An infertility patient's greatest fear is that they will never have children. Although you cannot predict the future, it is essential to remember that infertility is not a disease or something you are destined to struggle with forever.
The good news is that treatments are available to help you overcome this problem and become a parent.
This post will cover male forms of infertility and cover some of the solutions that could help each condition.
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How Is It Possible To Find Out If You Are Infertile?
Infertility affects about 1 in 8 couples in the U.S. and is often a challenging and emotional experience. If you are facing infertility and are not sure about your symptoms or are worried about your body's condition, go to your doctor to get a complete checkup.
You can use several options to avoid going to the doctor, one such option being a home fertility test. There are many to choose from, with the best two being the Dadi and Legacy tests. If you wonder which is the best choice between the Dadi vs Legacy Fertility test, you can read online reviews from people who have used both. These tests are an excellent option for those who wish to check in the comfort of their own home before making a final decision.
The good news is that many fertility problems can be fixed even if these tests come up positive.
You shouldn't worry if you are diagnosed with a fertility problem, as this post will discuss various options to help you conceive.
What Causes Male Infertility?
Several different issues cause male infertility. A man's age, genetic problems, or a problem with the sperm, testes, or penis can contribute to this condition.
The problem can arise from difficulties with sperm or the testes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 9% of men aged 25 to 44 years reported being infertile, showing that this problem is more widespread than many understand.
But what are some of the more common issues facing men?
1. Sperm Disorders
- Unable to grow fully: Underdeveloped sperm cannot carry the correct information into an egg and will be unable to fertilize it.
- Having an unusual shape: The shape of some sperm can interfere with their ability to move and fertilize eggs.
- Not moving the right way: If the sperm cannot move coherently, it will be more difficult for the sperm to reach the egg.
- Low numbers of sperm are formed: Also known as oligospermia, this is when a male has a low sperm count. As a result, their chances of reaching the egg are much lower.
- Your testicles cannot make sperm: Also known as azoospermia, this is when the testicles are unable to produce any sperm at all.
Treatment
You will need to go for a thorough test to evaluate precisely what is wrong with your sperm, and depending on the result, the following are typically used to treat the situation.
- Surgical procedures.
- Infection treatment.
- Treatments for problems with sexual intercourse.
- Therapies and medications related to hormones.
- Assisted reproductive technology (ART).
2. Varicoceles
Varicoceles are a condition that affects the veins of the scrotum and testicles, although it can also affect other parts of the body.
Varicoceles are often caused by an obstruction of the vein or varix. It is usually first noticed in men when they are in their teens or twenties, which tends to worsen with age.
This will damage the sperm by obstructing blood draining and making your testicles too hot to produce viable sperm.
Treatment
In most cases, this condition is treated by surgery in which the blood is diverted to the usual vein by stopping the flow of blood through the affected vein.
Most men don't need surgery and can father children, but the more severe the case, the more likely it is to be infertile.
3. Immunological Infertility
In rare cases, sperm can become infected by antibodies produced by the men's bodies. Injury, surgery, and infection are the most common reasons for making antibodies.
Sperm cannot move and normally work when they are in contact with them.
Antibodies may lower fertility, but the precise mechanism is unknown. Antibodies can impede sperm from swimming to the fallopian tube and entering an egg when they are in this condition.
Treatment
Unfortunately, this is a complex condition to remedy, and not all men will become fertile after treatment.
Previous treatments have been overtaken by a new method called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
4. Retrograde Ejaculation
The backward movement of semen in the body is known as retrograde ejaculation – learn more here, so instead of leaving through the penis, they are absorbed into the bladder.
This occurs when the bladder and its nerves aren't closed during an orgasm. While sperm may be present in the semen, it cannot reach the vagina because it cannot be released from the penis.
Treatment
You might use medication to treat retrograde ejaculation caused by nerve damage. Among the conditions that might cause the nerve damage include:
- Diabetes.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Surgeries.
5. Some Medications
Certain medications used to treat a variety of health issues are also known to cause fertility problems. The reason being that they can alter the process of sperm production, its function, and how they are delivered to the egg.
Treatment
It is crucial to speak with your doctor regarding this, but often ceasing the medication in question will affect returning your sperm to normal levels.
However, depending on the medicine and how long you have been taking it, the results might vary.
6. Hormonal Imbalance
Fertility disorders may be related to problems with the testicles or other hormonal systems, including the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands.
Hormonal issues like low testosterone levels can stem from a wide variety of factors.
Treatment
Often, low testosterone is treated with hormone injections needed to boost testosterone levels back to what they should be.
Until you can restore sperm production and fertility, hormone therapy may be necessary for up to a year.
Fertility problems are not a cause of shame, and they can usually be treated.
It will depend on what is causing your infertility, and in most cases, increasing or reducing particular medication should resolve it over time.