The mere thought of a sperm test is enough to send many men squirming right out the door. Yet male infertility accounts is about as common as female infertility - and the test is much less invasive than many female infertility tests. Why are so many men reluctant to be tested? For some, it is fear of looking like less of a man. For others, it is just a general discomfort with medical things.

If you have been trying to get pregnant for more than a year if you are under 30, or more than 6 months if you are over 30, it is time for both of you to be talking to your doctor. Even if you already know that you have a fertility issue, it is important to have your partner tested as well.

Many women have told me that they have undergone painful and expensive infertility treatments, only to find that their male partner also had fertility problems. A simple sperm analysis is only about $90-125 even without insurance, and it can save a whole lot of heartache and expense.

My husband and I were shocked to find out that he had morphology issues (sperm shape and function). We had assumed that since he had one child from a previous marriage, and we had gotten pregnant with our first child easily, that any fertility problems must be mine.

If you can get your partner to open up about why he is refusing to be tested, it can help clear things up. If not, you can still work towards getting him tested by gently explaining that the test for him is non-invasive and that it will bring you a lot of peace of mind to know the results. You can also explain that in many cases, any problems can be treated easily.

Let him know that by being tested, he can make it easier on you and save money on treatments by narrowing down the cause. Assure him that your feelings for him will not change, no matter what the test results. Men play tough, but they often really fear losing a woman's love if they are not perfect.

Finally, find some simple but good information online that can help him to understand how important this test is in helping you achieve your goal of a healthy baby.