MALE INFERTILITY: CAUSES AND TREATMENTS

30th January 2023

Infertility seems to be a common problem amongst couples, nowadays. However, it’s not only restricted to female’s issues, many males suffer from this problem. When infertility arises in men due to certain problems it is stated as ‘Male Factor Infertility.’ Fertility issues are just as likely to arise in men as they are in females. Infertility is a case when even after continuous and repeated trying, couple cannot conceive. Fertility decreases as we age, and it becomes more acute for couples of age 35 and above.

Fertility is determined by a number of factors like:

Hormonal health.
Quality of Sperm.
Other issues like the sperm’s ability to fertilize an egg.

What is male infertility?

When there is an abnormal/low sperm count or problem in sperm motility or problem in the sperm structure then it causes male infertility. This leads to problems in conceiving.

Common causes of male infertility:

Sperm production disorders.
Structural abnormalities.
Blockages in tract which may block semen completely/partially.
Immunologic disorders.
Dilated blood vessels around the testicle.
Endocrine (hormone) disorders creates problems in fertilizing the egg Abnormal testosterone.

Besides these, there are causes that may result in male subfertility. These are:

Overall poor health.
Obesity.
Sexual dysfunction.
Genetic conditions that prevent the sperm coming out properly.
Certain unexplained causes of infertility.
Environmental factors.

It is been often seen that males generally tend to keep quiet about infertility disorders and communicate less about their emotions. They too experience the same feelings as women, who suffer from infertility- fear, guilt, depression, sense of failure, anxiety, sadness, etc. Thus, people need to communicate. The best way to support a man is to talk with him, allow him to share his feelings. If a husband is having infertility problems, his wife should take the initiative; that is not to demotivate him, rather encourage him to speak out. Support him, communicate with him, share happy moments so that he doesn’t feel sad. Listen to him and feel for him. And of course, take him or urge him to consult a doctor.

Trying to conceive is often a stressful experience for couples, and especially for the person who is diagnosed with infertility. Taking good care of yourself, getting balanced diet along with good nutrition, having sufficient sleep, doing regular exercise, and keeping yourself cool and calm and happy are the basic things you need to do to deal with infertility problems. Following these would definitely help you overcome the sadness associated with infertility and improve your mental health and your relationship.

However, if you have infertility issues, that doesn’t imply that you will never be able to become a parent. There are treatments and procedures that improve the chances of conception.

What tests are done?

First, your doctor may go for a semen analysis to determine

Sperm concentration.
pH value to check acidity or basicity.
Total sperm count.
Velocity & Linearity, that is how fast and in which direction your sperm moves.
Size and Shape of your sperm.
How fast your semen liquefies.

There are other tests which a doctor may carry out like

Leukocytospermia quantitation/Endtz test.
Semen biochemistry fructose test.
Sperm antibody tests.
Sperm DNA assessment.
And many more.

Treatments of Male Infertility:

With advanced technology and methods, treatment options for male infertility has expanded. There are different types of treatments done depending on the cause of infertility.

Medications: Hormone therapy to increase the number of sperm.
Lifestyle changes: Maintain a body weight, no smoking, no alcohol, no illegal drugs
Surgeries: These include
Vasectomy reversal
Vasoepididymostomy
Sperm Retrieval
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

At Genome, the fertility centre, we have medical professionals who would help you in dealing with infertility issues. With more than 16 years of experience in this field, we provide you with the best consultation, diagnosis and treatments to overcome the problems of male infertility and help you become a parent of a sweet little baby.

Disclaimer

Though all attempts are made to provide correct information on the subject, inadvertent & typographical errors arising out of manual intervention cannot be ruled out. It is requested to bring any such discrepancies to the notice of the blogger for correction.