Infertility is much more common than most people think, and it’s a serious issue for a lot of couples. It can prevent you from having children and cause frustration and confusion between you and your partner on who is the cause of the problem. Fortunately, a lot of infertility issues in both men and women can be treated successfully. If a woman has an infertility problem, an OB-GYN can help find the root cause and offer treatments. Urologists provide this service for men.
Male Infertility
Male infertility refers to the inability of a male to conceive a child with a female after at least a year of trying without the use of contraception. In order for you to conceive with a female with no infertility issues of her own:
- You must be able to produce healthy sperm.
- Your sperm should be able to travel into your semen before ejaculation.
- You should be able to produce enough healthy sperm.
- Your sperm should be functional and must be able to move.
An issue with any of these factors can cause infertility. Fortunately, most problems associated with these factors are treatable. Treatment will involve getting to the root cause of the infertility problem. There are a plethora of issues that can affect one or more of the factors listed above. They include:
- Aging (fertility declines as you get older)
- Blockages preventing the sperm from traveling
- Smoking cigarettes
- Emotional stress
- Erectile dysfunction
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Low sperm production
- Obesity
- Varicocele (swelling in testicle veins)
- Vitamin deficiency
- Low-T (low testosterone)
- Certain infections (mumps or prostatitis)
- Certain medications
A lot of treatments and lifestyle changes can help with infertility in men. To treat you effectively, your urologist will first get to the root cause of your infertility. Then, he will recommend effective treatment. Some of the most common treatments include:
- Lifestyle changes – Avoid smoking, drinking, hot baths, and DHEA products for weight training. Maintain a healthy weight and manage your stress better.
- Surgery – To correct varicocele or blockages
- Medications – Hormone medication to treat low-T and antibiotics and other medications to treat certain infections (like prostatitis and mumps)
- Assisted reproductive techniques – Intrauterine insemination, in-vitro fertilization, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment – This condition prevents you from getting and maintaining an erection – a crucial part of sexual intercourse. There are a variety of treatments for ED that your urologist can offer.
Infertility Treatment in North Carolina
If you are having trouble conceiving and want to get tested for infertility, visit Dr. Richard Natale’s practice today. Dr. Natale is well-known for his excellent patient care and effective treatments.
Dr. Natale specializes in a variety of men’s health issues, including erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s Disease, urinary incontinence, low testosterone, and infertility.
To make an appointment, call us at (704) 786-5131. You can also request an appointment online. We look forward to serving you in our clinic in Concord!
