Male infertility affects nearly one in 10 men, what are the warning signs?
As many as one in seven British couples will experience difficulty conceiving children, and one of the reasons for this can be male infertility.
Male infertility affects around 7% of all men, and the cause behind most of these cases are unexplained.
While it’s unlikely that you will find out whether or not you suffer from infertility until you start trying for kids, there are several warning signs that you should be aware of.
What is male infertility?
Dr Gillian Lockwood, fertility specialist and consultant for Fertility Family, says that while male infertility is defined as being unable to produce a pregnancy within a year of trying when the woman’s fertility is considered ‘normal’, this definition is considered ‘unhelpful’.
"It overlooks the essentially shared experience of infertility," she adds. "Men experiencing infertility should be aware that there should be no stigma attached to needing fertility treatment and that the mutual support they can offer their partner will help them both achieve success."
According to Bupa, there are two types of male infertility: primary and secondary. Primary is when you and your partner have never had children together, while secondary is when you have a child but are struggling to conceive another.
Signs of male infertility
Male infertility is usually not diagnosed until your and your partner are unable to conceive a child, but Dr Lockwood says there are some warning signs that you might be infertile. These include:
Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection: "Whilst erectile dysfunction (ED) is often associated with stress, it can be a direct result of reduced hormone levels. Having reduced hormone levels does not only affect sexual performance, but it also causes issues with sperm production."
A dull ache in the testicles: "A dull ache or dilated veins in the scrotum can be a sign of suffering from a varicocele. Having a varicocele often means a decrease in both sperm quality and sperm count. If you are experiencing this pain, you should book an appointment with your doctor to have it examined."
Discoloured or bad-smelling ejaculate: "If your ejaculate is yellow or smells foul/rotten you might be suffering from an infection in your prostate. Often, changes in the smell and colour of semen are temporary, but if this problem occurs you should set up an appointment with your doctor."
Small testicles: "Unusually small testicles are often associated with hypogonadism, a condition where your testicles are not producing enough testosterone and sperm."
Male infertility causes
Half of men will have unexplained reasons for their infertility, but there are several conditions that can lead to infertility. These include:
Sperm disorders such as not having enough semen or sperm not swimming as fast as it should.
Hypogonadism, which is where you don’t produce enough testosterone and lower your sperm count.
Ejaculation disorders such as erectile dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation (where it ejaculates into your bladder), and delayed ejaculation.
Bupa says some other things that can affect male infertility includes smoking, alcohol, drug use, steroids, being overweight or obese, and exposure to chemicals such as pesticides through your work.
How to treat male infertility
While Bupa says that there are some medicines, medical devices and even surgeries you can do to treat male infertility depending on the cause, Dr Lockwood recommends lifestyle changes as well.
"Lifestyle changes such as weight loss, healthy eating, and stress reduction can have a positive impact on male fertility," she explains.
"Nutritional supplements that include essential vitamins and minerals such as Zinc and Selenium have been shown to enhance spontaneous pregnancy rates and improve the outcome of assisted conception techniques such as IVF."
Assisted reproduction such as In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a common method for helping you and your partner conceive a baby if one or both of you suffer from infertility.
How to speak to your partner with male infertility
A recent report found that infertility affects the mental health of 73% of men who are diagnosed with it, but there are some things you can do to help your partner if they receive a diagnosis.
Dr Lockwood recommends open communication, encouraging a healthy lifestyle, and attending medical appointments together.
"A lack of communication can lead to feelings being bottled up, which can add to stress," she explains. "To make things easier, prepare some gentle, general questions such as: ‘How are you feeling about this?’. Acknowledge and validate his pain if he expresses it, rather than trying to immediately make amends and fix it
"Many of the appointments will be hard-going physically and emotionally, so it helps to decompress afterwards with a meal out, a weekend away or a relaxing walk."
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