In this article:
What is male infertility?
Effect on your life
Advice & Support
Causes
Treatment
Diagnosis
How Chemist Online can help
What is male infertility?
Male infertility is where a man is unable to produce offspring, usually as result of an inability to produce a sufficient amount of healthy sperm.
The good news is that, although there are no guarantees, there are treatments that can help a number of people with male infertility.
Causes
The most common causes of male infertility are low sperm counts, sperm abnormalities, and recurrent impotence. However, other causes can include lifestyle issues, such as:
being overweight
smoking
recreational drug use
excessive alcohol consumption
stress
poor diet
some herbal supplements, such as: St John’s Wort, cotton and androstenedione (a natural steroid)
lack of exercise, and
environmental factors, such as working for long periods with particular types of solvents and pesticides
Fertility problems can also be the result of sexual problems, side-effects of medication, the type(s) of contraception you and your partner were using prior to trying to conceive, and also if you have undergone a course of chemotherapy treatment (which can affect sperm counts and, in some cases, create sperm abnormalities).
Diagnosis
If you are a man and have been experiencing fertility problems for up to a year, then consider making an appointment with your GP. He or she will take your medical history (and social history) and ask you some questions, such as: for how long you and your partner have been trying to conceive, and if your partner is also experiencing fertility problems (due to things such as her medical history, lifestyle or previous pregnancy complications).
Your GP may then carry out a physical examination of your testicles and penis, to check for things such as lumps, deformities and/or structure abnormalities. You may also be asked to provide a semen sample for analysis of your sperm count, and also a Chlamydia test (a Chlamydia infection can cause swelling and tenderness in the scrotum, impacting negatively upon ejaculation and overall healthy sperm production).
Effect on your life
For most couples, male infertility can be extremely stressful, emotionally draining and physically taxing – putting their relationships under enormous strain.
Many men find that counselling and joining a support group helps.
Treatment
Male infertility treatments include:
Erectile dysfunction therapy
Hormonal treatments for low sperm counts
A procedure called Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE) where a needle is used to release trapped sperm in the testicles
Assisted conception techniques, such as: donor insemination and IUI (Intrauterine insemination) – where the best of your sperm samples are selected and then placed in your partner’s womb
A vasectomy reversal procedure, and
Surgery to remove testicle blockages
You can also increase your chances of being able to conceive by not delaying parenthood, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and treating or preventing existing diseases.
Also try to keep fit (but do not engage in excessive exercise as this can actually lead to decreased fertility), stop smoking, avoid over-consumption of alcohol and caffeine, and eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables.
How Chemist Online can help
Many men suffer from low sperm count and poor sperm motility as a result of poor diet. Your body needs sufficient levels of vitamin B12, vitamin C and zinc to produce healthy, viable sperm. Through this website we have a range of vitamin supplements available to buy, such as: Feroglobin-B12® which is a unique iron supplement with zinc and vitamin B complex, formulated to deliver an optimum amount of iron to the body while remaining gentle on the stomach. We also have Haliborange High Strength Vitamin C Plus Natural Bioflavonoid Tablets which are a delicious way of adding to the body’s essential vitamin supplies.
www.chemistonline.co.uk
Advice & Support
BICA (British Infertility Counselling Association)
69 Division Street
Sheffield S1 4GE
Tel: 0114 263 1448
Website: www.bica.net
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Infertility Network UK
Charter House
43 St Leonards Road
Bexhill-on-Sea
East Sussex TN40 1JA
Tel. 0800 008 7464
Website: www.infertilitynetworkuk.com
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
This information and advice is not intended to replace the advice of your GP or chemist. Chemist Online is also not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based upon the content of the Chemist Online website. Chemist Online is also not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.
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