Male Factor Subfertility And Infertility

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Male factor subfertility and infertility are conditions where a man is having problems getting a woman pregnant. Subfertility is a condition where a man has been unable to get a woman pregnant after one year of unprotected regular sex. Male factor infertility is being unable to get a woman pregnant due to a sperm problem in the man. These problems include asthenozoospermia (poor sperm movement), oligozoospermia (low number of sperm), and teratozoospermia (abnormal sperm shape). The causes of subfertility and infertility include genetics, infections, hypogonadism, or a varicocele. Other causes include problems with the immune system or the number, movement, and shape of the sperm. The male reproductive system includes the testicles, prostate, penis, scrotum, vas deferens, epididymis, and seminal ducts. Each testicle inside the scrotum produces sperm.
  
  
• Signs and symptoms include being unable to produce a child, and the stress or emotional pressure caused by this. A mass or swelling on the scrotum that feels like a bag of worms may also be present (varicocele). To diagnose infertility, caregivers will ask you about your current health, and your health in the past. Tests may include a scrotal ultrasound, semen and sperm analysis, blood and urine tests, and genetic screening. Treatment may include medicine, percutaneous embolization, sperm extraction, or surgery to remove a varicocele or pituitary tumor. In some cases you may become fertile again after treatment.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Medicine used to treat male factor subfertility and infertility may cause headaches, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting (throwing up), and irritability. You could get an infection or bleed too much with surgery. Your stomach, intestines, blood vessels, or kidneys may get injured or burned while having surgery. Even with treatment, you may still be subfertile or infertile. Without treatment, you may be unable to get a woman pregnant. Ask your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your condition, medicine, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent: You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your doctor should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.

IV: An IV is a tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube is capped or connected to tubing and liquid.

Medicines: Your caregiver may give you the following kinds of medicines:

• Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by germs called bacteria.
  
  
• Hormones: These may be given if you have reproductive system problems, such as hypogonadism.
  
  
• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain. Medicine may be given regularly, or may only be given if you ask caregivers for it. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease enough for you to feel better. Do not wait to ask for your pain medicine until the pain is very bad. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it. Ask your caregiver for help getting out of bed if you feel tired or dizzy.
  
  
• Steroids: Steroid medicine may be given to decrease inflammation, which is redness, pain, and swelling.

Tests: You may need any of the following:

• Blood tests: You may need blood taken for tests. The blood can be taken from a blood vessel in your hand, arm, or the bend in your elbow. It is tested to see how your body is doing. It can give your caregivers more information about your health condition. You may need to have blood drawn more than once.
  
  
• Genetic screening: Genetic testing to look for abnormal genes may be done if you have a low sperm count or no sperm.
  
  
• Semen analysis: A semen analysis is a test to check a man's fertility. An increased number of white blood cells in the semen may cause problems with sperm movement and function. You will need to ejaculate semen for this test. Talk with your caregiver about how this will be done.
  
  
• Sperm analysis: The movement of sperm and how fast they move through mucus may be tested. The number of sperm may also be counted
  
  
• Spermatic venography: This test will show the position of the veins (blood vessels) in the scrotum. During this test, your caregiver will put dye into your body and take x-rays to look for a varicocele. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to shellfish (lobster, crab, or shrimp), as you may also be allergic to this dye.
  
  
• Ultrasound: A scrotal ultrasound uses sound waves to find lumps and other changes in your testicles and scrotum.
  
  
• Urinalysis: Post-ejaculatory urinalysis is a test that is done on your urine after you have ejaculated. This test looks for the presence of sperm in the urine, which may suggest a blockage or problems with your ejaculation.

Treatment options:

• Percutaneous embolization: This procedure may be used to treat a varicocele. The blood flow in the enlarged veins is blocked off. This stops the flow of blood and treats a varicocele.
  
  
• Sperm extraction: Sperm may be removed from the testicles or epididymis if there is a blockage. The collected sperm may be saved or used to fertilize a woman's egg.
  
  
• Surgery: Surgery may need to be done, such as removing a varicocele or pituitary tumor. Ask your caregiver for more information if you need surgery.

Vital signs: This includes taking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeat), and respirations (counting your breaths). To take your blood pressure, a cuff is put on your arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which gives your blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your heart and lungs by using a stethoscope. Your vital signs are taken so caregivers can see how you are doing.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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