele, serum LH and serum testosterone all failed to give significant additional prognostic information. High serum FSH and testis asymmetry both gave weak additional prognostic information. The benefit of attendance at the infertility clinic was evaluated in two ways: firstly by testing whether the event of clinic attendance altered prognosis and secondly by examining the results of a broad range of treatments. The results showed that attendance at the clinic with subsequent treatment did not improve the chance of fertility. The main benefit from clinic attendance was that the couple could be given an accurate prognosis and supportive counseling.