Male Infertility and Its Causes
If you are trying to conceive and
are in the process of discussing what to do when your semen analysis yields abnormal results,
this post is meant just for you!
First, we should start with the basics of it.
In many cases, semen analysis is a handy tool that helps determine whether male infertility can be a potential cause for your inability to conceive.
The overall process is straightforward. A man ejaculates into a cup, and the sample is placed under a microscope. Our specialists closely examine the movement of the sperm cells and their morphology of it.
If there are any abnormalities, our doctors will repeat the same analysis. If the same errors are detected consistently, the abnormal semen could cause difficulties in achieving pregnancy.
How many times does semen analysis need to be performed?
That is a really common question. The amount of times semen analysis needs to be performed depends on the quality of the semen. There is no perfect answer because samples may turn out to be bad for that specific day. However, most fertility experts agree that two samples taken a month apart should be a good indicator of semen health.
What a couple should do after an abnormal semen analysis
After consistently yielding abnormal semen analysis results, the first step would be to try and identify factors as to why this would happen.
There could be a lot of factors that contribute to this. Still, common problems include areas affecting the thyroid, elevated prolactin, or low testosterone. Another critical factor might consist of varicocele, essentially an enlargement of the veins near the testes.
Treating this problem multiple times may not be enough to achieve a stable and significant improvement. Further treatments may be required on the female partner, such as Intrauterine Insemination or In-vitro Fertilization (IVF).
Our specialists here at Panama Fertility would be more than happy to walk you through the process of what to do after your semen analysis results turn out to be consistently abnormal.
Male Age and Infertility
We have always known that a woman's age is deeply connected with infertility. As time goes on, a woman becomes more and more infertile.
Countless studies have tried to connect male age with infertility. They revolve primarily around comparing the results of IVF success between younger and older males. It was concluded that there weren't any differences, showing that male fertility doesn't decrease with age when other factors such as the female partner's age are not included.
Varicocele and Male Infertility
Varicocele is a condition where the veins in the scrotum suffer from enlargement; It may be first detected when a male begins puberty and continues to grow over the years slowly.
Though varicoceles are attributed to causing no harm or pain, they may be signs of internal factors that affect infertility.
Which brings us to the big question: does it affect infertility?
The answer is sometimes. There needs to be a bit of explaining done. If your account for men with relatively normal infertility, you will find that around 20% have varicocele. On the other hand, if you take men in couples suffering from infertility, you will find that approximately 40% were diagnosed with varicocele.
As of now, the general understanding of how varicocele affects infertility is vague. However, it is thought that increased temperatures of the blood raise the internal temperature of the testicles, which damages the sperm health and their future production.
So, how do you know if you or your partner has varicocele?
In the most obvious cases, varicocele can be examined pretty quickly. Due to their shape and nature, varicocele has been compared to a sack of worms around your scrotum.
The examiner can feel varicocele through a physical examination of your scrotum. This is more amplified when you are applying intra-abdominal pressure.
What do you do if you are diagnosed with varicocele and infertility?
As a patient yourself, you might not have to do anything. However, suppose your doctor thinks that something must be done immediately. In that case, a couple of treatments can be carried out to remove the varicocele. Embolization of the veins is a prime treatment where the veins are tied up or removed. It is considered one of the more surgical options.
Other options might include making the best use of the sperm that is available by performing Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). Here, the sperm would be inserted directly inside the female partner to aid in conception during ovulation.
Conclusion
Like female infertility, male infertility may also cause distress and panic. I will advise you not to panic since it only leads to more despair.
Varicoceles may not need any surgery for it to be corrected or improve the chances of getting pregnant. It is a case-specific issue, and other treatments come into the equation here.
Our specialists are always here to help you and will cater to you at all times.
I hope this blog was of aid to you in terms of understanding what Male Infertility is! For more useful information, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
