Know the causes of male infertility

Approximately one-third of infertility cases are attributed to the male partner. But how much do you really know about the causes of male infertility? Here is a rundown of the most common causes of male infertility, according to the Mayo Clinic:

• “Abnormal sperm production or function (motility) due to various problems, such as undescended testicles, genetic defects or repeated infections.
• Problems with the delivery of sperm due to sexual problems, such as premature ejaculation or painful intercourse (dyspareunia); health issues, such as retrograde ejaculation; certain genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis; or structural problems, such as blockage of the part of the testicle that contains sperm (epididymis).
• General health and lifestyle issues, including poor nutrition, obesity, or use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
• Overexposure to certain environmental factors, such as pesticides and other chemicals. In addition, frequent exposure to heat, such as in saunas or hot tubs, can elevate your core body temperature. This may impair your sperm production and lower your sperm count.
• Damage related to cancer and its treatments. Both radiation and chemotherapy treatment for cancer can impair sperm production, sometimes severely. The closer radiation treatment is to the testicles, the higher the risk of infertility. Removal of one or both testicles due to cancer also may affect male fertility.
• Age. Men older than age 40 may be less fertile than younger men.”

If you and your partner have been trying to conceive a child by having unprotected sex for at least six months, it might be time to explore your fertility treatment options. Both partners should be screened for potential infertility issues, so that we can find the very best fertility treatment to meet your unique situation and make your family’s dreams come true.

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What’s a fibroid and is it affecting your fertility?

A woman’s fertility issues could be caused by any number of things, one of which is fibroids.

Fibroids are benign growths that can occur either in the wall of the uterus, in the lining of the uterus or protruding from the outside of the uterus into the abdominal cavity. Sometimes called uterine leiomyomas, or simply myomas, Most uterine fibroids are harmless, do not cause symptoms, and shrink with menopause.

However, fibroids that are in the wall of the uterus or in the uterine lining can cause or contribute to infertility. They are usually a sign of a hormone imbalance, referred to as “estrogen dominance.” Essentially that means one of three things is happening: 1. There is a higher than normal estrogen level; 2. There is higher than normal estrogen activity; or 3. There is a lower level of progesterone to balance out the estrogen.

Surgery can remove existing fibroids but it doesn’t prevent new ones from growing, and unfortunately fibroids often return after surgery if the estrogen dominance issue is not addressed. Surgical removal of fibroids also can result in scarring inside the uterus that could interfere with pregnancy.

It’s important to keep in mind that uterine fibroids are the cause of infertility only 2 to 3 percent of the time. Many women with fibroids have no trouble getting pregnant. If you know you have fibroids and wonder whether they could be contributing to your fertility issues, make an appointment with a specialist to discuss your health history, and your options.

http://www.rsiinfertility.com/

Can surfing the Web on your laptop affect male fertility?

In the past, male infertility studies have focused on the fact that elevated temperatures in a man’s testicles due to a laptop sitting on his lap can affect the quality of his sperm. But a new study out of Argentina, published in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, has found a larger concern — the effect on sperm situated very near a Wi-Fi-connected laptop.

The study found that semen samples placed under a laptop connected to the Internet experienced more DNA damage and mobility issues than regular sperm. After four hours sitting about an inch below a Wi-Fi-connected laptop, 25 percent of the sperm samples lost their mobility and 9 percent showed defects in their DNA — three times more than the control samples, which were kept at the same temperature but away from the Wi-Fi.

The study also tested the sperm next to laptops that were not connected to Wi-Fi. They showed some damage, but less than the connected laptops, which reinforces the previous studies about how the mere heat of the laptop could impact male fertility.

More research needs to be conducted to learn the true effects of electromagnetic radiation generated by a laptop’s Wi-Fi connection, but it’s a good idea for all men to take precautions — such as using special laptop desks and laptop fans — when using laptops.

http://www.rsiinfertility.com/