An introduction to the male infertility

A well known fact about infertility is that both the male and the female partner can be responsible for causing infertility in a couple. It is estimated that among infertile couples about 40 % of the fertility problems are attributed to the male factor. There are various factors that are involved in contributing to male infertility. Broadly they can be classified as follows:

1. Hormonal: defective testosterone synthesis
2. Anatomical: undescended testis or cyrptorchidism, ambiguous genitalia
3. Genetic causes: Klinefelter syndrome where the male posses an extra X chromosome making his chromosomal composition to 47 XXY or the mosaic form 46XY/47XXY. Another example of a genetic defect is Noonan’s syndrome where the chromosomal constitution is a mosaic X0/XY.
4. Environmental: Environmental pollution has recently been known to cause reduction in male fertility, a trend that is being observed world over.

An overview of the anatomy and physiology of the male reproductive system will help you to understand male infertility better.

Anatomy of the male reproductive system

Male reproductive physiology

Different ways of increasing male fertility

Male infertility contributes to about 30% - 50% of problems in infertile couples. Hence it is extremely important for the male partner to identify the problem and look at the different ways in which fertility can be improved.

 How do you increase male fertility?

1. Identify potentially reversible causes that can be treated: There are many conditions that can be treated medically or surgically to improve male fertility. Varicocoeles and cyrptorchidism (undescended testes) are known to raise the temperature of the testes and hence reduce sperm production. Successful surgical management of both these conditions helps in improving male fertility. Hormonal problems can be solved by supplementation with hormones. Diabetes is an important disease that has been linked to infertility in males. Scientists have identified damaged DNA in the sperms of diabetic men. The increasing incidence of diabetes among men in the recent years is a concern as it reduces male fertility. Hence identification and treatment of diabetes goes a long way in increasing fertility in males.
   
   
2. Adopting lifestyle modifications that will help improve male fertility:

• Diet:  Eating junk foods or drinking beer only adds to the infertility issues in males. To increase male fertility, one must have a healthy balanced diet consisting of important trace elements like zinc and antioxidants. Zinc is known to increase sperm counts by stimulating testosterone levels. Zinc supplements can thus be used to improve fertility in men with low sperm counts. Like zinc, selenium is another trace element that has been linked to increasing fertility in males. Vitamin C helps reduce clumping of sperms and serves as an antioxidant thereby improving sperm motility. Other vitamins like E and B12 also play a role in enhancing male fertility. Cereals, eggs, seafoods, vegetables and fresh fruits provide a balanced diet that is required to increasing male fertility. One should as far as possible abstain from tobacco and tobacco containing products, alcohols and drugs as they are known to reduce male fertility
  
  
• Exercise: Daily exercise not only helps in relieving stress and anxiety but also keeps you healthy by avoiding obesity. It promotes increased sperm production which naturally helps in increasing male fertility. A daily exercise for 45 minutes five days a week is good enough to keep you healthy. Avoid cycling for long hours as it is likely to increase the temperature of the testes and hence reduce the sperm count. For similar reasons saunas and hot bath tubs must also be avoided.

Alternative methods of improving male fertility:

1. Acupuncture: It is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that has been used to increase fertility in males. Acupuncture works by improving the hormonal balance and increasing the blood supply to the testes.
2. Aromatherapy: Essential oils have a claming and soothing effect to the mind and have long been used for their medicinal value in the treatment of various disorders. Rose based essential oil is used in improving male fertility.
3. Herbal remedies: Herbs are plants that have medicinal properties. Some herbs that have been used in enhancing male fertility are oat straw, ginger roots, maca tuber etc.
   

References:

http://www.infertilitytutorials.com/2008/05/increasing-male-fertility.html
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/543999
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/27428
www.ayurhelp.com/physiology_male_reprn.htm