Male infertility has many causes–from hormonal imbalances, to
physical problems, to psychological and/or behavioral problems.
Moreover, fertility reflects a man's "overall" health. Men who live a
healthy lifestyle are more likely to produce healthy sperm.
The
following list highlights some lifestyle choices that negatively impact
male fertility–it is not all-inclusive:
· Anabolic steroid use–causes testicular shrinkage and infertility.
·
Overly intense exercise–produces high levels of adrenal steroid
hormones which cause testosterone deficiency resulting in infertility.
· Inadequate vitamin C and Zinc in the diet.
· Tight underwear–increases scrotal temperature which results in decreasedsperm production.
·
Exposure to environmental hazards and toxins such as pesticides, lead,
paint, radiation, radioactive substances, mercury, benzene, boron, and
heavy metals
· Malnutrition and anemia.
· Excessive stress!
Modifying these behaviors can improve a man's fertility and should be considered when a couple is trying to achieve pregnancy.
Hormonal Problems
A small percentage of male infertility is caused by hormonal
problems. The hypothalamus-pituitary endocrine system regulates the
chain of hormonal events that enables testes to produce and effectively
disseminate sperm. Several things can go wrong with the hypothalamus-pituitary endocrine system:
· The brain can fail to release gonadotrophic-releasing hormone (GnRH) properly. GnRH stimulates
the hormonal pathway that causes testosterone synthesis and sperm production. A disruption in
GnRH release leads to a lack of testosterone and a cessation in sperm production.
· The pituitary can fail to produce enough lutenizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone
(FSH) to stimulate the testes and testosterone/sperm production. LH and FSH are intermediates
in the hormonal pathway responsible for testosterone and sperm production.
· The testes' Leydig cells may not produce testosterone in response to LH stimulation.
· A male may produce other hormones and chemical compounds which interfere with the
sex-hormone balance.
The following is a list of hormonal disorders which can disrupt male infertility:
Hyperprolactinemia:
Elevated
prolactin–a hormone associated with nursing mothers, is found in 10 to
40 percent of infertile males. Mild elevation of prolactin levels
produces no symptoms, but greater elevations of the hormone reduces
sperm production, reduces libido and may cause impotence.
Hypothyroidism:
Low thyroid hormone levels–can
cause poor semen quality, poor testicular function and may disturb
libido. May be caused by a diet high in iodine. Reducing iodine intake
or beginning thyroid hormone replacement therapy can elevate sperm count. This condition is found in only 1 percent of infertile men.
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia:
Occurs
when the pituitary is suppressed by increased levels of adrenal
androgens. Symptoms include low sperm count, an increased number of
immature sperm cells, and low sperm cell motility. Is treated with
cortisone replacement therapy. This condition is found in only 1
percent of infertile men.
Hypogonadotropic Hypopituitarism:
Low
pituitary gland output of LH and FSH. This condition arrests sperm
development and causes the progressive loss of germ cells from the
testes and causes the seminiferous tubules and Leydig (testosterone
producing) cells to deteriorate. However, if all germ cells are destroyed before treatment commences, the male may be permanently infertile.
Panhypopituitafism:
Complete
pituitary gland failure–lowers growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating
hormone, and LH and FSH levels. Symptoms include: lethargy, impotence,
decreased libido, loss of secondary sex characteristics, and normal or
undersized testicles. Supplementing the missing pituitary hormones may
restore vigor and a hormone called hCG may stimulate testosterone and
sperm production.
Physical Problems
A variety of physical problems can cause male infertility. These problems either interfere with the sperm production process
or disrupt the pathway down which sperm travel from the testes to the
tip of the penis. These problems are usually characterized by a low
sperm count and/or abnormal sperm morphology. The following is a list
of the most common physical problems that cause male infertility:
Variocoele:
A varicocele is an enlargement of the internal spermatic veins that
drain blood from the testicle to the abdomen (back to the heart) and
are present in 15% of the general male population and 40% of infertile
men. These images show what a variocoele looks like externally and
internally.
A
varicocele develops when the one way valves in these spermatic veins
are damaged causing an abnormal back flow of blood from the abdomen into
the scrotum creating a hostile environment for sperm development.
Varicocoeles may cause reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm morphology
which cause infertility. Variococles can usually be diagnosed by a
physical examination of the scrotum which can be aided by the Doppler
stethoscope and scrotal ultrasound. Varicocoele can be treated in many
ways (see treatment section), but the most successful treatments involve
corrective surgery.
Damaged Sperm Ducts:
Seven
percent of infertile men cannot transport sperm from their testicles to
out of their penis. This pathway may be blocked by a number of
conditions:
· A genetic or developmental mistake may block or cause the absence of one or both tubes (which
transport the sperm from the testes to the penis).
· Scarring from tuberculosis or some STDs may block the epididymis or tubes.
· An elective or accidental vasectomy may interrupt tube continuity.
Torsion:
Is a common problem affecting fertility that is caused by a supportive tissue abnormality which
allows the testes to twist inside the scrotum which is characterized by
extreme swelling. Torsion pinches the blood vessels that feed the
testes shut which causes testicular damage. If emergency surgery is not
performed to untwist the testes, torsion can seriously impair fertility
and cause permanent infertility if both testes twist.
Infection and Disease:
Mumps, tuberculosis, brucellosis, gonorrhea, typhoid, influenza, smallpox, and syphilis can cause testicular atrophy. A low sperm count
and low sperm motility are indicators of this condition. Also,
elevated FSH levels and other hormonal problems are indicative of
testicular damage. Some STDs like gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause
infertility by blocking the epididimis or tubes. These conditions are
usually treated by hormonal replacement therapy and surgery in the case
of tubular blockage.
Klinefelter's Syndrome:
Is a
genetic condition in which each cell in the human body has an
additional X chromosome–men with Klinefelter's Syndrome have one Y and
two X chromosomes. Physical symptoms include peanut-sized testicles and
enlarged breasts. A chromosome analysis is used to confirm this
analysis. If this condition is treated in its early stages, sperm production may commence and/or improve. However,
Klinefelter's Syndrome eventually causes all active testicular
structures to atrophy. Once testicular failure has occurred, improving
fertility is impossible.
Retrograde Ejaculation:
Is
a condition in which semen is ejaculated into the bladder rather than
out through the urethra because the bladder sphincter does not close
during ejaculation. If this disorder is present, ejaculate volume is
small and urine may be cloudy after ejaculation. This condition affects
1.5 percent of infertile men and may be controlled by medications like
decongestants which contract the bladder sphincter or surgical reconstruction of the bladder neck can restore normal ejaculation.
Psychological/Physical/Behavioral Problems:
Several sexual problems or issues exist
that can affect male fertility. These problems are most often both
psychological and physical in nature: it is difficult to separate the
physiological and physical components.
Erectile Disfunction (ED):
Also
known as impotence, this condition is common and affects 20 million
American men. ED is the result of a single, or more commonly a
combination of multiple factors. In the past, ED was thought to be the
result of psychological problems, but new research indicates that 90
percent of cases are organic in nature. However, most men who suffer
from ED have a secondary psychological problem that can worsen the
situation like performance anxiety, guilt, and low self-esteem. Many of
the common causes of impotence include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and vascular disease,
stress, hormone problems, pelvic surgery, trauma, venous leak, and the
side effects of frequently prescribed medications (i.e. Prozac and other
SSRIs, Propecia). Luckily, many treatment options exist for ED
depending on the cause–these will be discussed in the treatment section.
Premature Ejaculation:
Is
defined as an inability to control the ejaculatory response for at
least thirty seconds following penetration. Premature ejaculation
becomes a fertility problem when ejaculation occurs before a man is able
to fully insert his penis into his partner's vagina. Premature
ejaculation can be overcome by artificial insemination or by using a
behavioral modification technique called the "squeeze technique" which desensitizes the penis.
Ejaculatory Incompetence:
This
rare psychological condition prevents men from ejaculating during
sexual intercourse even though they can ejaculate normally through masturbation. This condition sometimes responds well to behavioral therapy; if this technique does not work, artificial insemination can be employed using an ejaculate from masturbation.
Author :
For complete guidance and treatment visit clinic or call us at
0300-4855092 OR 0300-8148818. No echinacea side effects or statins
sid... (show bio)
