If during a year the couple does not use contraception, but can not conceive a child, then in this case there are reasons to believe that partners have problems with the childbearing function. The reasons for them can be both female and male infertility.
In 40% of cases, the cause lies in female diseases, 45% of cases are male factor of infertility, the remaining 15% are cases of the so-called immunological form of incompatibility of partner organisms and other forms of infertility.
Let's take a closer look at the more common form of infertility today - infertility male.
Types of male infertility
There are the following types of male infertility:
- Immunological - when the body begins to develop antibodies to sperm or testicular tissues.
- Secretory - a kind of infertility, in which the quantity, quality, motility of spermatozoa decreases.
- Obturation - due to the fact that the output of spermatozoa is something that interferes, for example, a tumor, a cyst, or a postoperative scar.
- Relative infertility is a barrenness, for which apparent causes are not found. This type of infertility can be the result of stress.
Currently, any of these types of male infertility is treated. In this case, both diagnosis and treatment of male infertility is much easier than female.
Causes and symptoms of male infertility
Male infertility can be caused by a variety of causes that stand out in the following groups:
- diseases of the testicles, including their abnormal development, traumatization, infectious lesions;
- hormonal causes, including a low level of testosterone or thyroid hormones;
- impaired sperm production function;
- physical impact or exposure to toxins, for example, radiation or chemicals;
- problems with the withdrawal of sperm - blocking the channels that transport semen, genital infections, problems with ejaculation, varicose veins of the scrotum;
- chromosomal or inherited disorder;
- common diseases, including liver cirrhosis, kidney disease, malnutrition;
- taking medications and drugs, including those used in psychiatry, anabolic steroids, alcohol, other drugs.
As a rule, the signs of male infertility do not manifest themselves. If there are hormonal disorders, then patients may experience a slowing of hair growth, voice changes, sexual problems.
Treatment of male infertility
Diagnosis of male infertility begins with the sperm analysis or semen analysis.
In addition, the doctor studies in detail the history of the disease, including the features of the general and sexual development of a man, finds out what diseases he suffered, and what negative external influences he experienced during his life.
Next, a general examination of the body to determine the causes of infertility. On the basis of the data obtained, specific studies may be required, for example, scrotal and testicular ultrasound, genetic testing, the establishment of sperm functional activity, and testicular biopsy.
In each case, the treatment method is chosen individually. If the cause of infertility is accurately established, then, if possible, try to eliminate it.
In some cases, the cause can not be established or there is no possibility to correct the problem. In such cases, the male factor of infertility is offered to the couple assistive reproductive technologies, including IVF .
The choice of this or that method depends on the state of health of a man, the causes of infertility, the problems of a woman.
In the case of using IVF in male infertility, the oocyte is surgically removed from the woman, they are mixed in the laboratory with sperm, and then "placed" in the woman's uterus.
The most simple method is intrauterine fertilization. In this case, the male seed sample is studied in the laboratory, and then introduced into the uterus at the time of ovulation.
The most modern method is intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection, in which sperm is removed from the testicles, and sperm are injected into the ovum. With the use of this technology, it is possible to achieve the desired result even in severe spermatogenesis disorders.