A lack of libido is different from erectile dysfunction (ED) and revolves around the absence or a major reduction in sexual desire. Men with ED desire sex but have issues achieving or maintaining their erections, while men lacking libido men have little or no interest in having sex. There are, of course, men who experience both issues at the s...
Men with low sperm counts should take notice as it can be the canary in the coalmine, and sometimes it’s flagging up general poor health and a shorter lifespan. The medical terms for low sperm counts are “oligospermia” or “oligozoospermia”, and the formal diagnosis is when sperm counts fall below 15 million/ml of semen. The term for no sperm i...
Problems with sperm morphology and motility (shape and movement) often relate to specific parts of the “manufacturing process” in the structures that make sperm; the Sertoli cells in the testes. The sperm fully mature later in seminiferous tubules, which include the sperm cell elongating to form a tail and the acrosome forming at the tip. As ...
Blocked Fallopian tubes account for about 20% of female infertility cases, and the tubes are delicate, dynamic structures that link the ovaries to the womb. They’re easily damaged, and the tubes perform essential roles in all natural pregnancies by supporting and transporting an embryo to the womb. Any excess mucus, scar tissue or distor...
There are two significant genetic syndromes that can affect male fertility, which are: Klinefelter Syndrome Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Klinefelter Syndrome Klinefelter syndrome is a male-only genetic condition caused by an extra ‘X’ sex chromosome. It’s present in about 1 in 500-1,000 newborn boys. While it’s not an inherited conditi...
Immune balance and fertility are inseparable, and our understanding is growing each year. Most women have a relatively balanced immune system that can adapt to pregnancy. However, many of us have hidden immune problems that make conception and maintaining pregnancy more difficult. Testing is costly, difficult to access, or not considered a pri...
There are three genetic conditions that can affect female fertility with varying degrees of severity, and there are management options that can result in pregnancy for two of the conditions. Turner’s Syndrome Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Turner’s Syndrome Turner’s syndrome is a genetic condition that only af...
The immune system is essential for maintaining health and offering the possibility of creating a new life. It protects the body from invaders or rogue cells that can cause disease and is also crucial for growth and development. The immune system needs to be relatively balanced between seeking unhealthy cells (aggression) and protecting healthy...
Anti-sperm antibodies (ASAb) are due to an abnormal immune response to a man’s sperm, and this can significantly reduce his fertility. The antibodies adhere to sperm (because they recognise them as abnormal cells), and this encourages them the “clump” together, which reduces their motility and ability to fertilise eggs. ASAb...
Problem-solving unexplained infertility involves a step-by-step walk-through of the steps needed to get pregnant and highlighting things that can prevent that from happening at each step. Once the steps are checked, most of the potential problems can be excluded, and it’s possible to have a more focused approach. Steps to pregnancy P...
