ConditionandTreatments

Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system. It can affect a man, a woman, or both. Male infertility refers to the condition when a man has a problem with his reproductive system making him unable to start a pregnancy with a female partner.

How common is male infertility?

1 in 7 couples may be infertile, which means they the couples haven't been able to conceive a child even after trying for a year or longer. And in up to fifty percent of these cases, male infertility plays at least a partial role.

Causes of Male Infertility

There can be various causes of male infertility including low sperm production, abnormal sperm function or blockages in the male reproductive system that prevent the delivery of sperm. Factors like some illnesses, inherited disorders, injuries, hormonal imbalance, lifestyle choices etc may contribute to male infertility.

Symptoms of Male Infertility

There may not be any obvious sign of male infertility, but there is the inability to conceive a child. Signs and symptoms you may notice include:

• Difficulty with ejaculation or small volumes of fluid ejaculated or difficulty maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction)
• Pain in testicular area
• Swelling or a lump in the testicle area
• Abnormal breast growth (gynecomastia)
• Decreased facial or body hair or other signs of hormonal abnormality
• A lower than normal sperm count (fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen or a total sperm count of less than 39 million per ejaculate)

When to see a doctor?

You should see a urologist or a fertility specialist if you have been unable to conceive after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse or sooner if you have any of the following:

• Erection or ejaculation problems
• Pain in the testicle area
• Lump or swelling in the testicle area
• Low sex drive
• A history of prostate problems
• History of surgery of groin, testicle, penis or scrotum 
• A partner over 35 years of age

How is male infertility diagnosed?

Your urologist or fertility specialist will review your health history and do a physical examination. The tests for male infertility may include:

• Sperm count (semen analysis)- At least 2 semen samples are taken on separate days for analysis of quantity of semen production, uniformity, acidic nature, movement of sperms, shape etc. 
• Blood tests- These are done to check hormone levels and rule out hormonal disorders.
• Other tests- Your doctor may also recommend investigations like ultrasound or imaging tests depending on your health history.  
• Testicular biopsy- This is done if semen analysis shows that you have only a few sperm or no sperm, biopsy is recommended. 

Male infertility care at Yatharth Hospital

The inability to conceive can be stressful, but a number of fertility treatments are available for male infertility issues.
Our expert team of fertility specialists and urologists can help you with your health concerns. Visit Yatharth Hospital to get started.