According to the World Health Organization, currently the frequency of infertility in marriage is about 15%. Moreover, this indicator in Russia is an order of magnitude higher than in foreign countries - 17.4%.
Infertility is the cause of many socio-psychological problems in the family. And if you don’t do an infertility test on time and start treatment, then family problems will soon develop into conflicts, anxiety, and depression. Often such marriages end in divorce.
If within a period of whiter than 12 months of regular sexual relations the couple did not have a planned pregnancy, then most likely one of the spouses (less often both) has insufficient fertility. According to medical statistics, in 50% of cases, the culprits of infertility are men. In such conditions, the best way out will be an examination to identify the causes of reproductive dysfunction.
Modern medicine has enough resources to treat infertility. Therefore, if a problem occurs, the best solution is to contact an andrologist .
At the examination stage, the necessary tests for infertility are given. First of all, sperm is examined, its activity, fertility and other parameters are evaluated. Next, microbiological, genetic, hormonal, immunological studies, x-ray and ultrasound diagnostics are carried out. If necessary, a testicular biopsy is performed.
An analysis of infertility and other examinations of the patient will help the doctor identify the following, most common, causes of male infertility :
- Varicocele, or expansion of the venous vessels of the spermatic cord.
- Urinary tract infections, including sexually transmitted diseases.
- Systemic diseases (cirrhosis, tuberculosis, chronic diseases, nervous diseases and others).
- Therapeutic treatment using radiation, hormone and chemotherapy, tranquilizers, drugs.
- Anabolic steroid.
- High fever in the patient in the last 6 months.
- Surgery
- Congenital malformations.
- Ecology, including exposure to radiation.
- Alcohol abuse and smoking.
The first stage of the examination is aimed at confirming infertility caused by a male factor. To do this, an analysis of sperm is made , which assesses the quality and quantity of sperm, the fertilizing ability of sperm and other parameters.
Sperm analysis results may include the following items:
1) Norm. That is, all parameters are within acceptable limits and the sperm of a man is quite fruitful.
2) Azoospermia. There are no sperm in the ejaculate.
3) Changes in one of the parameters (quantity, quality, mobility, morphology and others).
4) Violation of several qualitative parameters of spermogram at the same time.
When collecting for research, it is required to collect all the seminal fluid released during ejaculation in a sterile plastic cup with a wide neck, and deliver it to the laboratory within 20 minutes. On the container with sperm should indicate the exact time of ejaculation. When transporting, the container is best kept in a jacket pocket, where the temperature is close to the body.
An infertility test will be less reliable if you get sperm by interrupted intercourse, oral caress, using a condom. Foreign substances trapped in semen can adversely affect research results.
Before passing the analysis for infertility, a man should refrain from ejaculation for several days. For the validity of the studies, the sperm delivery procedure should be repeated four times with intervals of 2-3 weeks. If deviations are detected, the study procedure should be performed twice more.
If the study of spermogram revealed any abnormalities, then the doctor may prescribe additional tests. With infertility in men, the examination is carried out in the following areas:
- General analysis of the urine of the patient;
- General blood test of the patient;
- Scraping from the urethra;
- Diagnosis of scraping DNA;
- Blood ELISA for the determination of hormones;
- Microscopy of prostate secretion after massage;
- Three single spermogram with a repeat in 2-3 weeks.
- Wassermann reaction;
- Genitourinary ultrasonography;
- Scrotal thermometry, biopsy and puncture of the epididymis;
- Other analyzes.
It should be noted that in modern medicine, virtually all forms of infertility in men are treatable. In extreme cases, there is the opportunity to resort to artificial insemination. However, do not forget about the prevention of male infertility:
- Less often use a mobile phone;
- Avoid overheating of the genitals;
- Do not abuse alcohol, drugs;
- Do not wear tight underwear;
- Do not stay too long at the computer;
- Protect from infections, including genital;
- Be wary of a fever with a cold or flu.