Male Infertility

Male infertility is the inability to impregnate a fertile female. Of the approximate 15 percent of couples who are infertile, about half of these cases are caused by male infertility.

Male infertility can be caused by a number of factors, such as:

• Low sperm count in the semen
• Deformed/misshapen sperm
• Slow-moving or immobile sperm
• Blockages in the vas deferens that prevent the delivery of sperm
• Certain illnesses
• Certain medications
• Traumatic injuries
• Rigorous activities, such as bicycling or horseback riding
• Unhealthy substance use, such as smoking, alcohol consumption and the use of drugs
• Unhealthy body weight
• Severe emotional stress
• Vitamin deficiency
• Age – men over age 35 have a decline in fertility

Treatments

There are a number of treatment options available for male infertility. While some options require invasive surgery, others include simply taking medication. Your treatment plan does depend on the reason for your infertility.

Medications

We will perform a blood test, and if you have a high white blood cell count, you could have an infection in your reproductive tract. Taking an antibiotic will cure the infection, which may or may not restore your fertility. If you suffer from erectile dysfunction or abnormal hormone levels, this could also be causing your infertility. Taking medications or hormone replacement therapy can also help this problem.

Surgery

If you have a blockage in your vas deferens or a varicocele, where the veins of the spermatic cord are enlarged and prevent the flow of sperm, either of these problems can be corrected with surgery.

Assisted Reproductive Technology

If you have an ailment which causes problems with sperm delivery, a fertility doctor can always extract sperm directly from your testicle or bladder. This sperm can then me injected into an egg. The most common type of assisted reproductive technology, this is known as in vitro fertilization. The woman’s egg is removed from the ovary while the man’s sperm is extracted. The egg is then fertilized with the sperm in a laboratory and placed back into the woman’s (or surrogate’s) uterus.