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Infertility Also Affects MenWhenever infertility affects a couple, it is always the woman's fault in the eyes of society, right? But men can also have problems when it comes to having children. Pregnancy requires two healthy gametes to form a healthy baby from conception. Fertility testing should involve the couple, not just the woman alone.
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Male infertility is usually discovered when trying to conceive. Before that, it may only be a suspicion, and in most cases, not even that. Unlike women, the production of reproductive material, sperm, occurs throughout a man's life. Men over 80 years old are capable of getting a woman pregnant as long as they ejaculate. So, what interferes with male fertility? Male infertility can occur for several reasons:
Diseases acquired in childhood: Cases of mumps, for example, are common. There is something true when you hear that mumps "descended" into the scrotal sac. It can, in fact, make a man infertile or even sterile.
Diseases acquired in adulthood: Varicocele is an example of a disease acquired in adulthood and can make a man less fertile than he would be otherwise.
Hormonal Dysfunction: At puberty, the boy begins producing seminal fluid and sperm, all due to hormonal changes. Testosterone together with various hormones is responsible for this phase. However, as an adult, a man may start having problems with these hormones and stop producing sperm properly.
Varicocele is a very common example and one of the main conditions that promote male infertility. It hinders the production of quality semen and sperm. A man with the disease may take much longer to produce the necessary and normal amount of gametes for pregnancy to occur naturally. This inflammation affects the man's scrotal glands, leading to mild symptoms, pain, and even swelling in the pelvic area. Varicocele can appear for several reasons, but the main ones are tight clothing and trauma to the area.
Hormonal factors such as andropause, for example, are also common when it comes to male infertility. It is nothing more than the male counterpart to menopause. At this stage, a man has a significant drop in the hormones that would help him produce sperm and are important for libido. Lack of sexual desire or onset of impotence can be indicative of andropause.
Use of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes is also an important factor that interferes with fertility. In addition, harmful substances such as anabolic steroids are also a frequent cause of infertility. When a man starts using heavy substances like steroids, he may be setting a sentence—he might not have children or may have great difficulty getting his partner pregnant.
To diagnose male infertility, the required test is the semen analysis (spermogram). With this test, other potential problems can be identified, such as oligospermia (low sperm count), azoospermia (absence of sperm), and even low motility or structural problems in the gamete. Complementary to the semen analysis are ultrasound and clinical exams. With this in-office exam, the doctor can visually assess and palpate the testicles for any abnormalities.
Most infertility cases are perfectly treatable. All it takes is medical follow-up and the appropriate treatment with medication and vitamins to restore fertility.
Photos: Elton Harding, Sean McGrath
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