Male Infertility Treatment: Tips for Boosting Your Fertility

It’s difficult to conceive naturally when your male partner is diagnosed with infertility. Male infertility occurs when your sperm doesn’t form or move properly or they are of abnormal shape. Male infertility is more prevalent than you can imagine. Around 50% of the infertility problems are linked to men. 

Despite that, it’s possible to conceive and have your biological children. Male-factor infertility falls into these two categories: problems in sperm production or transportation. You may need to undergo semen analysis and other investigations to figure out the root cause. Based on this, your fertility specialist will figure out the most appropriate male infertility treatment plan.

Common Causes of Male Infertility

Male factor infertility is associated with many factors. The most common causes of male infertility:

Azoospermia: Your semen may have little to no sperm, or you may be producing an adequate amount of sperm, but a blockage might prevent it from entering the ejaculate. In simple terms, the absence of sperm in your ejaculate is called azoospermia.

Varicocele: Varicocele vein refers to the enlargement of the veins in the scrotum due to the disrupted blood flow to the testicles. The swelling of the veins can increase the temperature in your scrotum and make it unfit for the sperm to survive. This can lead to male infertility. It’s believed that 40% of the male-factor infertility is linked to varicocele.

Erectile Dysfunction: It’s a medical condition associated with the inability to get or maintain an erection. If you are unable to keep an erection until you ejaculate, you may not be able to transport sperm, which may lead to infertility.

Retrograde Ejaculation: Instead of passing through the penis, semen can enter the bladder, making it impossible for the sperm to fertilize an egg. 

Hormonal Imbalances: If your body produces an insufficient amount of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and other male reproductive hormones, it could be the reason for your infertility. 

Chromosomal Abnormalities: A normal man has XY chromosomal makeup. If you have any irregularities in the chromosomal structure or have abnormal numbers of X and Y chromosomes, you might not be able to impregnate your partner.

Lifestyle: A sedentary lifestyle with regular consumption of tobacco, alcohol, steroids, and other non-prescription drugs can affect your sperm count and quality. Likewise, exposure to industrial chemicals and heavy toxins can damage sperm.

Diagnosis Process

Knowing the underlying cause of male infertility is the first step toward determining an appropriate treatment. An accurate diagnosis increases your chances of fixing the issue promptly and conceiving a baby naturally. Most diagnostic methods are less invasive and are developed to help couples find the most suitable male infertility treatment.

Semen Analysis

Semen analysis helps your doctor evaluate the presence of sperm, morphology, concentration, white blood cells, and overall quality. You are asked to bring the semen sample to the lab to have it checked for possible abnormalities. 

The sperm count may vary each time you take the sample. Ideally, each ejaculate produces 15 million sperm per milliliter. Anything less than that might indicate problems with sperm production or transportation. You may need multiple semen analysis tests for your doctor to get an accurate report. 

Physical Examination

Your doctor will carefully examine your genitals and ask about your medical history. Illnesses, injury, or a family history of infertility can increase your risk of developing it.

Ultrasound

Scrotal ultrasound generates images of the internal organs using high-frequency sound waves. These are done to rule out the possibility of varicocele and blockages in the tubes that transport sperm.

Bloodwork

A blood report shows hormonal imbalance, which can be linked to male infertility. As mentioned earlier, hormone production that is lower or higher than the average can affect sperm count and quality. Bloodwork is also recommended in men with extremely low or no sperm in the semen, as this may indicate a genetic condition.

Testicular biopsy might be needed in some cases, but that’s quite rare for male infertility diagnosis. 

Treatment Options For Male Infertility

Treatment can include medication or surgical intervention in some cases. If the root cause is found and treated, you may be able to conceive without further medical assistance. Before exploring the treatment options, the female partner must also be screened. Here are some common male infertility treatment options:

Medication

If hormonal imbalance is the cause of your infertility, medication in the oral and injectable form can help. Your doctor will prescribe hormone-stimulating medicines, such as Clomid and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, to stimulate your body to produce testosterone, LH, and FSH. Oral medication is also helpful in men with erectile dysfunction.

Surgery for Varicocele and Vasectomy

If your scrotal ultrasound shows varicocele, an invasive surgical procedure can repair it. General or local anesthesia is administered before the surgery, so you won’t feel a thing. The pain, however, lasts for 2-3 weeks. 

The results might appear in 3-6 months, although many couples who have surgery for varicocele repair conceive within six months. If you have had a vasectomy to prevent pregnancy, it can be reversed. So, if you change your mind about conception, you can undergo surgery to reverse vasectomy.

Lifestyle Changes

Research regarding ‘how effective lifestyle changes for male infertility are’ is still going on, but some experts believe that a few changes, like keeping your weight in check, maintaining a good sleep pattern, reducing stress, cutting down on alcohol, and quitting smoking, can influence your fertility. 

You must also avoid exposure to heat and radiation to prevent damage to your sperm quality. In addition to these, good nutrition can boost your fertility. Avoid trans fats and too much meat. Your diet should include lots of vegetables, fruits, omega-3 fatty acids, and foods rich in other healthy nutrients.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)

If sperm quality or count is the cause of male infertility, the doctor may recommend Assisted Reproductive Technology to help you conceive with medical assistance. The most common option is In-vitro Fertilization (IVF), in which your partner’s egg and your sperm are fertilized in a petri dish, and the resulting embryo is implanted into the woman’s uterus. In the case of male-factor infertility, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) may be used to inject the sperm directly into the egg to facilitate fertilization.

Alternative Treatments

Vitamin D, Zinc, L-carnitine, and Selenium are important vitamins and minerals that can affect semen production and sperm quality. After consulting with your fertility doctor, you can take supplements to prevent nutrient deficiency. 

Acupuncture is another complementary therapy that can improve fertility. Its effectiveness is not scientifically proven, though. The procedure involves inserting thin needles into certain points to regulate blood flow to the reproductive organs. This improves blood circulation in the testes, which may stimulate sperm production.

Success Rates Of Male Infertility Treatment

Each treatment has varying success rates. Technically, the success of fertility treatment depends on the underlying cause and how well it’s diagnosed and treated. Varicocele vein, for example, can be repaired through a surgical procedure and can result in a successful pregnancy. ICSI works in 70-80 percent of cases by promoting fertilization. 

Note that this success rate doesn’t imply that each couple who opts for ICSI has an 80% chance of getting pregnant. These stats are only for fertilization. Whether or not you’ll conceive after fertilization depends on many factors, including your female partner’s egg quality.

When to Seek Help

The most common sign of infertility in a couple is not getting pregnant after having sexual intercourse regularly for over a year. Seek medical help from a fertility specialist if you’ve tried all lifestyle changes but are still facing difficulty in conception. They will evaluate your medical history and order bloodwork, semen analysis, and ultrasounds to pinpoint the exact cause. Your partner may also need to be evaluated.

Emotional Support and Counseling

There’s a common myth that infertility is associated with a woman’s inability to provide a suitable environment for the baby to grow. That’s why if the man is diagnosed infertile, chances are it can take a toll on their mental and emotional health. Although male infertility treatment is available and can be successful in many cases, men are reluctant to seek help. 

The embarrassment, guilt, and social stigma can be mentally exhausting. For couples struggling with emotional challenges, know that help is available. You can seek counseling to get professional advice on how to cope with the diagnosis. Exploring the treatment options and their success rate will help you make an informed decision. 

Conclusion

Infertility, be it male or female factor, is treatable. It’s a medical condition that requires a timely diagnosis and professional treatment. Often, couples conceive naturally after the root cause of the infertility is discovered and treated. Infertility linked to varicocele, low sperm production, vasectomy, and hormonal imbalance can be treated with medication and surgery. So, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor. You can turn your dream of becoming parents to your biological children into reality with proper treatment.