Understanding Male Infertility: Causes and Treatment Options Available
Male infertility continues to be a significant yet often under-discussed contributor to challenges in conception, accounting for nearly half of all infertility cases among couples globally. Defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse with a fertile partner, male infertility involves a range of underlying factors affecting sperm production, function, or delivery.
Common causes of male infertility include:
- Varicocele: A condition involving enlarged veins in the scrotum, which may disrupt sperm production due to increased scrotal temperature.
- Hormonal Imbalances: Low testosterone levels or elevated prolactin can interfere with normal sperm production.
- Infections: Infections such as sexually transmitted infections or urinary tract infections can damage reproductive organs and impact sperm quality.
- Erectile Dysfunction: Difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection can hinder the ability to conceive.
- Structural Abnormalities: Physical obstructions or congenital defects in the reproductive tract can restrict sperm transport.
Treatment options for male infertility vary based on the underlying cause and may include:
- Medications: Hormonal therapies or antibiotics may be used to treat imbalances or infections affecting fertility. In some cases, medications such as clomiphene citrate or letrozole are prescribed to stimulate sperm production.
- Surgery: Surgical procedures like varicocele repair, vasectomy reversal, and sperm retrieval (including testicular sperm extraction or microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration) may restore fertility.
- Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART): When natural conception is not possible, ART options such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are available.
In instances where sperm cannot be ejaculated due to obstructive or non-obstructive causes, sperm retrieval techniques may be employed. These include:
- Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE): Surgical extraction of sperm from testicular tissue, often considered in cases such as testicular cancer.
- Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA): Use of microsurgery to collect sperm from the epididymis.
- Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA): A minimally invasive procedure that uses a needle to retrieve sperm from the epididymis.
Men’s Health Clinic Manitoba provides access to diagnostic assessments and treatment pathways for male infertility. Individuals or couples experiencing fertility challenges are encouraged to seek professional evaluation to determine the most appropriate course of action.
