Male Infertility-A Serious Issue For Men

by Indira IVF Indira IVF Center For IVF, IUI, ICSI Treatment

Introduction

Not every couple in this world gets able to conceive a child on their own. One of the most common reasons behind this reason is infertility. Traditionally, infertility is thought to be a woman's problem. However, it is a widespread problem and it has been said that one in every three cases of infertility is because of the man alone. Talking about male infertility, it is a term used by doctors when a man does not get able to make a woman pregnant after trying for at least one year.

A diagnosis of male infertility can be one of the toughest challenges a man can face. Even it can prove to be devastating for some people. Thought of not being able to be the father of the child can make a man feel like he is failing at one of his most primal responsibilities. It is said that one in every 20 men has a type of fertility problem with the fewer quantity of sperm in his ejaculate. Though, one in every 100 men contains no sperm in his ejaculate.

Male Infertility Causes

One of the major causes of male infertility is the abnormalities of sperm. Sperm can be blamed as abnormal for two reasons, low mobility or short life span. Even it can be caused due to inflammation of the testicles, swollen veins in the scrotum and abnormally developed testicles. Using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs can be a reason for a low sperm count or lack of sperm.

Even things like a pre-existing genetic condition, severe mumps infection after puberty, hormone disorder, exposure to radiation, a blockage caused by the previous infection, injury to the groin area are responsible for the same.

There are various risk factors associated with male infertility that include smoking, taking alcohol, being severely stressed or depressed, overweight, exposed to toxins, implementing different illicit drugs, having different past or present infections, having a prior vasectomy or major pelvic or abdominal surgery, being born with a fertility disorder, having a blood relative with a fertility disorder, undergoing medical treatments like radiation for treating cancer or other surgery, taking certain medications or having different medical conditions like tumors or chronic illness.

Male Infertility Symptoms

The inability to conceive a child is one of the top signs that indicate male infertility. Hormonal imbalance, inherited disorder, dilated veins around the testicle is a condition which blocks the passage of sperm causes signs and symptoms. Although most men do not notice the signs and symptoms of infertility other than the inability to conceive a child, there are some things which can be associated with this problem.

There can be troubles with sexual function, like when the difficulty with ejaculation or small volumes of fluid ejaculated. If there is reduced sexual desire or problems in maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction), then one may consider as symptoms of infertility. Swelling, pain or a lump in the testicle part, incapability to smell, abnormal growth of breast (gynecomastia), recurrent respiratory infections, decreased body or facial hair, other signs of hormonal or chromosomal abnormality, a lower than normal sperm count can be considered as symptoms of male infertility.

Male Infertility Treatment

Fortunately, male infertility can be diagnosed and there are lots of couples in this world who have been blessed with a child after treating infertility. Treatment will depend upon what is causing infertility to man. Many problems can be fixed with the help of surgery or drugs. Even many cases of infertility can be treated without surgery. Anejaculation is applied when there is an absence of semen. Drugs are prescribed first to treat this condition. If drugs do not work, there are two different steps named as rectal probe electroejaculation and penile vibratory stimulation that is used. There are surgical therapies for male infertility like varicocele treatment, microsurgical vasovasostomy, azoospermia treatment, vasoepididymostomy and transurethral resection of the ejaculatory duct.

Sometimes it becomes hard for the practitioner to identify the cause of male infertility. This condition is described as non-specific or idiopathic male infertility. A man may have to pass with different types of tests if prescribed by the doctor. Things like assisted reproductive techniques, intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, sperm retrieval for ART, testicular sperm extraction, testicular fine needle aspiration, microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration and percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration can be used to treat male infertility.