According to WHO data, approximately one in six couples worldwide experiences difficulties with natural conception of a child after a year of trying. This can be related to the health of the woman and the man equally. This aspect needs to be emphasized because the male factor is too often ignored in public consciousness.
The causes of male infertility are numerous and often complex; they may be related to sperm quality, anatomical changes, hormonal imbalance, immunological, genetic, environmental factors, and urinary tract infections.
Male infertility: how often?
On average, about 7% of men face complete infertility. In general, male factors are the cause of roughly half of all difficulties with conception. These data indicate the importance of considering a man's health status during diagnosis and treatment.
Most problems, especially if detected at an early stage, can be treated or managed using specialized methods to fulfill the dream of parenthood.
What are the causes?
Urinary tract infections in men are responsible for a significant percentage of infertility, although they often do not show symptoms immediately. Urethritis, prostatitis, epididymitis, and orchitis can cause, in addition to inflammation, subsequent tissue damage and disruption of reproductive function. Epidemiological studies reveal alarming and often underestimated data: up to 44% of male infertility cases are associated specifically with inflammation of the genital organs.
Infections are found in semen samples in 35% of men experiencing difficulties with conception. The cause may be bacterial infections: Escherichia coli, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma; viral infections: human papillomavirus, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C viruses, and even coronavirus. All these diseases potentially affect sperm quality and fertility, and, unfortunately, are often asymptomatic, making them difficult to detect without targeted diagnostics.
Urogenital infections can reduce male fertility through various mechanisms. Inflammation and tissue damage in the testicles, epididymis, or prostate gland; chronic course — in the absence of diagnosis and treatment — can lead to fibrosis and duct obstruction, preventing the normal passage of sperm. This leads to conditions such as persistent oligospermia and azoospermia.
Viral infections, such as HPV and other genitally-tropic viruses, are directly associated with reduced sperm quality, increased DNA fragmentation, and impaired sperm concentration and motility. If these conditions are not diagnosed and treated promptly, they can become chronic and permanently reduce fertility. Therefore, it is extremely important to pay attention to these issues, use preventive measures such as condoms, and, if attempts to conceive a child are unsuccessful, contact the Bogolyuby Medical Center for targeted diagnostics.
Male infertility and infections: who to contact?
In cases of infertility, regardless of the suspected cause or presence of infection, it is important to undergo a specialized medical examination. A man should undergo:
• consultation with a urologist-andrologist;
• semen analysis;
• screening for urinary tract infections and assessment of specific antigens/antibodies.
Additional hormonal tests and targeted instrumental studies, such as Doppler ultrasound of the testicles, may be prescribed. Assisted reproductive technology programs are utilized when necessary.
It should be borne in mind that early diagnosis of an infection can significantly affect the chances of restoring fertility, even if it has already been initially or partially impaired.
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