Male Infertility Treatment: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment
Do you have male infertility issues and want to know what is the best male infertility treatment? To put it another way, about one-seventh of all couples are infertile, meaning they haven’t conceived a child despite having regular, unprotected sexual contact for at least a year.
Male infertility may be a contributing factor in as many as 50% of these relationships.
Low sperm production, poor sperm function, or obstructions to sperm delivery can contribute to male infertility. Male infertility can be caused by a variety of circumstances, including illness, injury, chronic health issues, lifestyle choices, and more.
Male infertility is common, and there are a variety of therapies available to help couples conceive.
Historically, the burden of infertility has been assumed to fall squarely on the shoulders of women.
But it turns out that guys don’t have it so easy either. Roughly one-third of infertility cases may be attributed to male factors alone, while men are implicated in about half of all infertility cases.
One of the most difficult things a guy may go through is hearing that he is infertile.
It may have a disastrous effect on some. In fact, the need for reproduction is one of the few topics on which Darwin and the Bible can reach a consensus. Men who are unable to father a child may believe they have failed at one of their most fundamental roles in society.
Some men must face the harsh fact that there is currently no treatment for their infertility. New treatments for male infertility, however, can be of great assistance to other men.
How Common Is It?
There are more than five million couples in the United States who are experiencing infertility problems, which is why it happens so often. One in six couples trying to conceive will experience infertility.
The presence of the masculine element is a key factor in at least half the instances of infertility. According to the latest available data, about 10% of all boys in the United States who are trying to conceive are infertile.
Can You Conceive While Having Male Infertility?
No, conception is a difficult process that depends on different conditions, including: male ability to produce healthy sperm and female ability to produce healthy eggs.
Fallopian tubes that are blocked, allowing sperm to reach the egg. Are sperm capable of fertilizing eggs when they come in contact with them? The ability of a fertilized egg (embryo) to transplant into a woman’s uterus is called implantability. Excellent fetal quality.
Finally, in order for a pregnancy to last longer, the fetus must be healthy and the woman’s hormonal environment must be conducive to fetal development. Infertility can occur even if only one of these variables is deficient in some way.
There are some people who are more prone to struggle with infertility than others. You may be more likely to do the following: Your body mass index is 30 or above.
You are over 40 years old. You have been exposed to radioactive contamination. Lead, calcium, pesticides, and mercury are examples of environmental toxins you have encountered. Smoking, marijuana, or alcohol abuse are all things you do.
If you have a yeast infection, take certain medications, such as cyproterone, flotamide, spironolactone, biclotamide, cimetidine, or ketoconazole.
You are in the presence of heat, which raises the temperature of your testicles. People who use a sauna, hot tub, or wheelchair regularly may be affected.
It turned out that you had a non-revealed testicle in the past. You have a history of varicoceles, which are veins in the scrotum that have caused pain in the past. You have experienced the male hormone testosterone. Some boys are needed.
What Are The Causes Of Male Infertility?
A variety of biological and environmental variables can affect your reproductive health. Among the possibilities are: Azoospermia: Your failure to produce sperm cells can lead to your infertility. Oligospermia is defined as the generation of low or poor quality sperm.
Examples of genetic disorders are Klinefelter’s syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, microdeletion, and other genetic disorders. Bad sperm: A sperm that does not survive long enough to fertilize an egg due to a defect.
Diabetes, various autoimmune diseases, cystic fibrosis, and some infections are just a few examples of medical issues to consider. Some prescription drugs and dietary supplements.
Testicular varicocele is a condition in which the capillaries of your testicles become larger than normal, causing them to overheat and change the shape and amount of sperm produced.
Cancer treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical removal of the testicles (one or both).
Unhealthy habits include excessive drinking, smoking, drug abuse, and the use of anabolic steroids. Testicular trauma is a type of sexual assault. The hypothalamus and pituitary glands are also affected by hormonal issues.
Symptoms
Infertility is a symptom in itself, for no reason. On the other hand, it is much more difficult to describe the negative psychological and emotional effects of infertility on a couple desiring a family.
Many women say that having a baby has become the center of their life. Depression, loss, sadness, inadequacy, and failure are often feelings that both men and women experience.
Who is trying to conceive a child? Anyone or a couple who is experiencing any of these ideas may choose to seek professional help from a healthcare professional such as a therapist or psychologist who has extensive expertise in dealing with infertility issues.
Keeps Such professionals can help you deal with the problem realistically and provide support even when you are undergoing therapy.
Male Infertility Diagnosis
Numerous factors contribute to infertility in many couples, so it’s probable that you and your partner may require medical attention. Identifying the root cause of infertility may need a battery of diagnostic procedures. A reason is not always determined.
Check with your insurer ahead of time to see whether they cover infertility testing, as these procedures can be costly.
In most cases, the following steps are used to diagnose male infertility:
The standard medical interview and physical. The genitalia will be examined, and you will be asked about any diseases, injuries, or procedures that may have affected your fertility in the past or present. You should expect questions from your doctor about your sexual history and how you felt as you went through puberty.
Analyzing sperm. There are a few options for collecting sperm samples. A specimen can be provided by masturbating and ejaculating into a collection device in the doctor’s office. Some men have a preference for a different approach to semen collecting, whether it be due to religious or cultural norms. In certain circumstances, a special condom can be used to collect semen during sexual activity.
Your sperm will be counted, their morphology and motility analysed, and any abnormalities found before your semen is returned to you. The laboratory will also test your sperm for issues like infections.
It’s not uncommon for sperm counts to vary widely from one sample to the next. Multiple tests for semen analysis are often performed throughout time to guarantee reliability. If your sperm analysis comes out normal, your doctor may suggest further infertility testing on the female spouse before proceeding with any additional tests on the male.
To further determine what is causing your infertility, your doctor may suggest more testing. Some of these are:
In-situ sonography of the scrotum. High-frequency sound waves are used in this procedure to create pictures of the internal organs. The presence of a varicocele or other issues with the testicles or their supporting structures can be detected by a scrotal ultrasound.
Ultrasound transrectal. To do this, a tiny, lubricated wand is placed into your rectum. The doctor can examine the prostate and check for obstructions in the tubes that transport sperm.
Tests for hormones. The generation of sperm and sexual maturation are dependent on hormones secreted by the brain, pituitary gland, and testes. Infertility may be caused, in part, by abnormalities in other hormonal or organ systems. Testosterone and other hormone levels can be determined with a blood test.
Urine analysis after ejaculation. If you see sperm in your pee, it may mean they are entering the bladder instead of the penis when you ejaculate (retrograde ejaculation).
There are genetic analyses. Extremely low sperm counts can have a hereditary underpinning. Subtle alterations in the Y chromosome may indicate a genetic anomaly, and can be detected by a blood test. In order to identify a range of hereditary or congenital conditions, genetic testing may be prescribed.
Biopsy of the testes. As part of this analysis, a needle will be used to collect samples from the testicle. If a testicular biopsy reveals normal sperm production, the issue is likely due to a disruption in sperm transport.
Specialized diagnostics for sperm. Your sperm’s viability after ejaculation, its ability to enter an egg, and its ability to adhere to the egg may all be tested in a variety of ways. These exams are rarely performed and typically do not result in substantial changes to treatment plans.
Male Infertility Treatment
Most cases of infertility have unknown causes. Your doctor may be able to suggest therapies or procedures that will lead to conception even if the specific cause is unknown.
It is advised that when male infertility is suspected, the female spouse also be examined. Your spouse may benefit from specialised care. On the other hand, you could find out that using ART is a good idea for you.
Men’s infertility remedies include:
- Surgery. Examples of conditions that can be treated surgically include varicoceles and vas deferens obstructions. Vasectomy procedures can be undone. Retrieval procedures can be used to collect sperm from the testicles or epididymis when none can be found in the ejaculate.
eliminating parasites or treating illnesses. The fertility of a patient may be restored after antibiotic therapy for an infection of the reproductive system, however this is not always the case. - Counseling for issues arising in sexual relationships. In cases of erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation, treatment with medication or psychotherapy might boost fertility.
- Medication and therapy using hormones. When hormone levels, or difficulties with hormone use, are to blame for a couple’s inability to conceive, a doctor may prescribe hormone replacement therapy or other drugs.
- Reproductive technology aids in conception (ART). Methods of sperm collection for assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures range from natural ejaculation to surgical extraction to sperm donation. They are then employed for in vitro fertilisation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or insertion into the female vaginal canal.
What Does Your Doctor May ask You?
I’m curious how long you’ve been trying to get your spouse pregnant. Have you ever managed to conceive a partner? Do you have a habit of smoking? Drinker?
Do you use illegal items on a regular basis? What medicine are you taking now? Do you need to work in a chemically contaminated environment?
Have you ever had a groin injury as a result of a car accident or other traumatic event? What kind of mental health concerns are you dealing with these days, such as clinical depression?
In terms of medical conditions, what do you have? Diabetes? Is it possible to have an autoimmune disorder? Is it possible that you have been exposed to radiation?
