Male infertility is a medical condition characterized by the inability to fertilize an egg. In about 40% of couples struggling with infertility, the problem is male infertility. There are various reasons why men are infertile, and various treatment approaches can be used to address infertility in men. Treatment is usually provided by a fertility doctor, who can draw on specialized training and experience to diagnose and treat male infertility.
In some cases, male infertility is caused by impotence, and addressing the impotence will solve the problem. In other cases, infertility can be caused by a problem with a man's reproductive system, such as decreased sperm production or poor mobility between sperm. Testing typically includes collecting patient history and a sperm sample, and physical exams will also be performed.
Environmental factors can often contribute to male infertility. Exposure to radiation and certain chemicals can cause fertility problems. The problem can also be genetic in nature. In some cases, certain courses of medical treatment can lead to sterility, in which case a doctor may recommend that a man consider obtaining a sperm sample before treatment is performed so that he has the option of having children in the future. the future. Cancer treatment, for example, often causes infertility, and a young man undergoing cancer treatment may not be ready to give up the possibility of having children.
Approaches to treatment can range from correcting the underlying cause and allowing the couple to conceive naturally to collecting a sperm sample for in vitro fertilization. If infertility cannot be addressed, a fertility doctor may recommend a pregnancy achieved with donor sperm.
Infertility can be very psychologically distressing for men, especially when combined with impotence. Some men find it helpful to work with a psychologist or similar mental health professional to discuss issues and questions that come up during the infertility treatment process. As with infertility in women, it's important to note that the problem is not uncommon, and is usually not the fault of the person experiencing fertility problems.
Some men may choose to deliberately induce infertility, either temporarily or long-term. Vasectomy is the best known technique used to create permanent male sterility, but it is also possible to use implants to block the passage of sperm for temporary sterility, or to use hormonal medications to induce sterility or impotence. Male sterility is usually deliberately induced because a man does not want to have children, or is not yet ready to have children, and in some regions of the world, so-called chemical castration with hormones is used to control sex offenders.