Infertility in Men

Description

Treatment

Many men diagnosed as sterile in past years would be considered treatable now, even some men with spinal cord injuries. Unless a man produces no sperm at all, recent developments in treatment have made fertility possible for many men willing to undergo treatment and bear the expense. Before undergoing more advanced procedures, some simple lifestyle changes should be attempted.

Timing and Monitoring Sexual Activity for Best Results

Both male and female hormone levels fluctuate according to the time of day and they also vary from day to day and month to month. Some timing tips might be helpful.

Male Hormone Levels and Sexual Activity. Male hormone levels are highest in the morning. (Sexual interest also tends to be higher in the morning.) In one study of men, their sexual activity was highest in October, when conception rates were also high.

Fertility and Seasonal Changes. Different studies have reported higher sperm counts in the winter than in the summer. For women, fertility rates as measured by treatment success are highest in months when days are longest.

Monitoring Basal Body Temperature. To determine the most likely time of ovulation and therefore the time of fertility, a woman is instructed to take her body temperature, called her basal body temperature. This is the bodys temperature as it rises and falls in accord with hormonal fluctuations.

• Each morning before rising, the woman takes her temperature with a specialized basal body thermometer and marks the result on a graph-paper chart. (Of interest is a wrist watch-like device under investigation that measures skin changes to predict ovulation.)
• The woman also notes the days of menstruation and sexual activity.
• The so-called "fertile window" is six days long and starts five days before ovulation and ends the day of ovulation.
• The chances for fertility are considered to be highest between days 10 and 17 in the menstrual cycle (with day 1 being the first day of the period and ovulation occurring about two weeks later). It should be noted, however, that a 2000 study reported that only 30% of women were fertile within the period of time. In the study, women had a 10% chance of ovulating on each day between day 6 and 21. Researchers who conducted the study suggested that each woman track the length of her cycle, which in the general population of women actually runs between 19 and 60 days. A long cycle, for example, suggests a delayed ovulation date.
• Immediately after ovulation the body temperature increases sharply in about 80% of cases. (Some women can be ovulating normally, however, but not show this temperature pattern.)

By studying the temperature patterns after a few months, couples can begin to anticipate ovulation and plan their sexual activity accordingly. Couples must try to avoid becoming fixated on the chart, however, in scheduling their sexual activity. Spontaneity can be lost, and the stress on the relationship can be quite severe, possibly impeding fertility.

Hormone Monitoring Systems for Women. A device called a saliva fertility monitor (Fertility Tracker) uses a microscope to view slides containing saliva and monitors estrogen levels. Home test kits that monitor reproductive hormone levels in the urine (e.g., ClearBlue) are also available. They are less costly than the saliva test but are messier. Monitoring hormones levels helps to determine when a woman is ovulating.

Frequency of Intercourse. The question of how often a couple should have intercourse is in debate. Some experts say that having sex more than two days a week adds no benefits. And, in fact, frequent sexual activity lowers sperm count per ejaculation. Some studies have indicated, however, that having intercourse every day, or even several times a day, before and during ovulation improves pregnancy rates. Although sperm count per ejaculation is low, a constantly replenished semen supply is more likely to result in a fertilized egg.

Dietary Considerations

Everyone should have a healthy diet, rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and replacing animal fats with monounsaturated oils (such olive oil) and fish oils. Choosing fish in any case is always a good choice. One study suggested that fish oil supplements might have some benefits on sperm. Such supplements contain fatty acids that are found in certain oily fish (e.g., salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines).

Certain specific nutrients, vitamins and minerals may also affect fertility. Some studies suggest the following:

• One 2002 study found that infertile men who took zinc (66 mg) and folic acid (5 mg) supplements daily for six months increased their sperm counts by 74%.
• Because oxidant particles may play a harmful role in infertility, some research has focused on antioxidant supplements. They include vitamins C and E, glutathione, selenium, and coenzyme Q10. Vitamin C may help the body absorb trace elements of zinc, copper, magnesium, potassium, and calcium, which improve the vitality and longevity of the sperm. In one study, vitamin E improved fertility in men who had normal sperm count but evidence of excess free radicals. (A 1999 study reported, however, that taking high doses of vitamin C, E, or a combination of the two had no effect on fertility in men with defective sperm.)

It should be noted that, although interesting, these studies do not provide evidence of any causal relationship between these supplements and fertility. A well-balanced diet, rather than individual supplements containing large amounts of individual nutrients, is the best approach.

Other Lifestyle Changes

A man who wants to increase his sperm count should also pursue a healthy lifestyle:

• Avoid cigarettes and any drugs that may affect sperm count or reduce sexual function.
• Overweight men should try to reduce their weight.
• Get sufficient rest, and exercise moderately but regularly. (Those who exercise excessively might cut back, but not stop altogether.)
• Stress may contribute to reduced sperm quality. It is not known if stress reduction techniques can improve fertility but they may help couples endure the difficult processes involved in fertility treatments.
• Although studies now indicate that tight underwear and pants pose no threat to male fertility, there is no harm in wearing looser clothing.
• To prevent overheating of the testes men should avoid hot baths, showers, and steam rooms.

Planning for Stress and Depression

The fertility process is a roller coaster of emotions that are present throughout both failure and success. There are almost no sure ways to predict which couples will eventually conceive. Some couples with multiple problems will overcome great odds, while other, seemingly fertile, couples fail to conceive. Many of the new treatments are remarkable, but a live birth is never guaranteed. The emotional burden on the couple is considerable and some planning is helpful.

Planning for Emotional Turmoil.

• Decide in advance how many and what kind of procedures will be emotionally and financially acceptable and attempt to determine a final limit. Fertility treatments are expensive. A successful pregnancy often depends on repeated attempts and the average cost is about $40,000. As of 2002, eight states required partial or full insurance coverage. (Some couples become addicted to treatment, and continue with fertility procedures until they are emotionally and financially drained.)
• Determine alternatives (adoption, donor sperm or egg, or having no children) as early as possible in the fertility process. This can reduce anxiety during treatments and feelings of hopelessness in case conception does not occur.

Managing Emotional Stress During the Process. Managing negative emotions in both men and women can be viewed as important as medical treatment. The process of fertility evaluation can be very difficult for many men. In one 2003 study, for example, over 10% of men who required a second semen sample were unable to collect a semen sample using masturbation. Such men had had no problems with a first collection, but after being asked for additional samples they suffered severe anxiety during both masturbation in the fertility clinic and during regular sexual activity at home. A number of studies reported a significant association between psychologic factors, particularly anxiety, and fertility treatment failure in women.

Managing the Emotional Effects of the Outcome. After enduring the process, the couple must face the outcome, and even a positive outcome has emotional repercussions.

• Effects of Failure. Needless to say, the emotional stress of failure can be devastating even on the most loving and affectionate relationships and even in those who have prepared for the possibility of failure. Neither the male or female partner should hesitate to seek professional help if the emotional burdens are too heavy.
• Effects of Genetic Testing. As advanced technologies allow testing and greater genetic information at the earliest stage, potential parents will have to learn to deal with the uncertainties of possible chromosomal abnormalities, which may or may not be significant.
• Effects of Successful Treatments. Some studies have indicated that even if successful, some women experience higher stress and fear of failure during pregnancy. According to one 2000 study, however, women who achieved pregnancy using fertility treatments felt increasingly better and had higher self esteem and less anxiety as the pregnancy progressed than women whose pregnancies were not due to medical intervention.
• Effects of Multiple Births. A successful pregnancy that results in a multiple birth introduces new complexities and emotional problems. One study reported a very high rate of depression in women with triplets, particularly if they had little help from others, and especially if their husbands weren't involved.
• Effects on Parenting.Once the fertility treatment-assisted child arrives, parents (both men and women) are more likely to be anxious and to have less confidence than those who conceive naturally.