How to deal with infertility in Men?

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When couples encounter fertility issues it is often believed that the problem lies in the woman. But it is not always true. Men are equally responsible if the couple is unable to conceive a baby. Each group is attributed for a 30% of infertility rate and the rest is credited to a combination of both male and female or unexplained factors.

What causes infertility among men?

Low Sperm count: When the semen which a man ejaculates has low levels of sperm it causes problems in conceiving. A sperm count fewer than 15 million is considered low.

Low Sperm Mobility: The sperm fails to ‘swim’ well as to reach the egg to fertilise it.

Abnormal Sperm: The sperm may have an abnormal shape which makes it harder for it to move and fertilise an egg.

Medical conditions: Conditions like cancer, testicular infection etc. may cause infertility.

Ejaculation disorders: If ejaculatory ducts are blocked, sperms may be ejaculated into bladder.

Genetic: A man should have an X and Y chromosome. If he has two X and a Y chromosome the testicles will develop abnormally which would result in a low sperm count.

How can male infertility be diagnosed?

Male infertility can be diagnosed by semen analysis and for any abnormalities associated with sperm. Usually, a semen sample is taken and is tested for volume of ejaculation, sperm concentration, sperm mobility, and sperm morphology (the shape and size of sperm).

How can male infertility be treated?

Surgery: A varicocele is the enlargement of veins within a scrotum, causing infertility. It can be surgically corrected or reversed. In cases where no such sperm is present in the ejaculated semen, sperm can be retrieved by using sperm-retrieval techniques.

Treating infections: Any infections in the reproductive tract may be cured using antibiotic treatments. Such treatment does not always restore fertility.

Hormone Treatments: If infertility is caused by hormonal imbalance then medications and hormone replacement would help a great deal.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): ART involves procuring sperm through normal ejaculation, surgical extraction or donations from individuals. This sperm is then inserted into the female genital tract in order to conceive a child.

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There’s no greater news than knowing that you are going to be a father. There will be someone who will call you dad and will look up to you and think of you as their superhero. Can you believe that there’s a life inside your partner that is living and fragile?

Well, the moment is here, but with new life comes new responsibilities, and as a partner, you have to be the strongest one in these upcoming months.

So, the first question is, what should you do during pregnancy?

Nothing starts from the first month itself, but when it does, a lot of things have to change. So, here’s what you should be doing with and for your partner during pregnancy.

1. Always encourage and reassure your partner about the future

While you celebrate the good news, you must not forget that the upcoming months will be very hard for the mother. There will be a time when she might want to back out thinking of the future days, but you must be firm and stand with her. You should keep telling her that ‘everything is going to be alright,’ and you will be there for her through this pregnancy and beyond.

2. Share responsibilities with her

Women indeed do a lot of house chores as compared to men. But the scenario must change when your partner is pregnant. Apart from sharing the heavy lifting chores, help her with regular house chores. Also, help her with her office work.

3. Show love and affection a little more

All little things matter the most while your partner is pregnant, hold her hands while she’s walking or climbing stairs, say I love you a little more often, cook her something she loves to eat because all these things tell her how much she matters to you.

4. Consult the doctor before having sex

While it’s safe to have sex during pregnancy. Still, you should always check with the doctor once as every woman’s body is different. But some women want less sex due to the constant changes in their hormones. So you might want to watch out.

5. When it’s time, make sure you pack everything

Packing mother essentials is necessary, but get ready with your baggage. Put on some razor, toothbrushes, toothpaste, books, cards, magazines, and towels. You can also get some slippers and robes for the mother, and chocolates never hurt. The bags of essentials should be ready at least 2-3 weeks before, as you never know when the baby wants to come out.

Finally, what should you do when your partner is in labor?

Finally, the time has come, and your world is about to change. All that is left to hear is your baby’s first cry. Not really, this may sound so easy, but it isn’t because there is a lot that a woman has to go through when your partner is in labor. So, here are a few things that you can do to help her deal with the pain.

Feed ice-chips to soothe things during labor.
Take her for a short walk to help with contraction.
Gently massage her head, feet, and back.
Hold her hand throughout the process. She needs you to be with her at that moment more than anything.
Do not panic! She doesn’t need to handle that when she is herself hanging by the thin thread of life. Calm yourself and support her through it.

Last piece of advice

Becoming a father is as much a special feeling as being a mother to a newborn is, so it just isn’t your partner who is pregnant; it is you too. However, you may not get to face the pain that she would undergo, so at least you should be the one with whom she can bear it. Be there with her not as the father of the unborn, but as a friend and support her through the ups and downs of pregnancy.