It needs to be stated in this context that male infertility is a rather complex problem. If you want to make your partner pregnant there are a few conditions that have to be fulfilled. You must be able to produce healthy sperm. The sperm should get carried to the semen. The semen should have sufficient amounts of sperm. The sperm should be functional and it should be able to move as well.
The causes of male infertility can be broadly divided into 3 major categories – medical causes, environmental causes, and lifestyle and health-related causes. Following are the main medical causes:
- Varicocele
- infection
- issues with ejaculation
- sperm being attacked by antibodies
- tumours
- testicles that have not descended properly
- imbalance in hormones
- defects in tubules that transport sperm
- defects in chromosome
- issues with sexual intercourse
- Celiac disease
- certain medicines such as testosterone replacement therapy
- earlier surgeries
The major environmental reasons, in this case, can be enumerated as below:
- industrial chemicals
- exposure to heavy metals
- x rays and other kind of radiation
- overheating of testicles
There are certain other causes related to the likes of health and lifestyle that could cause such issues as well.
Symptoms
The main sign of male infertility is that you are unable to produce a child. At times, there could be no other obvious signs as such. In some cases, it is seen that the patient may have inherited the disorder. It could also happen because of the lack of balance in your hormones. The veins around your testicles could be dilated as well. You may also be suffering from a condition where the passage of sperms is blocked. In short, there are many causes that could lead to these signs and symptoms.
There are some tell-tale signs that you could be suffering from male infertility. They may be enumerated as below:
- issues with your sexual function
- gynecomastia or abnormal growth of chests
- pain, swelling, or lump in your testicular area
- decreased body and facial hair as well as other signs that your hormones and chromosomes are not in the right order
- recurrent infections in the respiratory system
- subnormal sperm count
- inability to smell
If you experience any of these issues it would always be better to see a doctor.
Treatment options
Quite often it has been seen that it is a bit tough to identify the exact cause of infertility. However, even if there is no clarity regarding the exact cause of your infertility your doctor would be able to recommend procedures and treatments which would lead to conception. In such instances, it is but normal for your partner to undergo checking as well. This helps find out if she would need any specific treatment as such or not. This will also assist the doctors in determining if you need to be treated by the likes of assisted reproductive technology or not.
There are several options that you have with respect to the treatment of male infertility. They may be mentioned as below:
- surgery
- treatment of infections
- treatment for problems of sexual intercourse
- hormone medicines and treatments
- assisted reproductive technology
There are some rare cases where male infertility cannot be treated. In these situations, you would not be able to father a child, at least biologically. In such cases, your doctor may advise you to use sperm from another donor. She or he may ask you to adopt a child as well.
How to treat it naturally?
There are some things that you can try to treat your infertility problem in a natural way. They may be enumerated as below:
- working out and getting enough sleep
- reducing stress
- stopping smoking
- avoid too many drugs and alcohol
- avoiding some prescription medicines
- consuming supplements such as fenugreek
- getting sufficient calcium and vitamin D
- consuming Ashwagandha
- eating more healthy fat
- reducing unhealthy fat
- limiting or avoiding exposure to occupational and environmental contaminants and toxins
- avoiding foods and soy that contain non-human estrogen
- getting sufficient zinc and folate
There are also some other steps that you could take in this regard. You could try some home remedies and make changes to your lifestyle as well. Try and increase the frequency at which you have sex. Try to have sex when it is possible to fertilize her. Never use lubricants and the like. There are some alternative medicines that you could try out in this regard as well. They may be mentioned as below:
- Black seed or Nigella Sativa
- L-carnitine
- Coenzyme Q10
- Panax ginseng
- Folic acid
- Zinc
- horse chestnut or aescin
Before you use such alternative medicines in order to get rid of your sterility you need to know a few things. There is not much evidence of how well these medicines can help you become a father. This is inclusive of both supplements and herbs that are used in these cases. None of these supplements are capable of treating any basic cause of infertility as such. This includes the likes of chromosomal disorders and defects in your sperm duct. Some of these supplements can only help you deal with cases of deficiency only. However, the ones that have been quoted above have been proven to be successful in studies.
Diet plan
There are certain foods that help improve your sperm count and thus address your problem of infertility. They may be enumerated as below:
- walnuts
- bananas
- citrus fruits
- broccoli
- whole wheat and grains
- ginseng
- most fish, especially wild salmon, cod, and haddock
- turmeric
- most shellfish, especially oysters
- asparagus
- vitamin D enhanced milk and milk products
- most leafy greens, especially spinach and kale
- dark chocolate
- fermented nuts and seeds
- garlic
So, now it can be expected that you have a fair idea of how to deal with the problem of male infertility.