Male Fertility Treatment in Atlanta, GA
If you and your partner are having difficulty conceiving, you should know that you are not alone in this experience. Many couples experience difficulty and can benefit from expert advice.
Nearly 1 in 6 couples experience fertility problems during their journey to parenthood. It is also worth noting that 50% of fertility issues are due to both male and female related factors. Men are often under-evaluated despite having equal contributions toward infertility!
Dr. Kapadia is a urologist who is fellowship trained in male infertility, and trained with a leading comprehensive fertility center. As the lead of the male infertility and vasectomy reversal program, he provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for male infertility in Atlanta, GA. He also works closely with many female fertility specialists in Atlanta, such as Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine (ACRM) and Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) to provide the highest level of care to both you and your partner.
Dr. Kapadia understands that this is a time of incredible stress, anxiety, and vulnerability for couples, and he especially values the opportunity to help couples during this significant time of their lives.
What is Male Infertility?
Male factor infertility is determined by semen analysis when a couple is experiencing difficulty getting pregnant. It is important to know that a diagnosis of male infertility does NOT mean that you cannot become a parent. It simply means that you have a decreased likelihood of conceiving AND that you may need help from a fertility specialist, like Dr. Kapadia.
What Causes Male Infertility?
Conception is a lengthy process that requires a lot of unique events to occur in perfect order at exactly the right time. This leaves room for lots of potential problems along the way.
Problems with Sperm
Male fertility issues are commonly linked to the quality of his sperm. Examples of sperm or semen abnormalities include:
- Oddly or poorly shaped sperm (Teratozoospermia)
- Low sperm count (Oligozoospermia)
- Slow sperm or sperm with poor motility (Asthenozoospermia)
- Absent or no sperm (Azoospermia)
- Low semen volume
There are several possible sources of abnormal or defective sperm. Some medications used to treat common illnesses like high blood pressure, depression, infections, arthritis, digestive diseases, or cancer can alter the sperm’s functionality.
Low hormone levels are another potential cause of male infertility since a lack of crucial male hormones can lead to low sperm count or poor sperm growth.
There have also been cases wherein the antibodies in a man’s body mistakenly attack the sperm. It is not clear as to what causes the antibodies to perceive the sperm as a threat, but immunological infertility is typically seen in those recovering from a surgery, injury, or type of infection.
What If the Sperm are Healthy?
Even with great sperm, some men can still experience problems in conceiving a child such as having a blockage within the reproductive tract that may have been caused by a congenital or acquired defect.
Swollen veins in the scrotum called varicoceles are also thought to worsen a man’s fertility functions. These varicoceles supply the scrotum with excess blood, which overheats the scrotum and kills many of the sperm living inside.
Men who experience retrograde ejaculation are unable to get their sperm to the woman’s egg because instead of exiting through the urethra, the sperm is directed back into the man’s bladder. Retrograde ejaculation is caused by issues of the nervous system and is characterized by a “dry” ejaculation.
Reasons for men to see a male fertility specialist
- Family planning (before trying to conceive)
- Inability to conceive after 1 year of trying
- Prior vasectomy (see vasectomy reversal)
- Abnormal semen analysis
- Diagnosis of varicocele (enlarged veins in the scrotum)
- Undergoing or planning to undergo treatment for hypogonadism (“low T”)
- Trouble with ejaculation or ‘climax’
- Trouble with erections
- Unsuccessful pregnancy with assisted reproduction (“IUI” or “IVF”)
- Planning to undergo cancer treatment (“fertility preservation”)
- Personal concerns about fertility
Treatment for Male Infertility with Dr. Kapadia
In order to appropriately treat a case of male fertility, Dr. Kapadia will first need to diagnose the source of the problem.
This process will typically begin by checking the patient’s sperm to see if it is indeed healthy or not. If the exact cause is still unclear after this initial investigation then further tests will need to be conducted to determine what is preventing the sperm from reaching or properly fertilizing the partner’s egg.
Based on the particular source of the man’s fertility issues, recommended treatment will vary. Some male infertility cases will require surgery to treat, while others will not. To discover the best solution for yourself and your partner, you will both need to have a thorough discussion with Dr. Kapadia.
Male Infertility Treatment in Atlanta, Georgia
If you are experiencing issues with male fertility, see Dr. Kapadia, a fellowship-trained expert. Dr. Kapadia has offices in Roswell and Sandy Springs. Make an appointment today to determine which treatment is right for you.