How can we define male infertility?
The definition of infertility, according to the WHO (World Health Organization), is the inability to achieve a full-term pregnancy after 12 months or more of unprotected intercourse.
What types of infertility are there?
There are two types:
- Primary infertility: which occurs in couples who have never had a pregnancy naturally.
- Secondary infertility: which occurs in couples who, after having a first pregnancy naturally, are unable to get pregnant again.
What are the causes of infertility in men?
There are multiple causes such as:
- Urogenital abnormalities
- Endocrine disorders
- Tumors
- Genitourinary infections
- Increased scrotal temperature (such as varicocele or testicular varicose veins).
- Immunologic causes
- Genetic causes
- In 30-40% of cases the cause is unknown.
What are the main symptoms of male infertility?
Patients do not present symptoms, but usually come for consultation when, after a relevant period of time (usually several months), they are unable to achieve full-term pregnancies.
When we study the couple, we find alterations in the spermiogram in 50% of the total cases of infertility.
What techniques are available to treat infertility?
There are multiple therapeutic options, which will depend fundamentally on the origin of the infertility. The most important thing is to make a correct diagnosis and to treat each patient in a personalized way.
In those cases where no other solution is possible, a testicular biopsy (TESE) should be performed to study microscopically possible structural alterations of the spermatozoa and additionally try to obtain a sample that will be useful in the future to perform in vitro fertilization if necessary.