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Male Factor Infertility
What is Male Infertility?
Male Infertility is defined as the inability to fertilize the ovum, while male sterility is defined as the lack of sperm production.
What causes male infertility?
Many factors influence a man’s fertility such as:
- History of past illnesses including STD’s, mumps, undescended testes, structural or anatomical problems
- Seminal duct blockages or presence of a variocele
- Prescription drugs, antihypertensives and anti-inflamitories reduce sperm count. Antihistamines decrease the amount of seminal fluid
- Abnormalities of sperm count, motility or morphology
- Lifestyle factors including: Stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, or overuse of alcohol, nicotine or marijuana
- Immune factors ie: antisperm antibodies which kill sperm before they can reach the egg
- Low testosterone levels or other endocrine related issues
- Testicular trauma
How is male infertility diagnosed?
When male infertility is suspected the initial tests performed will be a semen analysis. This evaluates the three major areas of sperm quality and quantity.
- Sperm count: normal range is forty to three hundred million per milliliter of ejaculate; a low sperm count is fewer than twenty million per milliliter of ejaculate
- Motility: low sperm motility (movement) may reduce the chances of conception especially when combined with a low sperm count
- Morphology: sperm which do not have normal morphology (shape) are unable to swim effectively to penetrate an egg
Sperm chromatin structural assay (scsa) measures the level of DNA fragmentation in the sperm which studies suggest may serve as a predictor of reduced male fertility
Western treatment of male infertility
Treatment of male infertility focuses on assisted reproduction techniques, primarily IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF (in vitro fertilization). Surgical intervention maybe required to treat structural problems such as large varioceles.
Chinese Medical Treatment of male infertility
Chinese medicine can help the body to increase sperm production and quality and to resolve hormonal factors that may be affecting a man’s fertility. Mechanical blockages can be improved by using Reproductive Organ Massage, herbs and acupuncture, particularly in cases in which surgery is not required. Increased blood flow to the pelvic organs can improve sexual function as well as fertility issues. |
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