Male Fertility Overview
One in six Australian couples suffers from infertility. Of this, 40% of the infertility is a male related problem with one in twenty five males having a low sperm count and one in thirty five males being sterile. Obviously, male infertility is an increasing problem for couples and should not be overlooked when seeking answers to fertility issues. But, what exactly is male infertility? What are the causes and symptoms? How is it diagnosed and what can be done to increase male fertility? The following article will provide useful information to these common questions and much more.
Male infertility is a condition in which a man cannot get a woman pregnant after 12 consecutive months of unprotected sexual intercourse. There are many factors that can contribute to male infertility but the two main categories are functional infertility and structural infertility. Functional infertility is a problem with how the sexual organs function whereas structural infertility is a physical abnormality of the sexual organs, usually as a result of a birth defect.
In order to properly understand the causes of male infertility, you must first have an understanding of how a man contributes to the conception process. A man is responsible for delivering sperm into the vagina. However, that sperm needs to healthy enough to reach, penetrate, and fertilize a woman’s mature egg. There are so many things that can impede this process.
Some of the obstacles or causes of male infertility are:
~ Erectile dysfunction or impotence,
~ Low sperm count,
~ Poor sperm motility,
~ Undescended testicle,
~ Abnormally shaped sperm,
~ Genetic abnormalities,
~ Hormonal imbalances, and
~ Varicocele.
Varicocele is the single most common cause of male infertility that is a condition in which the veins of the scrotum are enlarged on one or both sides resulting in the inside of the scrotum becoming heated. This heat can affect sperm production.
The most glaring symptom of male infertility is the inability for a couple to get pregnant. Other than that, there usually are no other discernable symptoms. But, depending on the cause of the infertility some symptoms may be present. For example, if the infertility is a result of a hormonal imbalance a man may experience a low sex drive, decrease growth of hair on the face and/or groin area, and mood swings. If the infertility is a result of a congenital defect, the physical appearance of the groin area may be an indicator.
Diagnosing male infertility is rather simple. A complete medical history will be gathered to determine any genetic predispositions, sexual partners, sexually transmitted diseases, medications that you may be taking, the amount of tobacco, caffeine, or alcohol you consume, and any illegal drugs you may be using. A physical examination is always performed. This can enable your doctor to see and feel your penis, scrotum, and testicles to determine if there are any abnormal growths, lesions, or scarring. A common portion of this examination is to have blood drawn and a semen analysis. The blood will be tested for a myriad of sexually transmitted diseases and hormone levels. For the semen analysis portion of the exam, the man will be asked to ejaculate into a sterile container. This sperm sample will then be viewed under a microscope to see the quantity, quality, and motility of the sperm. Many times the problem will be diagnosed after the semen analysis, however in the event it is not, further testing will be required. A few of the additional tests that can be utilized include a scrotal ultrasound, genetic testing, testicular biopsy, anti-sperm antibody testing, and a vasography.
On the positive side, male infertility can be easily treated with a variety of methods such as lifestyle changes, surgery, hormone replacement therapy, and medication. Simply changing your diet, exercise habits, and sexual behaviors can greatly improve fertility. If the infertility problem is a physical abnormality then surgery may be the answer. For hormonal imbalances, hormones can be given or suppressed as needed and medication can be prescribed for conditions like erectile dysfunction.
Of course, prevention is the best medicine and male infertility is preventable. Following these simple steps can increase male fertility:
1. Avoid illicit drugs. Drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and marijuana have been shown to decrease fertility and adversely affect sperm production.
2. Limit the amount of alcohol and tobacco consumption. Excessive uses of both of these have been linked to poor sexual function and infertility.
3. Avoid exposure to heat because it can impair sperm production. Limit the amount of time spent in hot tubs, saunas, or steam baths. It is also recommended that you limit the amount of time you sit with a laptop on your lap as it produces a high amount of heat.
Sometimes, unfortunately, male infertility cannot be prevented or treated and a man may never be able to father a child. This is a diagnosis only a medical professional can make and if it does happen, then sperm donation or adoption may be an option.
