Symptoms of Infertility in Men
While there’s no way to detect a man’s inability to procreate, some signs of hormonal deficiency, such as increased body fat, reduced muscle mass, and sparse facial and body hair, could be symptoms of male infertility.
The man’s medical history, especially injuries to the testicles or penile structure, as well as recent high fevers and childhood illnesses like mumps, can also be causal backgrounds for infertility.
Consequently, through a physical examination, less obvious problems such as an infection, a hernia, or varicocele could be identified as responsible for such symptoms of male infertility.
To be sure about it, a semen sample would be very useful to assess the health and quality of sperm. While other tests, including measuring hormones in the blood, or a testicular biopsy, and even genetic evaluation, are also options to try to find the cause of this condition.
Male Infertility in Numbers
In a couple facing infertility, it’s crucial to find the main reasons for male infertility, as per the numbers:
– in 20% of cases, male infertility is the sole cause of couples’ infertility;
– in 50% of cases, it’s associated with a cause of female infertility;
– but in 15% of cases, the causes are genetic;
– while in 25% of cases, it’s azoospermia;
– in the rest of the cases, causes are comorbidities (cardiovascular, oncological, and rheumatological diseases);
– and lastly, male infertility is idiopathic.
Dry Orgasm: Symptom of an Infertile Man?
It’s known as dry orgasm or retrograde ejaculation when during orgasm, semen goes into the bladder instead of being expelled through the penis. While it’s possible to achieve climax, it’s very likely that the amount of ejaculated semen is very low or even absent.
Dry orgasm may not be harmful, but it’s highly likely to be a cause of male sterility, so its treatment will only be necessary to seek to restore the man’s fertility in the couple.
Symptoms are Consequences: What Causes Infertility in Men?
Often, male infertility is the result of certain behaviors, habits, and practices whose consequences can be unfavorable for becoming parents. We list some of them below.
Male infertility can be caused by:
– Congenital defects;
– Cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation;
– Exposure to excessive heat for prolonged periods;
– Excessive consumption of alcohol, marijuana, or cocaine;
– Benign pituitary adenoma (causing high levels of prolactin in the blood);
– Diabetes (uncontrolled);
– Hypogonadism causing low levels of the male hormone, testosterone;
– Impotence;
– Infection;
– Medications such as cimetidine, spironolactone, and nitrofurantoin;
– Obesity;
– Advanced age;
– Retrograde ejaculation;
– Scarring due to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), injury, or surgery;
– Smoking;
– Environmental toxins;
– Vasectomy or failure of vasectomy reversal;
– History of testicular infection by mumps.
Treatments for Male Infertility: What is Sperm Preservation?
Among the treatments that can help overcome male infertility, there’s a technique for fatherhood preservation, consisting of examining semen samples under a microscope in the laboratory to count sperm and assess their viability, and then proceeding to freeze and store them for future use.
Is Fatherhood Preservation through Sperm Cryopreservation for All Men?
Beyond its cost or implications, sperm cryopreservation is recommended in the following specific cases:
– Men who wish to delay their fatherhood;
– Men under medical or oncological treatments (chemotherapy or radiotherapy) that may damage spermatogenesis;
– Men undergoing testicular or prostate surgery;
– Men about to undergo a vasectomy;
– Men with severe oligozoospermia (semen with a low concentration of sperm) that may progress to azoospermia (absence of sperm);
– In vitro fertilization or egg donation treatments. Although the couple plans to use a fresh semen sample on the day of fertilization, it’s advisable to cryopreserve a sample for peace of mind.
Steps to Follow for Fatherhood Preservation
The first step is to provide a semen sample after abstaining from sexual activity for 2 to 5 days; since sometimes, semen parameters are not optimal, a second step will require a second sample after a week to ensure a sufficient number of sperm.
In the third step, once the semen sample has been certified, it will undergo progressive cooling until it reaches -196 °C, with cryoprotectants that prevent cellular damage to the sperm, which will then be stored in microtubes or straws for storage, perfectly identified, until the time of their use.
What is UR Crea and How Can It Help You If You Have Infertility Problems?
UR Crea Reproductive Medicine has 30 years of experience in reproductive medicine and assisted reproduction services. We offer different types of treatments tailored to your needs, which is why we perform a diagnostic protocol, which is the key to helping you.
Our network consists of a team of doctors specialized in obstetrics and gynecology, reproductive biology, embryology, perinatology, anesthesiology, and nursing staff, all trained to take care of their patients.
We nurture the dreams of those who aspire to become parents. That’s why we provide a trustworthy environment, based on the ethics and professionalism of our team, who provide personal and humane care. Approach us and get to know us!
References:
1. What treatments are available for male infertility? https://espanol.nichd.nih.gov/salud/temas/menshealth/informacion/tratar
2. Male infertility: causes and diagnosis. https://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-revista-medica-clinica-las-condes-202-articulo-infertilidad-masculina-causas-diagnostico-S0716864021000249
3. Retrograde ejaculation. https://www.mayoclinic.org/es/diseases-conditions/retrograde-ejaculation/symptoms-causes/syc-20354890
4. Infertility.https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/001191.htm
5. Fertility Preservation.https://ur-crea.mx/tratamiento/preservacion-de-la-fertilidad/
