What does the term “male infertility” signify?

Male infertility refers to a man's inability to get his partner pregnant because of problems with his reproductive system. It suggests that there are difficulties or problems with the sperm's quantity, quality, or function, or that there are concerns with the sperm's delivery during sexual activity.

Male infertility does not always mean that a man will never be able to have a child or be a father. It implies that there may be a decreased likelihood of spontaneous conception and that further interventions or therapies may be required to bring about pregnancy.

It's important to keep in mind that both men and women might experience infertility. Infertility frequently results from a mix of variables in both couples, including male and female issues. To identify the root problems and create an effective therapy strategy, a thorough examination of both partners is essential.

Male infertility may be brought on by a variety of physical, hormonal, genetic, or lifestyle-related problems, including faulty sperm production, structural issues, hormone imbalances, genetic illnesses, or behavioural issues like smoking or binge drinking. When choosing a course of therapy or intervention, such as medication, surgery, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), or lifestyle changes, it might be helpful to pinpoint the precise reason for male infertility.

It's critical for couples dealing with male infertility to seek medical assessment and advice from a reproductive endocrinologist or fertility expert. These specialists can offer a thorough evaluation, go through the various treatment choices, and help the couple through the entire pregnancy-seeking process.

How do you diagnose if a male is infertile?

Clinical definitions of infertility include women who have had two or more unsuccessful pregnancies and men who are unable to conceive after one year of sexual activity without the use of contraception.

Male infertility is most frequently caused by issues producing healthy sperm. Sperm may be immature, have an unusual morphology, or be incapable of swimming. You could not have enough sperm in various situations. The tests to understand the infertility issues may be as mentioned below:

• A thorough review of your medical history: An assessment of recent medical history, previous operations, and prescription drugs. A discussion about birth abnormalities or infertility in the family. A thorough examination of social history and workplace dangers to gauge probable exposure to risky drugs that can affect fertility.
• A complete physical examination and medical background. This involves looking at your genitalia and asking you about any hereditary ailments, ongoing health issues, diseases, accidents, or operations that could influence your fertility. Your doctor could also inquire about your sexual behaviour and how your sex changed when you entered puberty.
• Specialised testing for sperm function: In order to determine how well your sperm survive after ejaculation, how well they can enter an egg, and whether there is any difficulty connecting to the egg, many such tests will be conducted. These tests are rarely utilised and often don't appreciably alter therapy recommendations.

What are the available treatments for female infertility?

The underlying reason or causes of female infertility that are discovered by diagnostic tests determine the course of therapy. The purpose of therapy is to deal with a particular problem or increase the likelihood of conception. The following are some typical treatments for female infertility:

• Low sperm count, complete sperm absence in the semen, or issues with sperm production, might cause these conditions. Conditions like the following may be to blame for this

  1. Varicocele: Extravasated veins that might hinder the generation of sperm in the testicles

  2. Hormonal abnormalities: Hormone imbalances, such as low testosterone or high prolactin levels, can have an impact on sperm production.

  3. Genetic disorders: Some genetic diseases, including Y chromosomal microdeletions or Klinefelter syndrome, might cause aberrant sperm production.

  4. Abnormalities in sperm motility (movement) or morphology (shape) might make it difficult for sperm to reach an egg and fertilise it, even when the sperm count is normal.

• Atypical sperm function and structure can be caused by

  1. Genetic components: Heritable disorders that influence the structure or performance of sperm

  2. Blockages in the reproductive system that limit the appropriate discharge of sperm during ejaculation are known as testicular or ejaculatory duct blockages.

  3. Diseases: Sexually transmitted diseases, or epididymitis, can affect sperm function.

  4. Ejaculation disorders: Infertility can result from conditions like retrograde ejaculation, in which semen enters the bladder rather than being released by the penis.

• Male infertility can be caused by a variety of medical disorders as well as lifestyle factors, such as

  1. Erectile dysfunction Having trouble getting or keeping an erection may make it more difficult to get pregnant.

  2. Chronic medical conditions, such as kidney illness, cystic fibrosis, and diabetes, can all have an impact on fertility.

• Pharmaceuticals: A few pharmaceuticals, such as certain antibiotics, antifungals, and chemotherapy treatments, might affect sperm function or production.
• Substance abuse: Heavy drinking, smoking, or using illegal drugs can all have a bad effect on fertility.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer can harm sperm production and lower fertility.
• Environmental variables:Male infertility can also be brought on by exposure to specific environmental variables. These elements might consist of

  1. Prolonged use of heated environments can have an impact on the quantity and quality of sperm.

  2. Exposure to harmful substances such as industrial chemicals, heavy metals, or pesticides.

What are the treatment options for male infertility?

If no underlying cause of the problem has been found, evidence-based therapies that increase fertility may be suggested as a therapy for male infertility.

• Surgery to rectify or repair anatomical defects or damage to the reproductive organs is one kind of treatment.
• Other options include medical techniques to transfer sperm to the woman, laboratory egg fertilisation, and employing a third party to donate sperm or eggs and/or carry a baby.
• Hormone imbalances and erectile dysfunction are two conditions that may be treated with medication and have an impact on male fertility.
• Blockages in the tubes that carry sperm can be repaired by surgery. Varicocele can also be repaired with surgery.
• In vitro fertilisation and other assisted reproductive methods, such as IVF, is a great option.

Conclusion

It's crucial to remember that infertility can have a variety of contributing factors and occasionally the explanation is still unclear despite careful examination. A fertility expert provide necessary diagnostic and therapentic option to enjoy pregnancy for infertile couples.