Exploring male infertility treatment in Southern California
Male infertility could be part of the reason why you and your partner are having trouble conceiving. In fact, male infertility affects about half of all infertility cases. Thankfully, male infertility treatment can help.
The causes of male infertility may include genetic abnormalities, hormonal issues, infections or even side effects of medications. The only way to know the exact cause is to come in for testing. You’ll see Robert Anderson MD or Don Royster MD, our Southern California fertility doctors. They’ll review your medical history, do a physical exam, order tests and help you get one step closer to starting a family.
Determining the right male infertility treatment
The male infertility treatment you need depends on the issue you’re facing and its cause. Doctors can treat some causes of male infertility with medication, but others may require surgery.
Some conditions that respond to medication include the following.
- Hormonal imbalances
- Erectile dysfunction
- Inflammation or infection of the prostate or other areas of the reproductive system
The conditions that may require surgery include the following.
- A blockage in the male reproductive tract
- Varicoceles, or swollen veins in the scrotum that can lead to a lower sperm count
- Azoospermia, or a lack of sperm in the semen
- Reversal of a prior vasectomy
Sometimes, doctors don’t know the cause of male infertility. When this happens, our Southern California fertility doctor recommends male infertility treatment based on best practices and your medical history.
You can also help improve your fertility by cutting back on drinking, not smoking, exercising and eating better. A healthy lifestyle means a healthier body.
Examples of male infertility treatment
When medication or surgery doesn’t help, assisted reproductive technology (ART) gives you another chance to start a family. To begin, you provide a semen sample and one of our highly skilled technicians prepares it for use in a fertility treatment.
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) – A technician injects one sperm into an egg using a small needle. Your doctor transfers the resulting embryo to the female partner’s uterus.
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) – A technician places sperm into a special dish with the egg and allows them to fertilize naturally before Your doctor transfers the embryo to the woman’s uterus.
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI) – Your doctor injects sperm directly into the woman’s uterus when she is ovulating, giving the couple a good chance of conceiving.
Don’t give up on having a family. To learn more about male infertility treatment or to schedule an appointment with our Southern California fertility doctor, contact us.