Health In Focus With Dr Zulfikar Bux
Females are more often the ones at risk of being infertile. But both male and female genders can suffer scourge of infertility.
What many people do not know is the fact that 30% of the time males are the reason for infertility. Male infertility is a damning condition and can lead to depression and even broken relationships. The men are often depressed and some are ridiculed in society.
However, being infertile is not the end of the line. There is hope. Today we will look at options available for infertile males.
WHAT IS MALE INFERTILITY?
Male infertility is the term doctors use when a man has trouble getting a woman pregnant. In order to get a woman pregnant, a man needs to have a normal number of healthy sperm. Doctors call this a “normal sperm count.” Men with infertility can have one of the following problems:
*They have no sperm at all
*They do not have enough sperm – this is called having a “low sperm count”
*They have unhealthy sperm – the sperm might move too slowly or have abnormal shapes
There are many reasons that men can have an abnormal sperm count. These include:
*Problems in the testicles, such as a block in the vas deferens – The vas deferens is the tube the sperm travels through to reach the penis. A block can be caused by a past infection or by a vasectomy. A vasectomy is a surgery a man can choose to have so that he can’t get a woman pregnant.
*Having low levels of the hormone testosterone
*Genetic problems that men might be born with
But most of the time, doctors cannot explain why a man has an abnormal sperm count.
WHEN SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR?
In most cases, doctors recommend that a man be tested if a couple cannot get pregnant after having unprotected sex for one year. At that time, both the man and the woman are often tested. But if you are worried, talk with your doctor or nurse. He or she might recommend that you have tests done sooner. If your partner is over age 35 and has not gotten pregnant after six months of trying, your doctor will start tests at that time.
WHAT TESTS WILL I HAVE?
Your doctor will order a test called a “sperm count” to check your sperm. This test counts your sperm and checks to see how healthy they are. For this test, a man needs to provide a sample of his sperm.
If your sperm count is low, your doctor will repeat the test one or more times. If repeat sperm counts are still abnormal, your doctor might do other tests. For example, he or she might do:
*Blood tests
*An exam to measure the size of your testicles
*Tests to see if there is a block in your testicles
WHAT TREATMENTS CAN HELP MEN WITH INFERTILITY?
Different treatments can help men with infertility still be able to father children. These can include:
*Hormone treatment to increase sperm counts – Some men have low hormone levels in the brain and can be treated with hormone shots.
*Surgery to open up a block in the testicle – For example, a man who had a vasectomy in the past can have surgery to reopen the tube the sperm travels through.
*In vitro fertilization, also called “IVF” – During IVF, a doctor takes an egg or eggs from a woman and sperm from a man. He or she puts them together in a test tube so that the sperm can fertilize an egg. Then the fertilized egg is put into the woman’s uterus to grow.
DO TREATMENTS ALWAYS WORK?
No. Treatments do not always help a couple get pregnant. The same treatment can help one couple get pregnant, but not another couple.
WHAT CHOICES DO I HAVE IF I CHOOSE TO STOP OR NOT HAVE TREATMENT?
Couples who choose to stop or not have treatment have other options. They can:
*Try to have a baby using another man’s sperm, such as sperm from a sperm bank (called “donor” sperm)
*Adopt a child
*Not have children of their own
Couples can have a tough time making these decisions. You might find it helpful to talk to a counsellor or go to a support group for people who are facing the same issues. But do not stay at home and get depressed. Be open about it. Talk to your doctor and try the options available.
