Donor Sperm Is Not The Only Answer For Male Infertility
Infertility, or the difficulty of conceiving naturally, affects 10-15% of American men. Such a diagnosis can be distressing, especially for those with the dream of having children. Infertility challenges are almost always related to a man’s sperm. A common solution is to use donor sperm and assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), to achieve pregnancy. Donor sperm, however, removes a genetic link to the child. This can be an important requirement for family planning, especially among men. Male-factor infertility no longer must be a mystery. There are innovative ways and choices to improve fertility or conceive with a partner.
Understanding causes leads to better solutions
Unveiling the possible cause of infertility helps medical professionals recommend the best treatment options. Possible reasons can be categorized into sperm, hormones, genetics, physical, or lifestyle factors. A sperm analysis by a reproductive specialist can reveal an abnormally low sperm count, sperm motility, or shape. These factors all impact the possibility of fertilizing an egg during conception. Hormone imbalances can reduce or even eliminate sperm production. Genetics also plays a role, as there are diseases that prevent sperm production. Physical damage to the reproductive organs and poor health habits all contribute to male infertility. Confirming the underlying cause allows doctors to create custom treatment plans or recommend alternative strategies to achieve pregnancy.
Alternatives to donor sperm
There are different options and strategies men can benefit from to match the underlying reasons for infertility. The first steps often involve alternative options like medical intervention and lifestyle modification. For instance, surgery can correct physical or structural obstructions like varicocele. Hormone medication can regulate or increase hormones responsible for sperm production, increasing the chances of conceiving naturally. Lifestyle modifications have been known to improve male fertility. Exercise, dietary changes, weight management, and cessation of harmful drugs improve overall health. Stress management and limiting exposure to environmental toxins can turn the tide on infertility.
Extracting sperm with surgery
Sometimes, upon analysis, sperm is not present in the seminal fluid. This is a condition called azoospermia. While no sperm is present, this does not mean the testicles are not producing sperm cells. Delicate surgical procedures allow doctors to collect sperm directly from the reproductive organs. For instance, percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) uses a small needle to harvest sperm from the epididymis. When this fails, testicular sperm extraction (TESE) is another option. Using local or general anesthesia, the doctor uses small incisions on the scrotum to access the testicles. A small piece of tissue is removed and reviewed for sperm by a fertility specialist. The sperm uncovered is preserved for IVF.
Turning to advanced reproductive technology
After using the mentioned strategies, IVF is applicable using the patient's sperm over donor sperm. IVF involves creating embryos outside the body using egg and sperm samples. A single embryo is then implanted in the intended mother's uterus for pregnancy. Previous treatments could improve sperm count and quality to make IVF more successful. In situations where PESA or TESE are used, fertility clinics will perform intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a form of IVF. With ICSI-IVF, a single sperm is carefully used to fertilize the provided eggs, increasing the chances of creating viable embryos. Men who require ICSI will enjoy similar success rates to conventional IVF.
Men have options, too
Donor sperm can be fantastic for severe cases of male-factor infertility. However, donor sperm can be a last resort as there are other strategies to achieve pregnancy with a genetic link to the child. Explore all options with a fertility clinic. Through testing, specialists can uncover the underlying cause behind infertility. Finding the potential reasons unlocks multiple strategies proven to help infertile men, including IVF and ICSI. These options are intensive and time-consuming, requiring buy-in from multiple parties. Maintaining an optimistic outlook, seeking professional support, and adopting healthy habits contribute to the goal of achieving pregnancy without donor sperm.
