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Male
infertility conditions, such as a varicocele, can
be treated effectively with surgery performed by a urologist.
A varicocele is a blockage of the veins leading to the
testicles which are responsible for temperature regulation.
When there is a blockage the temperature of the testicles
increases thus inhibiting sperm development. A varicocele
can also lead to the production of antisperm antibodies.
The male's immune system "mistakes" sperm
for invading pathogens and seeks to destroy them. If
this condition does not resolve after correcting the
underlying cause, oral corticosteroids are often effective.
Male
sperm counts can be reduced when FSH and LH levels are
normal but the testosterone level is low (hypogonadism).
This condition is sometimes treated with Clomid, however,
improvements in sperm counts can be marginal and several
months of therapy are required. This therapy is also
very expensive.
Intrauterine
insemination is often the treatment of first choice
for mild male
factor infertility. The sperm are collected, washed,
concentrated, and inserted into the uterus using a small
catheter. This process insures that sufficient sperm
reach the egg for fertilization to occur. Donor sperm
can be used in cases of moderate to severe male factor
infertility.IVF
with ICSI is often the treatment of choice for men with
moderate to severe
male factor infertility who want genetically related
children. In IVF, sperm are obtained by masturbation
and combined with the females eggs in a Petri dish where
fertilization occurs. The eggs are retrieved through
the back of the vagina after a stimulation cycle using
follicle stimulating hormone.
In
the intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure a single
sperm is injected directly into the egg. ICSI revolutionized the treatment of male infertility
and allows men who previously had no hope of creating
a child to produce genetically related offspring.
A single sperm can be obtained from the ejaculate or
directly from the male reproductive tract using procedures
such as MESA or TESA. This makes it possible for men
with no sperm in their ejaculate to produce children.
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