Fertility challenges men can often be associated with a sense of failure but a lack of success when trying to conceive is almost never your fault. Dr Reyftmann takes a methodical and thorough approach to investigating all plausible causes of your infertility situation before recommending treatment.
Male infertility contributes to around 50% of infertility cases, including situations where both male and female infertility play a role. Around one third of cases are solely due to problems with the male partner. Fortunately, most causes of male-related fertility challenges can be overcome with treatment.
The endocrine (hormone) system of the human body is a highly intricate network of glands, organs, and chemical messengers. The actions of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, testosterone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and inhibin B all play an intertwined role in regulating the function of the testicles and sperm production. Additional hormones including oestrogen and prolactin influence the levels of these hormones.
Hormonal disorders that can cause male infertility include conditions such as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, androgen misuse, hypothyroidism, and hyperprolactinaemia. These can certainly be a mouthful to pronounce! Different causes underlie each of these conditions, such as excess fat tissue, taking anabolic steroids, stress, liver disease, and genetics. These abnormal hormone levels result in various fertility problems, including poor sperm production, low libido, and erectile dysfunction.
The most important thing for you to know is the majority of male infertility related to hormonal imbalance can be corrected through medications.
Problems with sexual function or reproductive anatomy can cause infertility through hindering the normal release of sperm. Erectile dysfunction prevents successful intercourse while premature or retrograde ejaculation means that your semen and the sperm it contains is unable to make it into your female partner’s reproductive tract to fertilise her egg.
Several diseases are associated with male fertility issues. Multiple sclerosis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction, as can mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. Retrograde ejaculation occurs when semen is directed into the bladder instead of out the penis and is also associated with diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and certain medications or surgical procedures. The ejaculation of semen may be blocked through a defect or absence of the vas deferens tubes, either through injury or congenital abnormality.
Treatment for functional issues causing fertility challenges varies widely depending on the nature of the problem. It may take a multidisciplinary treatment strategy involving several specialists (especially if you have a systemic illness that is contributing), or could be addressed with a straightforward procedure to repair your vas deferens.
Sperm are the cells carrying half the genetic information that will make up your future child. To successfully start a pregnancy, one single sperm cell must make its way through your female partner’s reproductive tract, find the egg, and penetrate its outer layers for fertilisation. Many other things then need to happen before a child is born, but the sperm’s job is done by this point. However, to perform this job, your sperm need to be capable of swimming to and penetrating the egg.
Types of sperm abnormalities include an absence of sperm in your semen, low sperm count, abnormal morphology (size and shape), or poor motility (ability to swim). Any of these problems can cause infertility in men as it means your sperm are unable to reach the egg or will have trouble getting through the egg’s surface. Abnormal sperm can be caused by genetic factors, lifestyle factors, exposure to environmental toxins, hormonal disorders, trauma and infection, and certain medications.
Improving your sperm parameters relies on identifying any underlying causes and addressing them where possible, such as ceasing medications or avoiding environmental hazards. Medications may be needed to rebalance your hormones or treat an infection so that you can conceive naturally. Fertility treatments such as IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can also be helpful.
Cigarette smoking, recreational drug use, alcohol consumption, and obesity all have a detrimental effect on male fertility through impacting your sperm quality or quality. Environmental hazards such as exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, or excessive heat around your testicles are also known risk factors for male fertility problems.
