MALE INFERTILITY
If you are facing male infertility you are not alone. One in every eight couples face problems in getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. Approximately one-third of infertility is attributed to the male partner.
Infertility is failure to get pregnant even after twelve months of unprotected sexual intercourse. Many factors contribute to male infertility, such as anatomical, genetic, and environmental causes. In many cases, the underlying cause of infertility cannot be determined. You need to consider undergoing formal assessments and tests for better clinical diagnosis.
Male Infertility Symptoms
You may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
• Reduced sexual desire
• Difficulty in maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction)
• Pain or swelling in the testicle area
• Difficulty in ejaculation
• Decreased facial and body hair, and abnormal breast growth or hormonal abnormality
Visit your doctor to get yourself evaluated for these symptoms. Sometimes there are no apparent signs and symptoms of male infertility. You may not experience any issues with sexual activity, erection or ejaculation, and the only symptom you will have is the inability to conceive a child.
Male Infertility Problems/Causes
Male fertility includes producing enough healthy sperms, their transportation with semen, and it also needs the right temperature of the scrotum to carry healthy sperms.
Some of the leading causes of infertility are:
Sperm disorders
The most common problem associated with male infertility is sperm disorders. These are:
• Decreased sperm count (oligospermia
• Inability to produce sperms (azoospermia)
• Sperms may not be grown fully
• The failure of the sperms to move the right way
Sperm disorders can be hereditary or can be the result of bad lifestyle choices. Drug usage, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, emotional stress, and depression can result in sperm related disorders. Also, any congenital disability or damage to the reproductive system may result in low sperm count.
Varicoceles
Varicoceles are swollen veins of the scrotum that causes infertility. This results due to the blockage of blood flow to the scrotum, leading to difficulty in temperature regulation. The warm temperature does not favor the production of sperms resulting in low sperm count.
Varicocele can be treated, which helps to improve sperm number and function, and this may also improve the potential outcome of assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF.
Immunity related infertility
Though it is not a common cause of infertility, sometimes your body creates antibodies that attack your own sperms. These antibodies affect the functionality of sperms, which makes it difficult for them to fertilize the egg.
Ejaculation issues
During orgasm, if semen enters the bladder instead of going out through the penis, it is called retrograde ejaculation. Various health problems can cause retrograde ejaculation, such as surgery, medication, spinal injuries, or diabetes. Generally, in retrograde ejaculation sperm count is normal and can be retrieved and used for assisted reproductive techniques.
Blockage of sperm transporting tubules
Some defects can block the tubes that carry sperms. This blockage can occur due to repeated infections, injury due to surgery, swelling, or it can be an inherited condition. This blockage can prevent the sperm from leaving the body for fertilization.
Hormonal Imbalance
Any hormonal abnormality affecting the hypothalamus, pituitary, or adrenal glands can cause infertility. The inability to produce an adequate amount of testosterone can lead to a reduced number of healthy sperms.
Chromosomal defects
An inherited disorder can result in abnormal development of male reproductive organs. Some of the genetic syndromes causing infertility are Klinefelter’s syndrome, Kallmann’s syndrome, or cystic fibrosis.
Medications
Certain medications can impair the function, structure, and production of sperms. Long term use of steroids, cancer medication (chemotherapy), antifungal medications, and medications advised for arthritis and depression can cause infertility.
Environmental causes
Overexposure to industrial chemicals, heavy metals, or radiation may contribute to your reduced sperm count. Increased scrotal temperature due to tight underpants can also be the reason for infertility.
Lifestyle choices
Tobacco smoking or drinking alcohol can lead to erectile dysfunction or decreased sperm production. Usage of drugs like marijuana or cocaine can reduce the quality and production of your sperms. Emotional stress and depression can lead to sexual dysfunction. Excessive weight or obesity can also be the reason for infertility.
Male Infertility Diagnosis
The diagnosis of male infertility can be a complicated process. Getting yourself evaluated from a physician, specialized in male infertility can help you with better diagnosis. The method of diagnosis starts with history and physical examination.
Nonsurgical procedures
Infertility caused due to abnormalities of hormones, immunity, retrograde ejaculation, or genital tract infection can be corrected by using medications. If the drugs don’t seem to help, you can opt for assisted reproductive techniques (ART’s) to achieve conception.
Surgical procedures
Condition like varicocele can be treated by minor outpatient surgery called varicocelectomy. Any blockage causing azoospermia can also be corrected using minor surgeries.
Treatment options for unknown causes of infertility
Sometimes the cause of infertility may not be known or is non-specific. During such conditions, an experienced doctor can help you to decide which treatment can work for you.
With the latest developments, Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) offers powerful treatment options. These treatments have made it possible to attain pregnancy even when men have low sperm count.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
In this method, sperms are directly injected into the female partner’s uterus during ovulation. This method often works for low sperm count or in conditions like retrograde ejaculation.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
In this procedure, sperms are mixed with eggs of the female partner in a Petri dish in a lab. This allows retrieval of matured eggs and their fertilization. After 3 to 5 days, fertilized eggs are placed back in the uterus. IVF can be the best treatment option in men with severe oligospermia.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
It is a form of IVF used in the treatment of severe male infertility. In this, a single sperm is injected into an egg through a tiny needle. The fertilized egg is then transferred to the female partner’s uterus.
Final Words
You may find it challenging to accept male infertility. As mentioned above in many cases, male infertility can be treated. Consulting a skilled infertility doctor and getting evaluated can help you to overcome infertility. Right diagnosis and treatment can make it possible to achieve pregnancy and take home a healthy baby.
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