Male Infertility treatment

Male Infertility treatment

A global infertility burden study from 1990 to 2017 reported that the age-standardized prevalence of male infertility increased every year at a rate of 0.291% per year. Compared with female infertility, male infertility has not received much attention, especially in India. Male infertility has a taboo attached to it that is deeply rooted in a patriarchal and misogynistic mindset of society. People tend to hide the problem and avoid seeking treatment for the fear of being judged. Male infertility is defined as the inability to get female partner pregnant within one year of unprotected intercourse. Studies indicate that male factors alone account for approximately 20-30% of infertility cases, while around 50% of couples experience infertility due to male factors.

Risk factors include :-

1. Continuous alcohol use
2. Using illicit drugs
3. Being overweight
4. Previous or present infections
5. Smoking Tobacco
6. Exposed to toxins
7. Overheating testicles
8. Previous experience with vasectomy, major abdominal or pelvic surgery
9. History of undescended testicles
10. Being born with a fertility disorder or having someone else in the family with a fertility disorder
11. Medical conditions such as tumors, chronic illnesses (like sickle cell disease)
12. Certain medications or medical treatments such as surgery or radiation used for treating cancer

Diagnosis and Treatment

A widely used and straightforward approach to assess male fertility is the evaluation of semen quality and the detection of various semen parameters. At least two separate samples should be collected, separated by at least one week. At least 3 days of abstinence should precede the first specimen. This is recommended due to the extremely high degree of variability in semen analyses..

The treatment would depend on the cause of infertility. The treatment can be divided into three major categories:-

1. Lifestyle changes.
2. Hormonal therapy.
3. Surgical Therapy

Lifestyle Changes

Reasonable healthy lifestyle changes are recommended to all male infertility patients. These changes include-

1. Stopping smoking
2. Limiting or eliminating alcohol intake
3. Adopting a more nutritious diet
4. Weight loss measures if obese
5. Increased exercise
6. Taking preventive measures to avoid sexually transmitted infections
7. Avoiding potentially toxic artificial lubricants during sexual activity
8. Reducing stress
9. Eliminating illegal and recreational drug use (such as marijuana)
10. Minimizing prescription drugs
11. Avoiding exposure to pesticides and heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, boron, and cadmium)
12. Eliminating any unnecessary chemical exposures
13. Fish oil supplements have also been suggested as helpful in male fertility
14. avoiding hot baths, saunas, and tight-fitting underwear

The key purpose for evaluating a male for infertility is to identify his contributing factors, offer treatment for those that are reversible, determine if he is a candidate for assisted reproductive techniques (IULIVF.ICSI) and offer counselling for irreversible and untreatable conditions. Common causes of male infertility can be treated without surgery. Ensure proper diagnosis and treatment by consulting specialist in the field of reproductive medicine.