In most cases, infertility is recognised as an issue faced by women. However, it is essential to realise that male fertility also plays an important role in conception. Studies have found that male infertility accounts for almost 40-50% of infertility cases. In-vitro fertilisation or IVF is one of the most common and effective reproductive procedures which can help couples facing issues with male or female infertility.
According to the best IVF doctor in Siliguri, understanding how IVF can be an effective treatment for male infertility is essential before starting the parenthood journey. In this blog, we will discuss how IVF works, when it's recommended, and how it can help couples achieve their dream of parenthood.
Understanding Male Infertility
Male infertility is caused by various reasons, such as low sperm count, poor mortality of the sperm or even abnormal sperm morphology. These causes prevent sperm from fertilizing the egg successfully, which can lead to challenges related to conception. While a genetic factor at times, plays a role in male infertility, hormonal imbalances and lifestyle choices or even physical blockages can also hinder the reproductive process. Some of the issues which cause male infertility are
- Varicocele – swelling of the veins which drain the testicles
- Infection – infections can interfere with sperm production or cause scarring which blocks the passage of sperm
- Ejaculation issues – retrograde ejaculation takes place when semen enters the bladder during orgasm instead of emerging out.
- Tumours – cancerous or non-malignant tumours can affect the male reproductive organs directly.
Male infertility can be diagnosed through a semen analysis. However, it’s important to understand that even with severe male infertility, assisted reproductive technologies like IVF can offer hope.
Diagnosis Processes For Male Infertility Treatment
Choosing IVF allows IVF specialists to overcome many obstacles to conception, even in cases of severe male infertility. The IVF process involves several stages, from sperm collection to embryo transfer, each critical to ensuring the best chances of a successful pregnancy.
Semen Collection and Evaluation
The first step in IVF for male infertility is semen collection. The male partner provides a sperm sample, which is analyzed in a laboratory for sperm count, motility (movement), and morphology (shape). According to the best IVF doctor in Siliguri, in cases where sperm quality is poor, specialists recommend using a technique called Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).
ICSI involves selecting a single healthy sperm and directly injecting it into an egg to facilitate fertilization.
Trans-rectal Ultrasound
This process is used for identifying abnormality, particularly in instances of sperm absence and low ejaculation volume. This process allows the patient to identify any possible blockages or abnormalities present in the ejaculatory tract.
The patient lies on their side with their knees bent for this procedure, which involves inserting a probe into the rectum. This displays accurate visual representations of the ejaculatory ducts and seminal vesicles, as well as any potential anomalies.
Testicular Biopsy
Through the removal of small tissue from the testicular region, a testicular biopsy is performed to check for sperm abnormality or the absence of sperm. This process is not only used to diagnose male infertility but also sperm retrieval for IVF. There are two types of this biopsy, open and Percutaneous. In the first kind small incision is made in the scrotum for extraction, while the second one is done through a needle. IVF specialists also examine the testicular tissue under the microscope allowing the appropriate assessment of sperm production.
When is IVF recommended?
Following is the list of common scenarios where IVF specialists recommend the procedure to deal with male fertility.
Common situations
One of the most common reasons IVF is recommended for male infertility is when there is a severe issue with sperm quality, such as low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or abnormal sperm morphology. These issues can prevent the sperm from reaching and fertilizing the egg naturally. IVF, combined with ICSI, can bypass many of these barriers, improving the chances of successful fertilization.
Blocked reproductive tract
Some men may have physical blockages in their reproductive tract, such as in the vas deferens or epididymis, which prevent sperm from being ejaculated. In these cases, sperm can sometimes be surgically retrieved directly from the testicles (a procedure called testicular sperm extraction, or TESE) and used in IVF.
Low or Zero sperm count
When a man has a low sperm count (oligospermia) or no sperm in his ejaculate (azoospermia), IVF is often the recommended treatment. Even in cases where sperm is not present in the semen, sperm can often be retrieved directly from the testicles using surgical techniques.
Genetic Concerns
Male infertility caused by genetic issues can sometimes be addressed with IVF and genetic testing. Pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) can be used to screen embryos for genetic defects before they are transferred into the uterus. This allows couples to reduce the risk of passing on genetic disorders and improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy.
