For a woman, despite trying to track your menstrual cycle, tracking your most fertile days, and trying every fabled trick to get pregnant, perhaps you have not had any luck in conceiving a child. However, while most infertility messaging is generally targeted toward a woman’s inability to conceive, it can just as likely be due to male infertility issues.
In fact, infertility lies solely in the male partner in about 8 percent of all infertile couples, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In about 35 percent of infertile couples, the infertility is caused by both the woman and the man.
What Is Infertility?
The official definition of infertility by the World Health Organization is the inability of a sexually active, non-contracepting couple to achieve pregnancy in 1 year. Without contraception and with accurate tracking of a woman’s cycle, there should be no reason why conceiving would be difficult if it were not for fertility obstacles.
Male infertility can be caused by many different reasons, including:
· Low sperm count in the semen
· Irregularly shaped sperm (morphology)
· Sperm’s inability to move efficiently (motility)
· Bodily trauma to the reproductive organs
· Unhealthy habits (alcohol, drugs, smoking, steroids)
· Medical conditions (cancer, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, autoimmune disorders)
· Medical treatments
· Hormonal issues (problems with the hypothalamus and/or pituitary glands)
· Genetic issues
It’s important to talk to your doctor to pinpoint your exact issues. Your doctor will likely test your sperm levels and determine the appropriate next steps.
What if a Man is Infertile?
If a couple has a problem with fertility, Dr. Desi Avila at Ironwood Urology may be able to reverse and fix the problem. He and his team can test to find out exactly what is causing the issue, and he will also ask for your female partner’s medical records to gain a full evaluation.
If the issue is with the man, Dr. Avila will test the man for any genetic issues, medical issues, and hormone levels. He may use various types of scans to determine these, including MRI, CT scan, and ultrasound methods.
If necessary, Dr. Avila can perform surgery to repair the varicoceles (enlarged veins in the scrotum), remove obstructions to proper sperm flow, and sperm retrieval.
Who Can Help with Infertility Issues?
If you and your partner are having issues conceiving a child, if you suspect you might be infertile, or you just want to learn your options, contact an experienced urologist today. Dr. Desi Avila specializes in male infertility, urological robotic surgery, and microsurgical vasectomy reversal.
He has years of experience treating men suffering from low testosterone levels, Peyronie’s disease, erectile dysfunction, and prostate issues. His training was gained at Princeton University, the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, residency at the Baylor College of Medicine, and fellowship at the Texas Medical Center/Baylor Clinic. He is board-certified by the American Board of Urology and is a member of the American Urological Association.
Call Ironwood Urology today at (480) 961-2323 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Avila right here in Phoenix. Or, you can fill out our easy-to-use online appointment request form. We look forward to helping you resolve your fertility issues, prostate health issues, or anything relating to men’s health.
