A lot of men do not want to accept that their fertility problems are their fault rather than their wife’s or girlfriend’s. However, the problem is with the man in a third to a half of cases of primary infertility (an inability to conceive despite having regular unprotected sex for at least a year).
What causes male infertility?
Fertility requires that the man produces a normal amount of normal sperm and successfully delivers them into the female’s vagina. Male infertility, thus, is most often caused by low sperm production, abnormal sperm or blockages of the vas deferens.
Indications that the man may be the problem include difficulty ejaculating, small amounts of ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, pain or swelling in the testes or signs of hormonal abnormality such as gynecomastia (breast growth) or lack of facial hair.
The most common reversible cause of male infertility is a swelling of the veins that drain the testicle. This causes temperature control problems in the testes. Other causes include infections of the testicles or epidymis, tumors of the reproductive orders, deformity of part of the system that produces sperm, some medications or hormone imbalances.
How can it be treated?
Your doctor must first determine the cause of the fertility problem. He will examine your genitals and ask about history, including sexual habits – don’t be shy, it’s important information. He will also take a semen sample to analyze it for number of sperm and sperm shape. In many cases, several samples are taken.
Your treatment course might vary. It might include surgery to correct vein swelling or remove a blockage of the vas deferens, antibiotics to treat infection, erectile dysfunction medication, sex counseling or hormones. In some cases, it may not be able to fix the problem. It may be necessary to extract sperm directly from the testes and use it in in vitro fertilization, however.
It is hard to admit to having a fertility problem, but the sooner you can, the sooner you can get treated and become a father. For more information or to schedule an appointment call DFW Center For Fertility & IVF at (469) 854-0305.
