Statistically speaking, 10-15% of couples who are trying to conceive are faced with infertility, and from those numbers, a third of the couples infertility is due to male problems. The best way to find out whether a man has infertility issues is via a semen analysis to ensure that everything is okay, or not okay. The semen analysis evaluates the amount of semen present, sperm count, and the shape of sperms as well as their motility (movement).
Can Male Infertility Be Cured?
Most cases of male infertility can be cured using appropriate medical treatment therapies or through fertility treatments. Infertility, in general, is the inability of a man and woman to conceive within a period of one year or more. For male infertility, the most common problems are either associated with the sperms or their release where there may be an obstruction in the sperm passageway.
How to cure male infertility? The treatment of male infertility depends on the underlying cause of infertility. The simplest causes of male infertility to treat are lifestyle choices such as being obese or overweight, drug abuse and overheating testicles. People who are overweight or obese should consider diet change and eat healthier foods and those rich in nutrients which improve fertility. All that is required is changing the bad lifestyle choices and adopting healthier ways so as to improve fertility.
In cases of low sperm count, the man can be given medication to boost hormone levels and production of sperms. In addition to that, they should have frequent sex so as to increase the chances of getting their partners pregnant. For patients with problems with ejaculation, medication can be offered to relieve the problem and enhance fertility. If the underlying condition causes obstruction such as varicocele or blockage in the ejaculatory duct or epididymis, surgical procedures can be performed to rectify the damage.
Alternatively, if the damage is irreversible, sperms can be collected from the testicles and used for assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs). ARTs include; intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Patients suffering from hormonal imbalance can be treated using medication to boost their hormone levels, or hormone replacement therapy so as to improve infertility. Medication therapy is also used to treat infections within the body, in particular within the testicular region, which causes infertility.
In cases of patients with cancer, since chemotherapy and radiation are used for their treatment, and at the same time cause infertility, the patients can consider having their sperms harvested prior to treatment. The sperms can then be used in assisted reproduction.
Causes Of Infertility
The most common causes of infertility in men can range from medical conditions to lifestyle choices and even to environmental factors. In other cases, couples may be unable to achieve pregnancy due to poor timing since most men are not aware of the ovulation cycle of women. It is important to remember that even though a man may have a problem with his sperm count, he can still reproduce to have his own biological children. Here are the most common causes of male infertility:
- Congenital disorders such as Kallman’s syndrome, an absence of vas deferens, and Klinefelter’s syndrome.
- Sperm problems including nil sperm count or low sperm count, poor sperm motility, and abnormally shaped sperms.
- Ejaculation issues e.g. erectile dysfunction delayed ejaculation and retrograde ejaculation.
- Undescended testicles.
- Overheating testicles through long periods of hot baths or wearing tight underwear.
- Thick semen which inhibits smooth movement of sperms around it.
- Excessive consumption of alcohol, illicit drugs such as marijuana and cocaine as well as smoking too much.
- Being overweight or obese.
- Hormonal imbalance,
- Other medical issues such as varicocele, infections, and cancer.
- Hypothalamic or pituitary gland dysfunction.
- Exposure to harmful chemicals, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Conclusion
Treatment for male infertility include surgical procedures to repair damage within the reproduction system, and medication for underlying infections, hormonal imbalance, and erectile dysfunction. For patients who cannot benefit from surgery or medication, they can have their sperms harvested and used in assisted reproduction techniques. The first step to curing male infertility is identifying the cause then progressing to identify the appropriate treatment procedure for that problem. There is hope for those who have infertility issues, and therefore they should not give up trying to build their own families.
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