Male Factor Infertility
Studies show that up to 50% of infertility is related to male factor problems including structural abnormalities, sperm production disorders, motility abnormalities, ejaculatory disturbances and immunologic disorders. This brief outline published by Johns Hopkins School of Medicine summarizes male factor infertility as does this exhaustive Wikipedia listing.
Irregularities with the quantity, motility and morphology of sperm can lead to fertility problems. As such, couples having difficulty getting pregnant should have their sperm looked at.
The semen analysis looks at the number of sperm (sperm count), the percentage of sperm moving forward (sperm motility) and the shape of the sperm (sperm morphology).
Western medicine has ways of sorting the individual sperm cells, so that the best are selected and then used during fertilization procedures used during Assisted Reproductive Technologies.
Western medicine can also treat male factor infertility by using medications.
Male Infertility Common Causes:
Scarring of Vas Deferens.
Undescended testes.
Variocele.
Vasectomy.
Hormonal Imbalances.
Infection and Disease.
Age and declining sperm quality.
Unhealthy diet.
Drugs, Cigarettes and Alcohol.
Obesity.
Low testosterone and decreased sexual drive.
Inability to sustain an erection.
Some claim that Traditional Chinese Medicine can significantly improve or correct male factor infertility by improving sperm motility, increasing sperm count, improving sperm morphology, and reversing psychogenic erectile dysfunction. For more detailed information, click on this study from Acupuncture.org.uk. You have to scroll down a bit to get past all the definitions to the information on Acupuncture treatment.
Personally I’m convinced that issues of male infertility are most effectively treated with Western Medicine verses Traditional Chinese Medicine, and I make this recommendation to couples who face this challenge. With couples experiencing male factor infertility, I recommend that the female receives TCM treatment to improve receptivity on her end.