Male Infertility Treatment Options

Symptoms of Male Infertility
Surveys indicate that in at least 40% of couples suffering from infertility, the male partner has the problem. Male fertility is tested through semen analysis. The lower the sperm count and the poorer the sperm quality, the more difficult it will be for pregnancy to occur.

Major Factors Affecting Sperm Production

• Low Sperm Count: The condition of the sperm count being low is known as Oligospermia that can be due to genetic defects or abnormal set of Y chromosomes, any trauma, mumps, malaria, testicular dysgenesis syndrome or other reasons.
• No Sperms: Azoospermia is the condition when there are no sperm at all in the semen sample. At East Bay Fertility Center we discuss the detailed history that may have affected the testicles.
• Infected semen: Infected semen can also cause infertility.
• Diseases such as diabetes, thyroid and other illnesses.
• Testicular Overheating because of hot tubs, hot baths, may temporarily lower sperm count.
• Tight fitting clothing, strenuous riding (bicycle riding, horseback riding), drugs and medications may cause fertility problems.
• Too much smoking also reduces both the sperm count and the sperm motility.
• Excessive alcohol intake may lead to infertility and also lower the production of sperm and of the male hormone testosterone.
• Obesity fatigue and stress has become lifestyle causes for male infertility.


At East Bay Fertility Center our fertility specialists are well trained and equipped to identify the reasons causing infertility. Under the guidance of Dr. Ellen U. Snowden, Medical director and Physician, East Bay Fertility Center has been successfully delivering a rare and valuable service-of-lifetime in dealing with personal pain and emotional stress of the patients. Factors that also contribute in lowering the fertility which can be discovered during examination are:
1. Varicocele: A network of veins carries blood away from the testicles and back up into the body. This is a condition where these veins become enlarged, twisted, and swollen. This can cause testicular dysfunction and infertility.
2. Hydrocele: The presence of excessive fluid around the testicle.
3. During physical contact and ejaculation, sometimes the sperm cannot be deposited within the vagina very easily.

Diagnosis of Infertility

The diagnosis includes the medical history and physical examination of the patient. A complete examination of the infertile male is performed at East Bay Fertility Center which is important to identify issues related with infertility.
• Sperm sample: A measured volume of the semen and number of sperm is taken as the sample for examination.
• Blood sample: A blood sample can indicate genetic causes of infertility, such as a Y chromosome defect or microdeletion, cystic fibrosis, etc.

Treatment

Half of the male fertility problems can be treated. There are three major categories of treatment for male infertility that we provide at East Bay Fertility Center:
• Assisted reproduction
• Drug therapy
• Surgery

Assisted reproduction therapy is done to improve erectile dysfunction, induce ejaculation, obtain sperm, and inseminate an egg. This treatment option includes:

o Electroejaculation
o Sperm retrieval and washing
o In-vitro fertilization (IVF)
o Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
o Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)

Electroejaculation: This procedure helps in producing ejaculation. This is useful for candidates who have neurological dysfunction and those with spinal cord injuries.

Sperm retrieval: This method is used to obtain sperm from the testes or epididymis of someone who is suffering from azoospermia.

Sperm washing: This method isolates and prepares the healthiest sperm for insemination.

In-vitro fertilization (IVF): This involves combining eggs with sperm in a laboratory, with proper fertilization conditions, and later on transferring the developed embryos to the uterus.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): In this method one sperm is injected directly into a retrieved mature egg using a tiny glass needle. The egg is then fertilized and transferred to the uterus.

Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT): This procedure is recommended for couples who are suffering from unexplained fertility problems. Mature eggs and prepared sperm are combined in a syringe and injected into the fallopian tube through laparoscopy.

Drug therapy: Oral medications are given to improve the sperm production, treat hormonal dysfunction, cure sperm infections and fight sperm antibodies.

Surgery for male infertility is performed to treat reproductive tract obstruction and varicocele.
East Bay Fertility Center is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care for all our patients till they are discharged with a satisfying outcome-‘a healthy baby’.

For more information on our fertility treatment options log on to http://eastbayfertility.com/