MALE FERTILITY PROBLEMS
Basic investigations into male fertility
About 40% of the issues involved with infertility are due to the man, another 40% due to the woman, and 20% result from complications with both partners[1]Hudson B. The infertile couple. 1987. Churchill-Livingstone, Edinburgh.
In the diagnosis of male fertility, the quality of the sperm is crucial. The fertility specialist organises a semen analysis, which is used to evaluate a number of key parameters. These include the number of sperm cells, their motility and morphology. For this purpose it is necessary to provide fresh ejaculate.
The sperm examined should not be older than half an hour when analysed. In order to provide a fresh sample, a man will typically masturbate in a separate room in the doctor’s surgery or fertility clinic.
The semen analysis provides the fertility specialist with information about about a man’s fertility potential at the time of analysis.
It is crucial to understand that this information represents merely a snapshot.
It does not indicate whether the man’s sperm is permanently good, “suboptimal” or if an environmental factor may have caused a temporary reduction in sperm quality.
Because new sperm cells are continually produced at a rate of approximately 1,500 per second[2]Eskenazi B, Wyrobek AJ, Sloter E, Kidd SA, Moore L, Young S, Moore D. The association of age and semen quality in healthy men. Human Reproduction. 2003. 18(2): 447-454, a semen analysis can look dramatically different in a matter of just a few weeks.
There are also male fertility disorders in which the sperm quality is high, but despite this conception may be unlikely or even impossible. This can be the case with erectile dysfunction, antibody reactions against a man’s own sperm cells, different genetic diseases or hormonal abnormalities. In such cases further investigations are necessary in order to ascertain the causes and possible treatments of these impairments.
With the help of a detailed consultation and a few further analyses, the fertility specialist can attempt to find out the causes of a man’s infertility. However, rather often the factors that cause the reduced quality of sperm cannot be clearly established. This phenomenon is called unexplained or idiopathic infertility.
Patient history
As part of the initial investigation, the male fertility specialist will discuss the patient’s:
Physical investigation
The male fertility specialist will also:
Other tests
The male fertility specialist may also conduct:
Diet
Sperm cells are extremely sensitive both during their 74-day production and, once ejaculated, to their environment. This is why men produce about 10 million sperm cells every hour[7]Padubidri VG, Daftary SN, eds. Shaw’s Textbook of Gynaecology (15th ed.). 2011. p. 201.
Studies have shown that one of the main reasons for the historical trend of deteriorating sperm cells since 1990 is poor nutrition[8]Rolland M, Le Moal J, Wagner V, Royère D, De Mouzon J. Decline in semen concentration and morphology in a sample of 26,609 men close to general population between 1989 and 2005 in France. Human … Continue reading. The Western diet lacks many many important vitamins, amino acids and other micronutrients in sufficient quantity, including nutrients needed for optimal sperm production.
Further investigations into male fertility
Chlamydia
A sample of urine will be tested to determine whether the male has chlamydia. If the test returns positive, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat it.
Testicular biopsy
If there is evidence of only very little or no sperm in the ejaculate of men, the doctor can determine whether the production or transport of the sperm cells is malfunctioning with the help of a testicular biopsy. If for example one or both of the vasa deferentia are blocked, the sperm cells cannot be ejaculated.
Click to find out more about a testicular biopsy
In the testicular biopsy some tissue is taken from the testicle under a local or general anaesthetic[10]Medline Plus. Testicular Biopsy. 2020. This can be subsequently examined for existing sperm cells.
www.amitamin.com/en/fertilsan-m New life deserves the best possible start!
A testicular biopsy is meaningful only if the couple are considering artificial insemination outside the body (IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection directly into the ovum, commonly referred to as ICSI. This is because there is no actual improvement in fertility as a result of this operation.
If a man decides to have a testicular biopsy, he should ideally use a clinic which can directly freeze existing germ cells, so that they can be used later for the fertilisation of egg cells. This saves him having to undergo an additional operation in order to obtain sperm.
Further investigations into a couple’s fertility
Post coital test (PCT)
The post coital test is used by some doctors for diagnostic purposes[11]Hessel M, Brandes M, de Bruin JP, Bots RSGM, Kremer JAM, Nelen WLDM, Hamilton CJCM. Long-term ongoing pregnancy rate and mode of conception after a positive and negative post-coital test. Acta Obstet … Continue reading, if the previous investigations provide no reasons for reduced fertility. Other doctors recommend the investigation at the start of fertility treatment, because it is quick and easy to carry out.
Dr. Kooner is Deputy Director of The Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago and has been a Specialist in Fertility Treatment since 1999.
As well as the areas that the clinic specialises in general, he is particularly interested in managing oocyte donation, female same-sex couples, single women having sperm donation and those considering egg freezing.
Dr. Kooner regularly speaks at fertility meetings. He has published in national journals and constantly contributes to the fertility research and publications from Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago.
References
| ↑1 | Hudson B. The infertile couple. 1987. Churchill-Livingstone, Edinburgh |
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| ↑2 | Eskenazi B, Wyrobek AJ, Sloter E, Kidd SA, Moore L, Young S, Moore D. The association of age and semen quality in healthy men. Human Reproduction. 2003. 18(2): 447-454 |
| ↑3 | Paoli D, Gallo M, Rizzo F, Spanò M, Leter G, Lombardo F, Lenzi A, Gandini L. Testicular cancer and sperm DNA damage: short- and long-term effects of antineoplastic treatment. Andrology. 2015. 3(1): 122-128 |
| ↑4 | Muthusami KR, Chinnaswamy P. Effect of chronic alcoholism on male fertility hormones and semen quality. Fertility and Sterility. 2005. 84(4): 919-924 |
| ↑5 | Mitra A, Chakraborty B, Mukhopadhay D, Pal M, Mukherjee S, Banerjee S, Chaudhuri K. Effect of smoking on semen quality, FSH, testosterone level, and CAG repeat length in androgen receptor gene of infertile men in an Indian city. Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine. 2012. 58(5): 255-262 |
| ↑6 | Battista N, Pasquariello N, Di Tommaso M, Maccarrone M. Interplay between endocannabinoids, steroids and cytokines in the control of human reproduction. Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 2008. 20 Suppl 1: 82-89 |
| ↑7 | Padubidri VG, Daftary SN, eds. Shaw’s Textbook of Gynaecology (15th ed.). 2011. p. 201 |
| ↑8 | Rolland M, Le Moal J, Wagner V, Royère D, De Mouzon J. Decline in semen concentration and morphology in a sample of 26,609 men close to general population between 1989 and 2005 in France. Human Reproduction. 2013. 28(2): 462-470 |
| ↑9 | Sinclair S. Male infertility: nutritional and environmental considerations. Alternative Medicine Review. 2000. 5(1): 28-38 |
| ↑10 | Medline Plus. Testicular Biopsy. 2020 |
| ↑11 | Hessel M, Brandes M, de Bruin JP, Bots RSGM, Kremer JAM, Nelen WLDM, Hamilton CJCM. Long-term ongoing pregnancy rate and mode of conception after a positive and negative post-coital test. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2014. 93(9): 913-920 |
Please I need medicine for low sperm cunot and sexual weakness
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I got married 7 months before. Me and my wife doing intercourse for conceive a Baby. but sill we are struggling.
I felt that my sperm are not very healthy amd strong.
Can u guide me what i have to do??
I got married for almost a year now but seems nothing of pregnancy. So if any help for me to quickly impregnat my wife because am above 40yrs and time is going. Thanks
I have been married for more than 8 years now but still no sign of pregnancy after she lost some blood meaning it was about 3 weeks old and that is it. Any help for me or us. I did go to a hospital for sperms example and it was good on my side , told I have spermatozoa . I need ur urgently help