Effects of overlooking male infertility

Effects of overlooking male infertility

A couple from Andhra Pradesh was trying for a child for more than 20 years of their married life. They underwent various treatments but could not get the desired outcomes.

The wife was overweight and had diabetes mellitus along with hypothyroidism. This led doctors to believe that she was the one who required treatment for infertility. After years of unsuccessful treatments, the couple opted to consult with Nova IVF Fertility, Bangalore.

The treatment offered at Nova IVF Fertility, Bangalore

The couple was emotionally drained after 20 plus years of unsuccessful attempts. When they approached Nova, the counsellors found both to be emotionally disturbed and unstable. Sessions were conducted for the couple by the expert panel of counsellors at Nova so that they could prepare themselves for the treatments going forward.

Post the counselling sessions, the fertility experts tested both the husband and the wife. The wife underwent a hormone analysis while the husband underwent semen analysis. This showed azoospermia, indicating complete absence of sperms in the ejaculate. Further tests indicated that he was also suffering from obstructive azoospermia. Which meant that the sperm production in testis was normal but due to a blockage in the epididymis, sperms were absent in ejaculate.

Advice offered at Nova IVF Fertility, Bangalore

The couple was advised for IVF / ICSI with Testicular Sperm Aspiration (TESA) – TESA is a technique in which sperms are retrieved from the testis by inserting a needle into the testis and aspirating fluid and tissue using negative pressure.

The couple finally conceived in the first attempt of IVF and were blessed with a healthy baby.

Infertility is not gender specific

Fertility issues should not be approached with a gender bias. Both male and female infertility are equally possible and prevalent. Some of the contributing factors are age, chromosomal issues, congenital abnormalities, hormonal imbalances, certain diseases and medication, etc.

Doctors need to spread awareness regarding the fact that infertility is a disease that affects both men and women. It is a misconception that only women suffer from fertility issues and men do not. In fact, male factor infertility contributes to around 40% to 45% of cases of infertility around the globe. So, along with the hormone analysis and tests for the female partner, male partners should also undergo tests like semen analysis, so that patients get a correct diagnosis.

Both, the male and female reproductive organs need to be healthy to be able to produce healthy sperms and eggs, which goes on to produce a good quality embryo. Therefore, infertility should never be considered only as a woman’s issue. In this case, due to misguided treatments and beliefs, the couple had to wait almost 20 years before experiencing the joys of parenthood.

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