Health & Fitness
7 Things You Need To Know About Male Infertility
Infertility is not just a woman's problem — so learn the facts.
Now that Father’s Day has passed, you may be thinking more about starting a family. And though you might think fertility is a woman’s issue, it also affects men – about 50 percent of infertility cases can be attributed to male factor.
So whether you’re thinking about fatherhood, actively trying or wondering whether it’s time to see a fertility doctor, knowing the facts about male infertility is a good start.
Find out more about your options at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey
What is male infertility?
Male infertility is defined as an abnormal sperm count and/or lack of pregnancy after one year of trying. Usually, that inability boils down to a problem with the sperm count, motility or morphology.
What is a normal sperm count?
Sperm are tiny, and a sperm sample should contain millions of sperm. Because of this, sperm is measured in "concentrations." Normal sperm concentrations come in a wide range, but 15 million sperm per milliliter is a good benchmark.
What about sperm motility?
While a high sperm count is good, a high ‘swimming’ sperm count is also important. In general, about a quarter of the sperm will swim – so if you have a 50 million strong sperm count, you’ll have about 12.5 million swimming sperm, and it’s the swimming sperm that drive your chances of achieving a pregnancy.
Visit RMANJ.COM to learn more about male infertility.
What causes sperm issues?
One of the most common causes of infertility are dilated blood vessels around the testicle. This condition is called varicocele and results from abnormal closure of the valves in these vessels, leading to pooling of blood around the testicle. As a result, the temperature inside the testicle can change, compromising sperm production.
Most men produce a thousand sperm a second, so when you are making that many sperm, anything that disrupts the process can be damaging. This condition is pretty common – 15 percent of all men have it, and 40 percent of men with infertility have it. Other causes include abnormal testosterone, obesity and poor heath, certain medications, genetic conditions, genital infections, sexual dysfunction, environmental factors and unexplained fertility.
How is male infertility treated?
The first step is to have two semen analyses done as sperm counts can vary considerably between samples. In each sample, doctors will look at sperm count, motility and morphology. Then, a doctor will take a blood test to check for hormone levels like testosterone, and study the patient’s history to determine if any environmental factors are the cause of infertility.
If a man has a good sperm count but low motility, doctors can suggest an intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure that places his sperm inside the woman’s uterus, bypassing the need for sperm to swim through her vagina and cervix.
If the sperm analysis determines the man has no sperm in his ejaculate, there is a surgical procedure available that can help extract sperm from the man’s reproductive system. In this case, once the sperm is extracted, it is joined with the egg through IVF.
How can you help men dealing with infertility?
All men deal different with infertility, but in general, men tend to communicate less about their emotions than women. That said, they experience many of the same feelings as women struggling with infertility: fear, guilt, anxiety, sadness and a sense of failure. The best way to support a man dealing with infertility is to talk about it – but on his own terms. Let him share the way he is most comfortable. Just letting him know you are there to listen is a great start.
How can men improve fertility naturally?
- Maintain a healthy weight, stay active and eat a balanced diet
- Decrease caffeine and alcohol intake
- Manage stress and practice mindfulness
- Stay cool (temperature-wise)
With 10 offices throughout New Jersey, RMANJ has been helping hopeful patients become parents for nearly 20 years. Visit RMANJ.COM to learn more.
Photo: Courtesy of RMANJ