Male Infertility: What Causes It, and How To Solve It?

Having children is a simple process for most people but for those who find it difficult to conceive a child, the disappointment of finding out one of the couple is infertile can be crushing.

Male Infertility: Causes, Solutions

Male fertility involves 2 parts; quantity of sperm and quality of semen. If either of these are insufficient, getting a woman pregnant will be difficult.

There are so many negative things that can affect sperm, even for someone with perfect health. Even for someone who already has kids, it’s so easy for things to change. Everything you put in your body affects many aspects of reproductive health, including sperm quality and quantity.

If you are looking to conceive, or if you’re worried that your sex life is a problem, a well-balanced diet can support male fertility. For the production of sperm, your diet should include all the required minerals and vitamins. If you have problems maintaining an active sex life, a good nutritional program should help you, too.

How Common is This Problem?

It’s far more common than you think. It’s estimated that 1 in every 5 couples have a male with infertility and about 1 in 20 men will have some type of fertility problem at one point in their lives.

Complete infertility, called being sterile, affects only about 1 in every 100 men.

About 85 percent of men who are affected by male infertility have seen a specialist. These are often specialists in sexual problems, but also surgeons and urologists. They often find no cause. In this case, the cause may be a physical problem such as swollen glands, an inflamed prostate, testicular tissue, or prostate cancer.

Are There Any Signs or Symptoms?

Only the obvious one of not being able to get a woman pregnant. To the naked eye, everything else will look normal and no one can tell without a microscope.

So What Causes Male Infertility?

Sometimes, doctors really do not know what causes a man to have a low sperm count or poor quality sperm which results in male infertility. However, with some medical testing, doctors usually can determine the root of the problem.

This includes cholesterol levels and hormone levels. The doctor will also check for sperm characteristics.

Most men (about 2/3rds) have a low sperm count simply because the testes do not make sufficient amounts. This can be due to genetic failure, infections, hormonal problems, even from taking certain medications.

Another reason is age-related, as age increases the likelihood that a man will have a low sperm count. Unfortunately, a male ability to produce sperm usually declines with age, leading to a complete inability to conceive.

Other men suffer from transport problems. Sperm can be in sufficient amounts and viable, but unable to exit the penis. This happens for a variety of reasons.

What Solutions Are There for Male Infertility?

Possible solutions will depend on the actual problem.

Certain genetic defects or eating disorders can cause generalization of infertility and should be treated accordingly. The patient should be informed of the need for a physical examination, which should include a general review, palpation, as well as a reference to the patient’s medical history.

The primary care physician can be involved in the treatment of infertility. The patient should be educated about the different complications of the treatment options.

Most Common Treatment Options

Antibiotics will be given if an infection is present. Hormonal imbalances can be improved with hormone replacement medications.

Microbial diseases can be treated with antibiotic therapy. Drugs such as penicillin and chloramphenicol are routinely given to treat a variety of diseases, including sexually transmitted diseases.

Surgery

If the problem is in the transport system, your doctor might recommend surgery to repair an obstructed vas deferens. Vasectomies can sometimes be reversed through surgery.

Oral Medications

Increased physical activity or nutrition may be necessary. With early detection and proper care, symptoms can be successfully managed with oral and injectable medications.

Artificially Insemination

If these fail, but there is viable sperm in the testes, your doctor can retrieve sperm directly from the testicles and use it to artificially inseminate the female.

Sperm Donors

In rare cases, a male is sterile, or the sperm is simply not able to live long enough to impregnate a woman. You can talk to your doctor about using a sperm donor or about adoption at this point.

All sperm donors will have a thorough medical screening. They will also have to get semen taken and then biopsied. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and expertise to find out whether or not you are compatible.

Are There Any Other Options?

There are always home remedies that people have used for hundreds of years that are said to work, including:

  • Eating more seafood
  • Avoiding lubricants of any kind
  • Avoiding hot baths, saunas, or hot tubs
  • Have more frequent sex (every other day after the last day of a woman’s period until one week before she is due to start)
  • Chiropractic appointments
  • Acupuncture
  • Herbal supplements such as Panax Ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba and Saw Palmetto
  • Wearing boxer shorts instead of briefs
  • Improving the diet by avoiding alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco, and sodas
  • Get regular exercise
  • Get plenty of vitamin C and Zinc, through supplements or foods
  • Add plenty of garlic to your foods (a minimum of 3 cloves a day is recommended)
  • Drink 3-5 glasses of green tea each day.

References

What is Male Infertility? https://www.urologyhealth.org/urologic-conditions/male-infertility
How to Boost Fertility in Men? https://men-infertility.com/
Everything You Need to Know About Infertility https://www.healthline.com/health/infertility
Male Infertility https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/male-infertility
Infertility in men https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/

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