Male Fertility Clinic
There are many conditions which are helped by Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Naturopathy and Therapeutic Massage. Select from the list on the left to get detailed information regarding the different concerns with male fertility and their treatment through complimentary healthcare.
Treatment
Male infertility factors are easier to diagnose with modern diagnostics than female infertility, but are considerably more difficult to resolve. In cases of mechanical obstruction such as varioceles, the only treatment choice is surgery (which can worsen sperm counts because with every surgery, there is a risk of scarring and adhesion formation.
Read more
overview
Many are surprised to discover that 40% of infertility cases are due to male related factors. In men, infertility is defined as the inability to fertilize the ovum. Sterility is another term used when discussing male fertility and is defined as the lack of sperm production. A males fertility depends upon three things: adequate production of sperm by the testes, unobstructed movement of sperm through the seminal tract, and satisfactory delivery of healthy sperm into the vagina that are able to reach, penetrate and fertilize a women’s egg. This complex process involves many factors, including the release of hormones that trigger the growth of reproductive organs and the production of sperm.
Sperm must be properly shaped and able to move toward the egg for fertilization to occur. If the shape and structure (morphology) of the sperm are abnormal or the movement (motility) is impaired, sperm may not be able to reach or penetrate the egg.
There has to be enough sperm in the semen to make pregnancy likely. A normal sperm concentration is greater than or equal to 20 million sperm per milliliter of semen. A sperm count of 10 million or fewer sperm per milliliter of semen indicates low sperm concentration (subfertility). Rarely, a man is unable to produce any sperm at all.
Read more
Treatment
Unfortunately, modern medicine has no method of increasing a man's sperm count. Recommended treatments depend upon how low the count is. If it is only moderately decreased then the focus of the treatment is to improve the fertility potential of the female, and in those men with moderately low sperm counts, superovulation plus intrauterine insemination is recommended.
Read more
Low Sperm Count
Most infertility evaluations for men include an analysis of their semen. One or more samples are sent to a laboratory and analyzed for: deficient sperm count, poor sperm morphology, and insufficient sperm motility. Low sperm count (oligospermia) is one cause of male infertility. Under current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, sperm counts are considered normal if there are more than 20 million sperm per milliliter. A sperm count of 10 million or fewer sperm per milliliter of semen indicates low sperm concentration (subfertility). Rarely, a man is unable to produce any sperm at all. Although it takes only a single sperm to fertilize an egg (ovum), the odds of a single sperm reaching the egg are very low. For this reason, having a low sperm count decreases your chance of getting your partner pregnant. The lower your sperm count, the more likely you'll have trouble fathering a child.
Worldwide sperm counts have dropped 50 percent in the last 35 years. Sperm are just as susceptible as eggs to environmental influences. Deficient sperm production may be affected by factors such as radiation and other environmental toxins, an undescended testis, a varicocele, trauma-induced or infectious testicular atrophy, prolonged fever or endocrine disorders affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Low sperm counts can also be aggravated, if not caused by, factors such as tight-fitting underwear, (which raises the scrotal temperature), urogenital infections, poor diet and prescription drugs (e.g., anti-hypertensives and anti-inflammatories can drastically reduce sperm count). Even antihistamines can negatively affect sperm count by diminishing the quantity of seminal fluid. Stress, lack of sleep, and overuse of alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana decrease sperm production, as well.
Treatment
There is currently no clear-cut Western medical method to increase male sperm motility. Suggested remedies include Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) methods like ICSI and IVF. However, these methods are expensive and place the selection of the successful sperm in a lab technician's hands, rather than in nature's.
Read more
Low Sperm Motility
Sperm Motility is the ability of sperm to move in an effective way toward the egg. The greater the number of sperm moving toward the egg, the greater the opportunities for conception. A test result showing low sperm motility (also known as asthenospermia) is an indication that the sperm are not moving quickly or in a forward fashion (toward the egg). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), motility which is greater than 50% is considered within normal parameters.
With so much attention paid to female fertility, men can feel they are immune to the effects of delaying fatherhood. However, a 2006 study in Human Reproduction suggested that the genetic quality of sperm declines as a man ages. The researchers also found that poor sperm motility was the most notable change.
Sperm motility is graded from A to D, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Manual:
- Grade A: (fast progressive) sperm are those which swim forward fast in a straight line - like guided missiles.
- Grade B: (slow progressive) sperm swim forward, but either in a curved or crooked line, or slowly (slow linear or non linear motility).
- Grade C: (nonprogressive) sperm move their tails, but do not move forward (local motility only).
- Grade D: (immotile) sperms do not move at all.
*Sperm of grade C and D are considered poor.
Treatment
The typical Western medical treatment for abnormal sperm morphology is quite limited. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) like ICSI and IVF are generally recommended if sperm morphology continues to be problematic after multiple semen analyses. However, with a Traditional Chinese approach like the one at the Family Fertility Clinic, you can experience an increase in favourable sperm morphology safely and naturally.
Read more
Poor Sperm Morphology
Sperm Morphology is a description of the size and shape of the sperm and is another indicator of male fertility. Normal sperm have a smooth, oval head shape and have no abnormalities of the mid-piece or tail. Abnormal sperm may have head or tail defects such as a large or misshapen head or a crooked /double tail. World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines indicate that normal sperm morphology is present if 30% of sperm have normal morphology or ideal sperm shape. If sperm are abnormally shaped, it can ultimately impair the ability of the sperm to reach and fertilize an egg.
Causes of abnormal morphology include:
- Testicular abnormalities that are present at birth (congenital)
- Enlargement of veins within the scrotum (varicocele)
- High fever
- Illicit drug use
- Infections
It is interesting to note that a study published in the Human Reproduction indicates that sperm morphology is a significant predictor to fertilization through IVF methods. In other words, the better your morphology, the better the chance of conception when using Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) like IVF.
Treatment
As mentioned above, surgical intervention is the most commonly accepted treatment when it comes to a Western medical approach. But given that pregnancy rates post-surgery are not significantly different than those who opt for no surgery, it is no wonder males suffering from varicocele are looking for less-invasive options.
Read more
Varicoceles
A varicocele is a bundle of enlarged, varicose veins located around the testicle. Varicocele is caused by defects in the valves in the veins of the testicle. This produces an abnormal backflow of blood from the abdomen into the scrotum resulting in a rise in temperature in the testes that may interfere with testosterone levels and the production and maturation of healthy sperm. An increase in temperature will slow down sperm production resulting in a lower number of healthy sperm, making conception more difficult.
About one in six men have a varicocele. For males who are infertile, the figure is higher — about 40 percent. Varicoceles are the most common cause of low sperm production and decreased sperm quality, although not all varicoceles affect sperm production. Most varicoceles develop over time. Fortunately, most are easy to diagnose and, if they cause symptoms, can be repaired surgically. However, well controlled studies of surgery vs. no surgery to repair male varicocele have failed to consistently demonstrate increased pregnancy rates with surgical correction. Some studies have shown better pregnancy rates after surgery, but other studies have shown lower pregnancy rates following surgery. For this reason, males are looking for treatment alternatives like the ones found at the Family Fertility Clinic.
Treatment
Treatment for the majority of the above issues requires surgical intervention or the use of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). However, with the help of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and proper nutritional advice provided at the Family Fertility Clinic, you will be providing your body with all of the raw materials necessary to recover faster from surgery and enhance your ability to fertilize the egg.
Structural Abnormalities
The physiology in and around the male reproductive system is a complex network of ducts and structures and, if not in working order, will have an effect on male fertility. Structural issues can be due to genetic factors, trauma or idiopathic reasons (unknown cause). More common abnormalities include:
- Ductal Abnormalities/Blockages - A blockage in one of the many tubes and ducts in the male reproductive tract can lead to a condition called obstructive azoospermia (no sperm), which is another cause of male infertility. Blockages may be caused by a variety of reasons, including scar tissue, a result of surgery or a history of infection. Adhesions are created by the above causes and act as barricades, preventing sperm from being added to the seminal fluid. Males who have had a vasectomy classify as having obstructive azoospermia. Surgery is often the remedy in many of these cases but TCM and nutritional advice can be used post-operatively for a faster recovery.
- Testicular Torsion - Torsion occurs when the testes twist on themselves and cut off the blood supply. Approximately 30 - 40% of males with a history of testicular torsion have an abnormal semen analysis.
- Cryptorchidism - This condition, also referred to as undescended testis, occurs when one or both testes fail to “drop” to the normal position in the scrotum. Instead, the testis remains in the abdomen or groin area. Cryptorchidism can result in male infertility due to the higher temperature created when the testes are not located in the scrotum which will reduce the number of viable sperm.
- CAVD - This rare condition is known as congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAVD) and is diagnosed when there is a lack of the tubes which connects the sperm with the semen. Men diagnosed with CAVD will often go the surgical route to conceive with ART options like ICSI.
- Congenital Defects - Conditions such as Kleinfelter’s syndrome and Steroli-cell syndrome both result in azoospermia (no sperm production) and are genetically based. Men with either of these conditions may still father a child using reproductive technology.
Treatment
Western medicine will remedy this problem by decreasing the strength of the immune system. Prednisolone, a cortisone-like drug, can be used to lower the levels of sperm antibodies in the body. Several research studies have shown that treatment with prednisolone can decrease sperm antibody concentrations and improve the chances of achieving a natural pregnancy.
Read more
Sperm Antibodies
This category of male fertility occurs when the male’s own immune system attacks his sperm cells causing them to have decreased motility or to clump together, making conception very difficult. Past surgery or vasectomy are known causes of this problem but sometimes it will occur for no apparent reason.
Vasectomy is the most common cause of sperm antibodies. The development of sperm antibodies as it relates to vasectomy is believed to happen in the following way:
- Vasectomies work by severing the vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the urethra.
- After a vasectomy, the sperm continue to be produced but instead of being confined to the reproductive passages, they make their way out into the body.
- Once the sperm are discovered by the body’s immune system, it perceives the sperm as foreign invaders leading to the body developing sperm antibodies to attack them.
These sperm antibodies will often persist, even if a man restores sperm flow by a successful reversal procedure (vasovasotomy). This can result in infertility.
Some experts believe that in most cases, the presence of these antibodies will not prevent conception unless a large percentage of sperm are affected.
Treatment
Treatment for ED is a billion dollar business these days and the drugs used to treat this condition are now common household names. However, drugs are only one of the many choices that males have when treating ED with Western medicine. Other choices include:
Read more
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is a general term which includes disorders commonly known as impotence, low libido and ejaculatory issues. There are many different reasons why men develop ED and contrary to most assumptions, advancing age is not the only factor. ED can be caused by psychological problems such as anxiety, guilt, or low self-esteem, or as a result of such problems as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Certain medications may also increase the incidence of impotence and is known to be a side effect of common medications such as antidepressants.
Other potential causes of ED include:
- Alcohol and tobacco use
- Brain or spinal-cord injuries
- Hypogonadism (which leads to lower testosterone levels)
- Liver or kidney failure
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Radiation therapy
- History of stroke
- Some types of prostate or bladder surgery