How Is Infertility In A Man Treated?

Illnesses and problems in the male reproductive organs can often be resolved with medicines and surgery.

What Medicines Treat Male Infertility?

What Surgeries Treat Male Infertility?

What Medicines Treat Male Infertility?

A number of drugs can be prescribed to ease male fertility problems, but their effectiveness varies widely. Here's a look at some of them:

Hormones - Though hormones can be quite successful in women, they are only occasionally effective in men. Hormone drugs for men include testosterone, menotropins, GnRH medications, bromocriptine, clomiphene citrate and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Many of these drugs are quite expensive, however.

Antibiotics - These may help treat sexually transmitted diseases and other infections.

Corticosteroids - These drugs can aid men who make antibodies to reject their own sperm, but they may also have serious side-effects after long use.

Viagra - This is a newly developed medicine for male impotence. The man takes Viagra an hour before having sex. The medication improves blood flow to the penis, resulting in an erection. Studies have revealed that 70 percent of men who used Viagra improved their ability to maintain an erection. The drug can have severe side effects for certain men, however, especially those with heart disease. Men with heart disease, who have had a heart attack, or those with low blood pressure should not take the drug.

What Surgeries Treat Male Infertility?

If investigations suggest that surgery may help with male infertility, then depending on the cause, surgery may be used to deal with:

• Varicose (or swollen) veins in the man's scrotum, helping to restore proper sperm movement.

• An obstruction in the man's reproductive organs, including the epididymis, vas deferens and ejaculatory duct. These blockages can halt the sperm's passage or prevent it from mixing with semen.