Infertility can be incredibly painful to discuss for both men and women. And for some, there is a deep shame around the inability to conceive. Men are certainly not immune to it. Many see infertility as a threat to their masculinity.
And that’s why it’s important to drop the stigma and start talking about it openly as a medical issue without attaching shame to the condition. About 8-12% of couples worldwide struggle with getting pregnant. And male infertility is not a rare syndrome– about 10% of all males in the US encounter infertility.
How Is Infertility Defined?
The standard diagnosis is made when couples have not conceived after a year of frequent intercourse without the use of prophylactics. And there may be reason to see a doctor sooner if either partner has a known condition that can affect fertility (a history of undescended testicles or advanced female age for example).
Stereotypically, when a couple is unable to conceive, initial discussions and treatments focus on female infertility. But the reality is that in 40 to 50% of instances where couples cannot conceive the cause is male infertility. So most doctors recommend that both partners be evaluated simultaneously.
Symptoms
While the obvious symptom is the inability to father a child, there may also be other symptoms to look for which may lead to a diagnosis of male infertility:
Difficulty ejaculating or ejaculating only small volumes of fluid
Reduced sexual desire
Erectile dysfunction
Tenderness or pain and swelling (and possibly a lump) in the testicle area
Intermittent respiratory infections
Loss of smell
Gynecomastia (abnormal breast growth)
Signs of chromosomal or hormonal abnormalities that can present as decreased facial or body hair
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t wait to make an appointment with your doctor because there are several treatments available that can increase your likelihood to conceive a child.
Causes
Under normal conditions, a man produces cells called sperm which are made in the testicles. Sperm is stored in the epididymis, a tube that connects the testicle to the vas deferens, an organ that travels into the pelvic cavity just behind the bladder and moves sperm to the urethra in preparation for ejaculation.
Most often, the cause of infertility in men is related to the process of making or moving the sperm, but things like substance abuse, smoking, stress, and obesity can also cause poor sperm function.
One common cause of infertility in men is varicocele, a condition where the veins in the scrotum become enlarged and get tangled so that the testicles are heated up to an extent that it impairs sperm function.
Other causes are related to semen production. A healthy man’s reproductive system produces sugar-rich fluid (fructose) called semen that nourishes sperm and aids in their motility towards a female egg. If there are factors affecting the production of healthy semen, sperm may have a shorter lifespan which can reduce the likelihood of conception.
Some men naturally have a low sperm count (oligospermia) or may not produce sperm at all (azoospermia). Other men may have a genetic disease like Klinefeflter’s Syndrome which affects their ability to have children. Conditions like diabetes and certain autoimmune disorders can also contribute to fertility problems.
Treatments
In the case of men who produce no semen, some medications can help, while other medications may be used to treat things like hormonal imbalances and erectile dysfunction.
Depending on the cause of infertility, surgery may be required to resolve issues relating to a defect or blockage. Doctors may recommend an outpatient procedure called a varicocelectomy, which repairs dilated veins above the scrotum.
If the infertility isn’t resolved with treatments like these, couples may choose assisted reproduction which can include things like intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization, or intracytoplasmic sperm injections (ICSI).
Talk With Your Doctor
If you and/or your partner are struggling with infertility, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your doctor. Many male infertility issues are treatable and reversible. The physicians at Norman Urology are experts in male health and treating issues of infertility. If you are concerned about infertility, we invite you to make an appointment today to discuss treatments and options.