Male Infertlity: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

Overview

The incapacity of the male partner to impregnate his fertile female partner is defined as male infertility. It is quite a common and stressful condition for males that requires proper medical attention. Infertility affects nearly 7% of all men. There can be numerous causes to it such as poor quality of semen, low sperm production, erectile dysfunction, etc.

In over a third of infertility cases, the problem is with the man. This is most often due to problems with his sperm production or with sperm delivery.

Facts about Male infertility:

• Male infertility occurs just as often as female infertility.

• Many cases of male infertility can be treated, which can make it possible for the woman to get pregnant.

• Low sperm count is the major reason in most cases of male infertility.

• Male infertility cannot be diagnosed at home; you will always need professional medical help.

Signs and Symptoms of Male Infertility:

The main symptom of male infertility is the inability to conceive a child. There are usually no noticeable signs and symptoms of male infertility. However, the underlying symptoms of male infertility include:

• Problems with sexual function like painful ejaculation, lesser amount of ejaculation, painful erection or difficulty in maintaining the erection.

• Swelig, lump or pain in the testes

• Respiratory infections

• Gynecomastia, which is abnormal growth of breast tissues in men

• A lower than normal sperm count (fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen or a total sperm count of less than 39 million per ejaculate).

Causes of Male Infertility:

The main causes of male infertility include:

• Sperm disorders: A man is considered to be infertile when he faces problems with his sperm quality and quantity. His sperm might either not grow fully, not move the right way or may be very less in numbers. Lifestyle habits like smoking, high alcohol consumption, high dose antidepressants are major risk factors for sperm abnormalities.

• Varicoceles: This is a medical condition where veins in the scrotum swell. 16 out of every 100 men face this problem. This health condition is a major contributor of male infertility.

• Obstruction: Although not very common, sperm can be blocked at times. This can be caused due to certain infections of surgery which can with time lead to blockage in the male reproductive tract.

• Hormones: Hormones made by the pituitary gland tell the testicles to make sperm. Very low hormone levels cause poor sperm growth.

• Medications: Medications can have adverse effects on sperm production, function, and delivery. Medications used for the treatment of depression, arthritis, high blood pressure, cancer are often seen to cause male infertility.

Diagnosis of Male Infertility:

The diagnosis of male infertility is based on symptoms. It can be analyzed with the help of a physical examination and medical history of the patient by the doctors and by a discussion of the symptoms occurring thereof. Furthermore, there are quite a number of tests available that may indicate the accurate diagnosis:

• Physical examination and medical history of the patient

• Analysis of Semen

• Ultrasound of scrotum

• Post-ejaculation urinalysis

• Evaluation of Hormones

• Testicular biopsy

Treatment

In cases of male infertility, the female partners’ diagnosis is also necessary. This can help in the determination if she will require any specific treatments or not. If yes, then it proceeds with assisted reproductive techniques, if appropriate. The treatment for infertility in men include

Medication & counselling: Antibiotic treatments may cure male infertility if there is an infection in the reproductive tract, but do not always restore fertility. Medication or counseling can help in the improvement of fertility in conditions such as erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation.

Hormonal treatments and medications: Your doctor might recommend hormone replacement therapy or several medications in the cases where infertility is basically caused by the high or low levels of certain kinds of hormones or problems with the way your body is using hormones.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Male Infertility

In ayurveda, dravyas are used to provide Balya (strength to the body) and brumhana (nutrition to the body) and vrishya (increase fertility).

Here are the Important Dravyas:

• Milk, ghee, ashwagandha - enhances semen

• Sugarcane, kushtha - purifies semen

• Guduchi, brahmi, shatvri - promotes fertilization

• Lavanga, long pepper, garlic - increases libido

• Chandana, nutmeg, ashwangandha - prevents premature ejaculation

Prevention of Male Infertility:

• Don't smoke

• Keep a balanced weight

• Limit consumption of alcohol

• Don't undergo vasectomy

• Avoid things that lead to prolonged heat for the testicles

• Keep off the stress

• Cut down on medications for anxiety and depression