It’s easy to describe pregnancy: it occurs when a sperm fertilizes an egg. But the process that brings it about is not so simple. For a man to get his partner pregnant:

• He must produce a large number of healthy sperm and deliver them close to the woman’s cervix.
• The sperm must be active enough to reach the egg and then strong enough to penetrate the egg.

Infertility can result if there’s a hitch in sperm quality, production or delivery. People often assume that infertility is solely a woman’s problem. But male factors account for about 40 percent of infertility cases. Luckily, treatment can help a couple overcome male-factor infertility.

Treatments for male infertility

The right treatment will depend on what is causing infertility. Often surgery or medication may be tried first.

• • Varicocele (a varicose vein in the scrotum)
  • Blockage in the ducts that carry sperm
  • Structural defect present since birth or caused by infection or surgery

• Surgery can be done to fix common problems such as a:

Surgery can often be done using tiny incisions that cause only minimal pain and scarring.

• Medications may be used to treat some men. For example, hormones can be used to correct a low testosterone level. And antibiotics may help if infertility is caused by an infection.

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Tags : infertility, ivf, male

Press Release:

Literature Review Finds No Indication that Soy Decreases Testosterone Levels

Tags : infertility, male, soy

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A new research study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine and led by noted men’s health researcher Dr. Paul Turek has a powerful conclusion: that men diagnosed with infertility suffer intense negative sexual, personal and social strains that might be considered typical for other medical illnesses, including cancer.

Traditionally viewed as a “silent disease” in men, the psychological toll infertility takes on men’s health was previously not well known by medical researchers. Researchers at the University of California San Francisco, in collaboration with Dr. Turek, a nationally recognized urologist, male infertility specialist and founder of the renowned Turek Clinic in San Francisco, conducted the study.

“Since male infertility is such a common problem, it is important to understand the real impact it has on male health and relationships,” Dr. Turek said. “This study makes clear, for the first time, that male infertility is a ‘disease’ like any other, silent or not, and can have a serious effect on the overall well-being of the individual, the couple, and the family.”

The study shows that the diagnosis of infertility increases social strain in male partners of infertile couples. Male partners in couples with perceived, isolated male factor infertility have a lower sexual and personal quality of life compared to male partners of couples without perceived male factor infertility.

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Tags : infertility, male

You have probably heard that wearing boxer shorts can improve semen quality. This may help in a way as elevated body temperature can affect sperm count, but relying on the use of boxers to enhance sperm health is not really a very promising idea. Improving male fertility is actually a bit more complex, and it definitely needs more than just a change in undergarments.

Eat fruits and vegetables regularly. Studies have shown that men who ate more fruits and vegetables have better sperm quality compared to men who don’t. This has been attributed to the high antioxidant content of fruits and vegetables, which can reduce oxidative stress and consequently improve sperm count and motility.

Get regular exercise. Adopt a moderate-intensity fitness regimen to keep your body in healthy shape. While it is good to push yourself to exercise daily, it is not also advisable to go all the way with too intense workouts.

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Tags : fertility, male, sperm

Teflon, pesticides, and plastics have all been linked to messing with male fertility. Now, not only are men in danger of extinction, but their ability to reproduce is seriously being compromised. In my artcle Men will become extinct: Appreciate them now, I reported about the fact that males genes will die out in the future. Before their genes die out their ability to reproduce may vanish.

A leading scientist has warned that chemicals found in many foods, cosmetics, and cleaning products are a real threat to male fertility. Professor Richard Sharpe, of the Medical Research Council, says that these hormone-disrupting chemicals are “feminizing” boys in the womb, leading to rising rates of birth defects, testicular cancer, and low sperm counts. ?

Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome
It is thought that all these conditions, collectively called Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome (TDS), are linked to disruption of the male sex hormone testosterone. Professor Sharpe concluded that exposure to a cocktail of hormone-disrupting chemicals in the environment is likely to be at least partly to blame by blocking the action of testosterone in the womb. ?

Strange frogs and bears
The strongest evidence showing that exposure to environmental chemicals can lead to disruption of endocrine function comes from the bizarre changes seen in a number of wildlife species, such as male fish transforming into females; frogs developing a variety of defects like multiple testes or ovaries; and hermaphrodite bears, just to name a few.

We’re destroying ourselves

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Tags : infertility, male, plastic

CHICAGO, June 18 (UPI) — Fatherhood might be far from the minds of most young men, but their behavior when young can contribute to later male infertility, a U.S. researcher said.

Dr. Suzanne Kavic, a reproductive specialist at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, said heat generated by hot tubs, excessive laptop use, or using boxers over briefs can impact sperm production, making it difficult to conceive down the road.

Other leading causes of male infertility include: enlarged varicose veins in the scrotum, genital injuries or defects, certain sexually transmitted infections, an infection or inflammation of the prostate, immune and hormonal disorders and erectile dysfunction.

“Medications for depression

, blood pressure and certain heart conditions may lower libido or cause impotence,” Kavic said in a statement. “Men should talk with their physicians to see if medication is necessary or if they can switch to another with fewer side effects.”

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Tags : infertility, male, medication

EMD Serono is partnering with Men’s Health Network on a patient education campaign aimed at raising awareness of male infertility.

The effort, dubbed “In The Know: What No One Tells You About Male Fertility,” is launching this week, which is Men’s Health Week. The campaign features a 20-page booklet written in conjunction with the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction, a website (www.FertilityLifeLines.com/intheknow) and a PR campaign by Baer Consulting. It’s being supported by a satellite media tour, and aimed at reaching couples through health titles and local news outlets.

FertilityLifeLines.com is EMD Serono’s fertility awareness site, and includes branding for Gonal-f, a hormone treatment indicated for both male and female infertility. Patients can get the booklet by registering at the site or by calling a toll-free number. EMD Serono reps are advising physicians of the booklet’s availability.

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Tags : education, fertility, male

Tight briefs, red meat, varicose veins or stress? Which has been shown to actually reduce a man’s sperm count and lead to infertility?

Boxers or briefs? Many believe that the wrong answer to this question can lead to an increased risk of low sperm count or infertility. But are they right?

(Getty Images)

Low sperm count is an uncomfortable subject for some men to discuss, which may be why so many urban legends have sprung up about its causes.

While many grow up hearing that drinking Mountain Dew or shunning boxers can create barriers to fatherhood later on, studies haven’t backed up those claims.

Meanwhile, a lesser-known condition that needs a doctor’s diagnosis often goes overlooked.

“The most common treatable cause of male factor infertility is called varicocele,” said Dr. Dan Williams, director of male reproductive medicine and surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

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Tags : infertility, male, myths

ScienceDaily (June 15, 2009) — It was long believed that conception does not involve a meeting of equals. The egg is a relatively large, impressive biological factory compared with the tiny sperm, which delivers to the egg one copy of the father’s genes. However, a new study from Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah reveals that the father’s sperm delivers much more complex genetic material than previously thought. The findings could lead to a diagnostic test to help couples deal with infertility.

Researchers discovered particular genes packaged in a special way within the sperm, and that may promote the development of the fetus.

“Our findings show that the father plays an active role in packaging his genome to help ensure a healthy baby,” says study co-leader Brad Cairns, Ph.D., investigator with HCI and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and professor of oncological sciences at the University of Utah. “However, they also raise the possibility that a man’s aging, health and lifestyle may alter this packaging and negatively affect fertility and embryo development.”

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Tags : infertility, male, research

By NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Jun 11, 2009 - 4:42:03 PM

NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Study Shows Abnormal Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Half of Men Taking an SSRI

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - NEW YORK — As many as half of all men taking the antidepressant medication paroxetine (trade names Seroxat, Paxil) may have increased sperm DNA fragmentation — a predictor of compromised fertility. Research led by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center also found that the changes are reversible with normal levels of sperm returning after discontinuation of the drug.

The study is currently published in the online edition of the journal Fertility & Sterility, and represents one of the first scientific investigations into the effect of antidepressants on sperm quality.

“It’s fairly well known that SSRI antidepressants negatively impact erectile function and ejaculation. This study goes one step further, demonstrating that they can cause a major increase in genetic damage to sperm,” says Dr. Peter Schlegel, the study’s senior author. “Although this study doesn’t look directly at fertility, we can infer that as many as half of men taking SSRIs have a reduced ability to conceive. These men should talk with their physician about their treatment options, including non-SSRI depression medications.”

Dr. Schlegel is chairman of the Department of Urology and professor of reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, and urologist-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

The study followed 35 healthy male volunteers who were given paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), for five weeks. The drug was used because of its relatively short half-life and because it has previously shown to exert the strongest effect in delaying ejaculation. DNA fragmentation, defined as missing pieces of genetic code in the sperm DNA, was measured using an assay called deoxyuride-50-triphosphate biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL).

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Tags : depression, fertility, male