6 Assisted Reproductive Technologies That Can Help Men With Fertility Issues

Navigating through the period of infertility can be challenging and disheartening for couples, who wish to experience parenthood.

While most people believe infertility issues are mostly female-related, men suffer from it, too. In fact, there are an equal number of men and women struggling with this health issue in today's world, where poor lifestyle choices are making it difficult for couples to conceive. While dealing with infertility can be challenging and overwhelming, there is hope in the form of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that offer valuable options to those wanting to become parents.

Infertility Issues In Men

According to Dr Parul Gupta Khanna, fertility specialist at Nova Southend Fertility and IVF, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, infertility in men is a complex and concerning issue. "It is referred to as the inability to conceive a child naturally after continuous efforts. Various factors can contribute to infertility problems in men, including smoking, drinking alcohol, hormonal imbalance, severe infections, physical trauma to the testicles, genes, exposure to harmful toxins, being overweight, and taking certain medications," the doctor said.

She added that navigating through the challenges associated with infertility can be 'overwhelming and stressful'. "It can be disheartening for couples who wish to experience parenthood. Fertility problems in men can include issues like erectile dysfunctions, poor sperm motility, varicocele (enlargement of the scrotum), testicular tumors, obstruction of sperm ducts, low sperm count and quality, azoospermia(semen does not contain sperm), and poor sperm motility."

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) For Male Infertility

ART can help address the problems associated with infertility in men, the doctor said. Read on.

1. In-vitro fertilization (IVF): In this process, the eggs are collected and fertilised in the laboratory along with the sperm. After the successful fertilisation, the embryos are monitored and transferred to the woman's womb. IVF is generally recommended for those suffering from infertility issues, or when the fertility treatments have been unsuccessful.
2. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): It is a special type of technique used during IVF. In ICSI, a single sperm is directly injected into an egg while dodging some of the problems and challenges sperms face when trying to fertilise. It is particularly beneficial for those with low sperm counts or poor sperm motility.
3. Semen analysis and sperm retrieval techniques: These are the crucial steps in diagnosing infertility in men. The doctors start by analysing the semen to know more about one's sperm health. Methods like testicular sperm extraction (TESE) or percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) are used in case no sperm is found. This helps in collecting sperm directly from the testicles.
4. Cryopreservation: Just like egg freezing, even the sperm can be frozen or stored for future use. This method can be optimal for those undergoing critical medical treatments that can negatively affect their fertility, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
5. Sperm donation: Couples can consider using sperm from the donor in case the male partner has severe fertility issues.
6. Hormonal treatments: If the fertility is harmed due to the hormonal imbalance in the body, your doctor may suggest certain hormonal treatments to improve the production of sperm in men.