Male Fertility Care
Male fertility plays a crucial role in reproductive health, yet many men experience challenges when it comes to conception due to various factors. Infertility in men is often overlooked, affecting approximately 7% of the male population and resulting from a range of physical, lifestyle, and medical issues. Dr. Rohit Purwar, an experienced urologist and andrologist, specializes in diagnosing and managing male infertility, offering a variety of personalized treatment options to meet each patient’s unique needs.
Understanding Male Infertility
Male infertility is defined as the inability of a man to father a child with his partner despite having regular, unprotected intercourse for at least 12 months. This situation can feel overwhelming, but it’s essential to know that male infertility is frequently treatable. Dr. Rohit Purwar conducts thorough evaluations to identify the underlying causes of infertility and develops customized treatment plans to enhance fertility outcomes.
Causes of Male Infertility
Several factors can contribute to male infertility, often related to issues with sperm production, quality, or the reproductive system. Common causes include:
- Age: Male fertility tends to decline with age, especially after 40, which can lead to reduced sperm quality and quantity.
- Lifestyle Factors: Habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and recreational drug use can severely affect sperm count and quality. Additionally, an unhealthy lifestyle marked by poor diet, lack of physical activity, and high stress levels can further impact fertility.
- Medical Conditions: Health issues like diabetes, hypertension, and thyroid disorders can disrupt normal reproductive function.
- Hormonal Imbalances: Hormonal levels are critical for sperm production. Conditions such as low testosterone or elevated prolactin can interfere with sperm function.
- Genetic Factors: Genetic anomalies, including Klinefelter syndrome or deletions on the Y chromosome, can lead to infertility by impacting sperm production.
- Varicocele: This condition involves the enlargement of veins within the scrotum, potentially raising the temperature of the testicles and harming sperm production.
- Infections: Infections, such as STIs or prostatitis, can damage reproductive organs and diminish fertility.
- Environmental Factors: Exposure to toxins from pesticides, industrial chemicals, and radiation can negatively influence sperm quality.
Symptoms of Male Infertility
Unlike female infertility, symptoms in men can be subtle. Often, male infertility is discovered during attempts to conceive. However, certain signs may indicate male infertility, including:
- Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection
- Low sperm count
- Pain, swelling, or lumps in the testicles
- Changes in sexual desire or libido
- Presence of blood in semen
- Issues with ejaculation or premature ejaculation
Varicocele Surgery: A Common Treatment for Male Infertility
Varicocele, which affects around 15% of men, is a prevalent cause of infertility linked to compromised sperm quality. This condition occurs when veins in the scrotum enlarge, leading to increased temperature around the testicles, adversely affecting sperm production.
If a varicocele is determined to be contributing to infertility, surgery may be advised. Varicocelectomy is a common and effective procedure that involves either removing or tying off the enlarged veins, enhancing blood flow and regulating testicular temperature, which can restore optimal sperm production.
Treatment Options for Male Infertility
The treatment for male infertility varies based on the underlying cause. Dr. Rohit Purwar employs a comprehensive approach tailored to each patient's specific requirements:
- Lifestyle Modifications: Recommendations might include quitting smoking, limiting alcohol intake, improving diet, managing stress levels, and increasing physical activity.
- Sperm Retrieval Techniques: For patients with severely reduced sperm production, methods such as PESA, TESA, TESE, and Micro-TESE are utilized to extract sperm directly from the testes for assisted reproductive techniques like IVF or ICSI.
- Varicocele Surgery: As noted earlier, varicocelectomy can significantly enhance sperm quality and increase the likelihood of natural conception.
When to Seek Assistance
If you have been trying to conceive for more than a year without success, or if you are experiencing symptoms such as pain during intercourse, blood in your semen, or reduced libido, it’s crucial to consult a specialist. Dr. Rohit Purwar provides thorough assessments, including testicular biopsies and other diagnostic tests, to determine the cause of infertility.
