Male-Factor Problems Are Infertility’s Hidden Half
Getting pregnant and starting a family are the goals of countless couples. Yet every year, about 12% are unable to do so due to an infertility diagnosis. Infertility prevents natural conception via unprotected sex secondary to an underlying medical or health condition. This disease must be verified by a medical professional, such as a reproductive endocrinologist, and is usually confirmed after 6-12 months of attempting to conceive without success. What many couples are surprised to discover is that infertility can be male factor-related. Statistics show that men struggle with infertility at the same rates as women, despite the common belief that most cases are female-related. Finding and treating the uncovered reasons why men are infertile can help couples finally achieve pregnancy.
Could it be your sperm's health?
Healthy sperm is essential to pregnancy, and a complete sperm analysis is often the first step in assessing male-factor infertility. The analysis should have a healthy sperm count, motility, and morphology. A low sperm count, called oligospermia, or an absence of sperm, called azoospermia, is a common cause. If sperm fail to move effectively or have an abnormal shape, these issues can prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg during conception. Poor sperm health is a primary cause of male-factor infertility and can be addressed with the appropriate treatment.
Unlocking the medical causes of infertility
Sometimes, there are underlying health causes that can lead to infertility. These are physical issues that can prevent the production of sperm or obstruct sperm from being present in semen. A common example is varicocele, where enlarged veins in the scrotum prevent sperm from combining with seminal fluid during ejaculation. Infections, prior surgeries, or congenital issues like cystic fibrosis can impact sperm production. Studies show that chronic diseases like diabetes, autoimmune diseases, or thyroid disorders can cause infertility. These are often overlooked reasons for infertility in men.
Your lifestyle matters
Despite a healthy semen analysis, men can still struggle with infertility. Lifestyle factors can impact the body's ability to produce adequate sperm. Some external factors also disrupt the production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which are essential for sperm production. Common examples include poor diet, a lack of exercise, and prolonged exposure to heat. Chemicals such as pesticides, heavy metals, and plastics affect fertility. Stress levels can affect hormone production and promote unhealthy practices such as excess alcohol consumption or recreational drug use. A combination of these external factors can lead to difficulties in conceiving. Many of these factors must be addressed for conventional fertility treatments to be effective.
Other often-overlooked reasons
Even after assessing sperm health, medical conditions, and lifestyle, there are overlooked reasons for male infertility. Certain medications or supplements, for instance, may adversely affect sperm production. Some chronic conditions cause retrograde ejaculation, where semen enters the bladder instead of exiting through the penis. Sometimes, the issue is genetic, where conditions such as Klinefelter syndrome or Y-chromosome infertility impair sperm production. Issues with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus can lead to infertility. These problems are only unlocked with comprehensive testing or genetic evaluation.
Your initial treatment options
Once doctors unlock the possible root causes, an appropriate treatment plan can be made. Each circumstance is different, and sometimes, men need multiple forms of treatment. The medical team will attempt to treat any underlying health issues. This may require surgery, for instance, to correct a varicocele or medication to address infections. Addressing chronic diseases to manageable levels also helps and may improve fertility. Most infertile men need support to improve sperm health. Hormone medication, when used consistently, can improve sperm count and quality. Lifestyle changes such as improving diet, increasing exercise, making environmental changes, and limiting stress can improve health, reduce inflammation, and potentially help fertility. If these changes combined do not lead to pregnancy, assisted reproductive technology (ART) is the next option.
Turning to ART
Infertility patients can benefit from ART, a series of medical procedures that increase the chances of pregnancy. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are popular and effective forms of ART. These procedures sometimes require several attempts or cycles but have high success rates. The fertility team can use additional techniques to increase the chances of success. Common examples include intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is used to fertilize the egg during IVF, and genetic testing. There are even strategies like testicular sperm extraction (TESE) or testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) to extract sperm in severe cases of infertility. Combining multiple techniques can help men have biological children, but there are cases where donor sperm is the best option.
Take male factor infertility seriously
Infertility can be a devastating diagnosis for couples hoping to start or grow a family. Men, in particular, can be infertile with a host of often-overlooked reasons. Finding the root cause is key to receiving the appropriate treatment. If treatment fails, turning to the many forms of ART can increase pregnancy rates. If getting pregnant naturally is a challenge, do not hesitate to seek advice from a reproductive specialist.