Male Factor Infertility

Approximately 25% of all infertility is caused by a sperm defect. About 40-50% of infertility cases have a sperm defect as the main cause, or a contributing cause. This is the legacy of male factor infertility. It can be difficult to know whether sperm is the sole problem, or just a contributing cause of infertility. Partly this is because ‘numbers are just numbers’. For example, we know that men with very low sperm counts can sometimes have children – and some men with normal sperm counts can be infertile. What matters most is not how many sperm there are or how fast they swim – but whether they can fertilize the female partner’s eggs. Sperm defects are a biochemical issue at the molecular level. A sperm defect is present when sperm are irregularly shaped, have poor motility or low sperm count. It takes more than looking at sperm under the microscope to assess the ability of the sperm to fertilize the female’s eggs.

In nearly 30% of all infertility cases the cause is attributed to the male. An additional 30% of infertility cases are attributed to both male and female factors. In the cases of male factor infertility, more than 90% of the time it is caused by poor sperm quality. Other causes of male infertility may include anatomic, hormonal or genetic imbalances. Less than a decade ago, treatment for a severe male factor infertility was limited to inseminations or IVF using donor sperm. Today, significant advances in male infertility have introduced innovative therapeutic options that offer men, including those with no sperm in their ejaculate due to genetic conditions, a greatly improved chance to conceive their own biological offspring.

At Male Fertility & Sexual Medicine Specialists we understand that couples seeking treatment for infertility are in search of a program that will provide them with the best chance possible for conceiving a child. Male factor infertility is a specialty of this practice. In order to maximize the chances for conception, Dr. Hashmi will work with each couple to determine exactly what their goals are and establish a treatment plan to maximize all resources in an effort to reach those goals.

Semen Analysis

The semen analysis is the central testing component to determine possible male factor infertility. The values of these guidelines only increase the probability that there is a case of male factor infertility, but it does not provide any guarantees. Guidelines for normal semen levels have been defined as follows:

• Volume: 1ml to 5ml or more
• Concentration: 20 million/ml or more
• Motility: 50% or more
• Morphology: 30% or more normal shapes (WHO criteria) or 14% or more (by Kruger strict criteria)
• Clumping: minimal
• Presence of white or red blood cells: minimal
• No hyperviscosity (Thickening of seminal fluid)

Natural Remedies

Men suffering from this problem can increase their potency by taking an effective herbal treatment for male infertility such as Baby capsules. In addition to this, there are several natural remedies which are very helpful in enhancing male potency. Dairy food items, oysters, pomegranate juice, pumpkin seeds, fruits and vegetables should be included in diet.