infertility Archives | St Pete Urology

What could a male do to help correct a low sperm count

St Pete Urology — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:58:52 +0000

A low sperm count, also known as oligospermia, can be an indicator of male fertility issues. In order to help correct this condition, there are several steps that can be taken.

Increase intake of foods rich in ingredients essential for sperm production. These include folic acid, selenium, lycopene, zinc, vitamins C, D, and E, and healthy fatty acids. Eating a diet rich in these nutrients can help to improve sperm count and overall sperm health.
Take more antioxidant-rich foods. Free radicals can damage sperm cells, but antioxidants can neutralize them and prevent damage. Foods high in antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, lutein, vitamin C, and beta-cryptoxanthin, can help to improve sperm count. Additionally, taking a fenugreek supplement has been shown to be a natural remedy for poor sperm health and increased sperm count.
Keep things cool. The testicles need to be kept at temperatures lower than 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit in order to produce healthy sperm. Avoiding hot tubs, prolonged hot baths, tight clothing, and prolonged sitting can help to keep the scrotum cool and improve sperm production.
Get enough exercise. Regular exercise can boost testosterone levels, increase sperm count and improve overall sperm health. Aim for at least 3 times a week for about 1 hour each, with focus on weight training, running, jogging, and strength training. However, it is important to avoid over-exercising as it can lower testosterone levels.
Avoid exposure to toxins. Pesticides, heavy metals, and plastics can impact sperm count and quality. To prevent exposure, choose organic foods, steer clear of plastic containers and packaging, and minimize contact with heavy metals.
Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can disrupt hormonal balance, potentially causing a low sperm count. Shedding excess weight through diet and exercise can enhance sperm count and overall health.
Consult with a specialist. If you suspect you have a low sperm count, it is best to consult with a specialist such as a urologist or reproductive endocrinologist. They can perform a semen analysis, identify the underlying cause and recommend appropriate treatment options.

Sperm count is the average number of sperm cells in a single semen sample. Doctors routinely assess it as an indicator of male fertility. A normal sperm count consists of at least 15 million sperm cells per milliliter of semen or a minimum of 39 million per ejaculate. A count below this level signifies a low count and indicates fertility problems.

For more information on erectile dysfunction, male infertility and various urological disorders, visit the site “St Pete Urology.”

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What treatment options are available for male infertility?

St Pete Urology — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 11:32:10 +0000

Have you and your partner been experiencing challenges conceiving a child ? There are many potential reasons for this but one obvious is basic health issues connected with fertility

What treatment options are available for male infertility?

Surgery

In cases where infertility is due to obstructions in the sperm transport pathway, surgical correction can help to restore fertility.

For example, if the vas deferens is blocked in a manner that prevents sperm from reaching the urethra, a qualified urologist can conduct an operation to remove the blockage. Likewise, a varicocele can lead to lower sperm production but often be repaired surgically within the spermatic cord leading to an enhancement to your fertility.

Surgery may also be performed to retrieve sperm directly from the testicles or epididymis using a sperm retrieval surgical technique.

Your doctor may do a transurethral resection of the ejaculatory duct to help eliminate an obstruction in your ejaculatory duct, improving the chances of any inflamed or chronically dilated areas in your ejaculatory duct to normalize.

A similar procedure—the transurethral resection of the seminal vesicles—may also be an option to help eliminate an obstruction in the seminal tract or in a strategic area, enhancing fertility.

Hormone therapy and medications

You may need hormone medications or hormone replacement therapy if your infertility is due to high or low levels of certain hormones or problems with how your body synthesizes hormones.

In men with mild sperm abnormalities, the drug clomiphene citrate can in many cases help to boost semen quality, improve sperm count and enhance sperm motility.

If the infertility is due to problems in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may be administered, usually combined with recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (rhFSH). When prescribed, the treatment can help achieve normal blood hormone levels so that your body can better produce sperm.

For many protocols, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is injected three times per week under the skin for between six months and one year. Then blood tests will be run and the dose adjusted as necessary.

After six months of treatment, typically your urologist will check and inspect your semen. If sperm is still absent, doctors will in some cases add recombinant human FSH to the injected hCG.

Assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs)

Assisted reproduction involves obtaining sperm by normal ejaculation, surgical extraction, or donor individuals, depending on the specific case.

The sperm can then be inserted into the female genital tract or used to conduct in vitro fertilization or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection.

The sperm collected from ejaculated semen or obtained using a needle inserted into the testicle is processed and introduced to the eggs by intrauterine insemination (IUI), in-vitro fertilization (IVF), or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is done during ovulation with sperm injected directly up the uterus. The woman is first prescribed targeted medications to increase the number of eggs she releases.

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) involves mixing sperm with multiple eggs collected from your partner in a plastic dish (“test-tube”). The fertilized eggs are then inserted into the uterus. Of course, IVF requires viable sperm.

In intracytoplasmic sperm injection, a single sperm is injected via a tiny needle into an egg. The fertilized egg is then implanted in the uterus. The procedure is appropriate when the sperm count is extremely low or abnormal.

At St. Pete Urology, we work with couples to optimize their reproductive health.

Contact us today if you have issues conceiving and for more information on the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and other urological problems.

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What Causes Low Sperm Count?

St Pete Urology — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 15:25:50 +0000

Low sperm count, which means having fewer than normal sperm in the ejaculate, decreases the likelihood that your sperm will fertilize your partner’s ovum and result in pregnancy. But it may also be related to your overall health, as it is often characterized by symptoms such as pain, swelling or a lump in the testicle area, low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, or decreased facial or body hair. Your sperm count is lower than normal if you have fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen.

What are the causes of low sperm count?

1. Emotional stress and inadequate sleep

Prolonged or severe emotional stress may interfere with the hormones needed to produce sperm, while depression lowers sperm concentration. Inadequate sleep makes it difficult to maintain a healthy weight and may lead to obesity. Obesity impairs fertility by directly impacting sperm and causing changes in the hormones that promote sperm production.

2. Overexposure to harmful chemicals

Chronic exposure to pesticides and other harmful chemicals can lead to low sperm count. For instance, prolonged exposure to industrial chemicals, such as xylene, toluene, benzene, herbicides, pesticides, organic solvents, BPA, perfluorinated chemicals, lead, and painting materials may lead to low sperm count. Likewise, when exposure to radiation or x-rays lowers sperm production, it can take years for sperm production to normalize.

3. Lack of exercise

Exercise plays a huge role in the health of your sperm. Men who sit for longer periods tend to have a lower sperm count than those who are active in their daily life. This means you can improve your numbers through moderate routine exercise every day, such as a daily walk for lunch or daily yoga in the evenings. Frequent exercise will increase your circulation, boost your mood, and increase your sperm count.

4. Overheating of the testicles

Exposure to high temperatures impairs sperm production and function. This is why frequent use of hot tubs or saunas temporarily lowers sperm count. Similarly, wearing tight clothing, sitting for long periods or working on a laptop for a long period of time may raise the temperature around the scrotum and reduce sperm production.

5. Drug and alcohol use

Anabolic steroids that are taken to stimulate muscle growth and can cause testicular shrinkage and decreased sperm production. Use of cocaine or marijuana also lowers sperm number and quality, while excessive drinking of alcohol lowers testosterone levels and hampers sperm production. Men who smoke tend to have a lower sperm count than those who do not.

6. Infection, medications and prior surgery

Some infections interfere with sperm production and sperm health. They include epididymitis (inflammation of epididymis), orchitis (inflammation of testicles), sexually transmitted infections (like gonorrhea, Chlamydia and HIV), and mumps infection. Also, long-term anabolic steroid use, cancer medications, testosterone replacement therapy, some ulcer medications, some antifungal and antibiotic medications, and other medications can hinder sperm production and lower sperm count.

Prior surgeries such as a vasectomy, scrotal or testicular surgery, inguinal hernia repair, prostate surgery, and large abdominal surgery for testicular or rectal cancer may affect sperm production. Similarly, tubes that carry sperm may be blocked by injury from surgery, trauma, prior infections, or abnormal development such as cystic fibrosis. Spinal cord injuries, diabetes and surgeries can block the normal flow of sperm and lead to retrograde (backward) ejaculation.

7. Certain medical conditions

A varicocele, the swelling of veins that drain the testicle, impairs testicular temperature regulation and causes low sperm count. Anti-sperm antibodies, which are immune cells that mistakenly identify sperm as harmful invaders, may destroy sperm and lead to low sperm count.

Undescended testicles, Peyronie’s disease, sperm duct problems, vas deferens blockages, unhealthy prostate, high blood pressure, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, tumors that affect male reproductive organs directly, and hormonal imbalances may impair sperm production and lower sperm count.

What should you do to improve your sperm count?

Eat healthy
Exercise regularly and minimize your sitting time
Don’t smoke
Reduce or abstain from alcohol
Avoid illicit drugs
Use protection (condoms) during sexual intercourse
Manage stress
Get enough sleep
Maintain a healthy weight
Avoid exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, and other toxins
Keep your laptop away from your lap
Speak with your doctor about medications that can affect your sperm count
Avoid frequent hot showers or hot tubs.
Avoid tight pants

Maintaining a high sperm count is not necessarily difficult. All you need is some good habits such as healthy eating, regular exercise, comfortable clothes, and avoiding toxins. You should also speak with your urologist about possible remedies.

At St Pete Urology, we offer a variety of treatments for low sperm count, including lifestyle changes and minimally invasive procedures. We make sure to conduct thorough physical exams, medical history, and diagnostic tests to establish the underlying cause of the low sperm count before we recommend treatment. Meet with one of our urologists and start your journey to healthy fertility. For more information on male fertility, erectile dysfunction and other urologic issues, visit the St Pete Urology website.

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Can Male Infertility Be Treated?

St Pete Urology — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 13:39:55 +0000

For many couples, trying and not being able to conceive a child is a stressful, emotional and frustrating time. Up to 15% of couples are infertile, meaning that they cannot conceive a child despite actively trying for a year or more. And for that 15%, over a third of these problems stem from issues caused by male infertility.Male infertility is the inability to conceive a child. There are no obvious signs that a man is infertile, and he may not realize it until he and his partner are unsuccessful in their attempts. However, in some cases like hormonal imbalances, inherited disorders and testicular vein issues, symptoms may exist. These can include erectile dysfunction, difficulty ejaculating, ejaculating in small volumes, decreased sexual desire, or abnormal breast growth.

There are numerous causes that can lead to male infertility. A common and easily reversible symptom is Varicocele, the swelling of the veins that release fluid from the testicles. Infections also can be the cause of male infertility, as they can cause issues with sperm health and production. In some cases, treating the infection can treat the issue, but not in all instances. Another cause of infertility is retrograde ejaculation, an issue where semen enters the bladder during orgasm. Infertility can also be a symptom of certain tumors.

In addition to medical causes for infertility, there are also environmental and lifestyle factors that can be attributed. Extended exposure to industrial chemicals or heavy metals can contribute to low sperm counts. Radiation or x-ray exposure can cause temporary reductions in sperm count. As for lifestyle causes, drug, alcohol, tobacco use and emotional stress can be contributing factors to male infertility.

Although a specific cause of male infertility may not always be clear, there are plenty of treatments available, and a urologist may be able to assist you. Surgery can help to open pathways in constricted veins to allow more semen to flow freely. Antibiotic treatments will clear up any infections that may be causing infertility. Hormone treatments and medications are useful in some cases. And in other cases, assisted reproductive technologies, like the surgical extraction of sperm for fertilization, may be recommended by your urologist.

For many couples the inability to have a child can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. But there is hope. Urologists and fertility doctors have dedicated their lives to helping couples who want to have children. Doctors, like those at St Pete Urology, can help you learn more about your condition and help you start your family. For more information, visit the St Pete Urology website.

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Vasectomy Infographics

St Pete Urology — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 08:21:39 +0000

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Causes Behind Infertility

St Pete Urology — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:09:49 +0000

Video transcription:
“The testicles of adult men produce about half a billion sperm each day. By contrast, women generally release only one egg per month. In order for fertilization and conception to occur, one of the man’s many sperm must join the single egg release in a woman’s oviduct or fallopian tube. There are many causes of infertility and often times the reason for the couple’s inability to conceive is never determined. Some known causes of the infertility in men include low sperm count or non-functioning sperm. Infertility in women can be caused by many factors. Some known causes can include failure to ovulate or blocked fallopian tubes. Severe endometriosis, a disorder where pieces of the uterus lining stray interfere to reproductive organs is also a common cause of infertility in women. Diagnosis and management by a physician may be successful in treating some couples with infertility. Some cases of infertility can be treated with medications or surgery. A physician can also discuss alternatives to natural conception, such as donor sperm, donor egg and adoption.”

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