Infertility is often stigmatized irrespective of the gender. However, male reproductive issues are usually less talked about despite the fact that 30-50% of couples struggling with pregnancy issues are the cases of “male factor infertility.” As cohabiting couples suffer from varying degrees of difficulty relating to conception, an accurate assessment is the key, and this is where andrology comes into practice.
What is andrology?
Andrology is a branch of medicine study which deals with diseases and conditions specific to men. Although, it is yet to be recognized as a treatment specialty, andrology stresses on ‘semen analysis’, that have helped fertility experts understand, and mitigate male infertility.
The study takes into account the treatment of physical conditions affecting the male genitalia, such as undescended testes, as well as injuries and diseases that can affect fertility or sexual function. Male infertility is complicated, and therefore, requires medical expertise to critically comprehend it. “Our experienced team provides a range of diagnostic testing for men’s reproductive health, including semen analysis and advanced sperm testing, and also preservation,” says Dr Gautam Allahbadia Mumbai, a Mumbai-based IVF expert, who has been clinically researching and practicing modern infertility treatments.
Dr Gautam Allahbadia on Male Infertility
The doctor says that male infertility shows no obvious signs in most of the cases. The most common indications are difficulty with sexual activity, erections and ejaculation, and very rarely physical abnormalities in the quantity or color of semen the naked eye. Even if the male is suffering any or all of these problems, he needs medical tests to label his condition as “male factor infertility.”
Dr Gautam Allahbadia talks about the diagnostic testing available such as:
Dr Gautam Allahbadia Mumbai asserts that with proper diagnostic testing, male infertility can be treated with more certainty and precision, leading to better success results. “Infertility shouldn’t be looked as a form of inadequacy but a sign that you have possibly undiagnosed health problems. Therefore, a proper examination is imperative,” says the doctor.
Clinical aid to treat male infertility
There are several medications that help alleviate primary causes of infertility. The drugs used for this purpose should always be taken as per your fertility specialist’s discretion.
Also, questioning the legitimacy of the company ads and fertility medications is essential when choosing your treatment plan. “People should be wary of false claims,” warns Dr Gautam Allahbadia. As in cases of idiopathic or genetic causes of male infertility, both medical and emotional guidance might be needed. Confirming that male infertility can be caused by a combination of different factors, it is necessary to carry out tests and determine a relationship between male and female factors, along with the ability of sperm to achieve live births.
However, diagnosis is the foremost and most important step before the patient is imposed with unnecessary treatment options.
Andrology and treating infertility
As clinical research reveals, it is not so much the absolute number of sperms that ascertain fertility, but rather their functional competence. That said, andrology has helped the medical community with in vitro tests that have successfully monitored the functional competence of the sperm.
In addition, a variety of treatment options have been developed in the last two decades, and constantly are under improvement to treat male factor infertility through modern andrology.
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Having troubles conceiving? A gynecologist can definitely help locate the underlying issues. However, the question arises that if a gynecologist is the go-to specialist for infertility? The answer isn’t as straight-forward as one expects. Infertility can be rooted in multiple causes that require comprehensive analysis, and not a single test can diagnose it.
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From the day you get married there are continuous questions, advice and comments on – when are you planning to start a family. In a country like India where infertility is a taboo, such traditional and orthodox mindset hinders the lives of childless couples. Although the couples of today have a clarity of thought, their own set of priorities and advancements in medical science have proved supportive towards their life choices.
