Our latest blog outlined some of the main causes of Male Infertility, if you missed it you can catch up here.
Today we will be taking a deeper look into the physical problems that could be hindering your chances of starting a family. We feel it is important to highlight these problems as they may be internal defects and can therefore go unnoticed for many years.
Varicoceles – They are enlarged varicose veins that develop in the scrotum and stop blood from flowing properly. A varicocele develops when the one way valves in these spermatic veins are damaged causing an abnormal backflow of blood from the abdomen into the scrotum creating a hostile environment for sperm development. Varicoceles may cause reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm morphology which cause infertility. Surgery is available as a treatment for varicoceles, but it is unclear how effective it is as a treatment for male infertility. Couples considering varicocele surgery should see a well trained urologist as well as an infertility specialist for education about all of their options before proceeding.
Erectile Dysfunction – Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation can have an obvious effect on fertility. Erectile Dysfunction can be caused by psychological problems such as stress, anxiety, and low-self esteem. It is also caused by physical problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. It is best to take corrective action in your lifestyle and diet choices to prevent these problems, but if you suffer from one of the above and are also struggling to impregnate your partner, this could be the cause.
Ductal System Problems – The sperm must pass through the ejaculatory ducts to get from the seminal vesicles (where sperm is stored) to the urethra (tube in which men urinate and ejaculate). If these are blocked on both sides no sperm will come through. In some cases the ducts can be repaired to allow for the normal reproductive process to happen.
Physical Trauma – If you have experienced a trauma to your prostate, urethra, or testicals, permanent damage may have occured which could result in problems with your fertility. It is extremely important that you visit your GP if such a trauma were to occur, even if you don’t think it has caused any major damage, it best to get it checked as it may have caused damage to a vital area internally that is not obvious from the exterior.
As always, we encourage every man to go to their GP and get a physical check, especially if you are concerned about your fertility or have experienced any of the above problems.
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