Male Infertility

Mental Health

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What is infertility?

Not being able to get pregnant after one year of trying.

What is male infertility?

Male infertility is caused by several factors, abnormal sperm production, blockages of sperm delivery, or low sperm production.

What are the risk factors of male infertility?

Use testosterone or other anabolic steroids
Exposure to toxic chemicals including chemotherapy or radiation
Smoking
Excessive alcohol consumption can lower testosterone which causes erectile dysfunction
Stress
Drugs
Exposure to heat, sauna or hot tub causes low sperm counts. It is advised to avoid putting laptops on the lap.
Poor diet, high in saturated fats and low in nutrients can decrease sperm production
Age of 40 or older
Exposed to environmental toxins (lead, mercury, pesticides, cadmium)
Medications such as:
Tagamet
Antihypertensive medications (calcium channels blockers or spironolactone)
Sulfasalazine
Colchicine and allopurinol
Antibiotics including tetracyclines, gentamicin, neomycin, erythromycin, and nitrofurantoin (in extremely high doses)
Cyclosporine

What causes male infertility?

Overweight or obese males
Oligospermia, producing low- or poor-quality sperm
Genetic disease such as Klinefelter’s syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, and microdeletion
Azoospermia, the inability to produce sperm cell
Malformed sperm, does not live long to fertilize an egg
Endocrine disorders or hormonal imbalance
Undescended testicle also known as cryptorchidism (testicle that has not moved into its right position in scrotum before birth)
Physical injury to the testes
Physical blockage of the sperm delivery routes
Surgery on the testes or area close to (hernia repairs is one example)
Inflammation of the testicles
Urinary tract infections
Sexual Transmitted Disease
Vasectomy

What are the symptoms of male infertility?

How is male infertility diagnosed?

First physical examination is done by your physician to determine your general health.

Urologist / endocrinologist the healthcare providers who is specialized in male infertility.

Test that are done:
Sperm volume, which is amount of perm per ejaculate
Total sperm count, number of sperm in entire ejaculate
Sperm concentration, the number of sperm per millimeter of semen
Viscosity to determine how fast semen liquefies
Morphology, the size and shape of the sperm
Linearity, determining how straight the sperm moves
Velocity, the speed the sperm travels
Blood test to check hormone level (follicle stimulating hormone and testosterone)
Transrectal ultrasound

How is male infertility treated?

The treatment will depend on the cause of the infertility:
Surgery to remove barriers blocking the sperm production, maturation, or ejaculation.
Repair varicocele, the enlargement of the veins found in the scrotum
Medication to improve the production of sperms and correct any hormonal imbalances, and treat any infection.
Artificial insemination, healthy sperm are placed at the entrance of the cervix or into the partner’s uterus.
In nitro fertilization (IVF) and gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT) are similar to artificial insemination. The sperms are collected, mixed with the eggs in the lab or in the partner’s fallopian tube.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), one sperm is injected into an egg, fertilization happens under a microscope and the fertilized egg will be placed into the partner’s uterus

Diet and male infertility

Research has proved that diet affects male infertility

Western Diet, rich in intake of animal protein, trans fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, simple carbohydrates and low in fiber, unsaturated fatty acids has been associated with reduced fertility
Mediterranean Diet rich in fruits, vegetables whole grains, lean animal protein, olive oil, nuts, and fish has shown benefits to improve fertility
No evidence can suggest the link between fertility and a vegan diet. More research is needed.
High intake of soy has been linked to lower sperm concentration
Excess sugar intake should be avoided
Some herbs should not be consumed such as St. John’s Wort, Echinacea purpurea and ginkgo biloba.

Deficiency in some nutrients is linked to male infertility

Zinc

Vitamin D

Selenium

Achieving a healthy weight is important for conception

Products

Nature's Plus Immunactin Zinc Lozenges 60

Main ingredients

Zinc (as aspartate complex), natural sweeteners, stearic acid, citric acid, natural flavors, zinc oxide, beet juice, magnesium stearate, silica, olive leaf, elderberry, goldensea, and astragalus.

Free of

Gluten, milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, sesame, preservatives and artificial colors.

Key benefits

Zinc is known for its ability to regulate immune responses and attack infected cells. Nature’s Plus Immunactin Zinc Lozenges provides 10 mg of zinc per serving, along with other substances known to promote immunity like elderberry, echinacea, olive leaf, goldenseal, and astragalus.

Directions

Pros

Cons

Natures Plus Vitamin D 400 IU Water Dispersible 90 Tablets

Main ingredients

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol from lichen), microcrystalline cellulose, di-calcium phosphate, vegetable cellulose, magnesium stearate, riboflavin, pharmaceutical glaze.

Free of

Yeast, wheat, soy, milk, artificial colors and preservatives.

Key benefits

Natures Plus Vitamin D is a form of tablet that provides 400 IU of vitamin D3 per tablet. In reality, vitamin D3 is nature’s most bioavailable form. Nature’s Plus Vitamin D is similar to the type of D3 naturally created by the body, making it easier for it to be absorbed and utilised.

Directions

Pros

Cons

Carlson Super D Omega 3 Liquid 250 ml

Main ingredients

Vitamin A (from cod liver oil and retinyl palmitate), vitamin D (from cod liver oil and cholecalciferol).Vitamin E (as D-Alpha tocopherol & mixed tocopherols), norwegian cod liver oil, omega-3 fatty acids, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), natural lemon flavor,

Free of

Gluten, preservatives.

Key benefits

Carlson Super D Omega-3 in lemon flavour is a highly concentrated, balanced fish oil, providing 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 and 1,100 mg of omega-3s per teaspoonful.

Directions

Pros

Cons

Conclusion

Diet is a modifiable cause of infertility; hence the role of nutrition needs to be highlighted in order to decrease the rate of infertility caused by unhealthy habits and lifestyle. Adherence to healthy food is linked to increasing the chances of fertility.