Myths about male infertility

Myth #1: Making a big deal out of it is a quick fix. Fertility is a natural phenomenon, and for most people it is not difficult to have children even if their semen is not completely normal. If you are ready to have a child, you just need to stop using contraception, and there is no need to calculate the day of ovulation and concentrate on the “sperm” attack. Female ovulation is controlled by the neuroendocrine system and is highly susceptible to psychological factors. Stress and anxiety may interfere with ovulation and affect conception. The discharged egg can survive for more than 20 hours, and the sperm’s viability is also more than 10 hours, therefore, the frequency of sex 2-3 times a week is appropriate. The quality of sperm discharged regularly is also good. The second myth is that the semen is not liquefied. Often hospitals and doctors take semen non-liquefaction as the cause of infertility and do futile treatment. The solidification and liquefaction of semen is a natural phenomenon that occurs after the semen is discharged into the female reproductive tract, both processes are controlled by protease enzymes, and the activity of the enzymes is related to the temperature, the difference in temperature between the body (37 degrees) and the laboratory (20 degrees) determines the enzyme’s function, and determines the quality of the liquefaction of semen. In fact, infertility due to semen non-liquefaction is minimal. In addition, most hospitals misdiagnose high semen viscosity as semen non-liquefaction. Myth 3: Prostatitis and infertility. Prostatitis is a common disease in young and middle-aged men that mainly affects the patient’s quality of life and does not affect vital organ function or longevity. Most cases of prostatitis have little, if any, effect on sperm quality and fertility, and the effects are staged (weeks – months) and reversible. Increased leukocyte counts in semen and prostate fluid with abnormal semen parameters (mainly reduced sperm motility) can be treated with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy. Infertility in those with normal semen and prostate fluid leukocyte counts should be considered for other causes. Myth 4: Pharmacologic treatment of infertility. With the exception of a few cases (gonadotropin deficiency) of infertility, medication is ineffective in most cases of infertility. In the case of Western medications, vitamin C, vitamin E, leucovorin, zinc preparations, and bradykinin have not been supported by conclusive evidence of efficacy and should be used only as empirical treatments. The effects of testosterone (oral or injectable) on fertility do more harm than good. Exogenous testosterone does not increase testosterone levels in the testicular seminiferous tubules (which are essential for maintaining spermatogenesis), but it has the potential to inhibit the secretion of gonadotropins by the pituitary gland and interfere with spermatogenesis. Currently, testosterone is only used as a test drug for male contraception. Myth #5: IVF. Single sperm injection + IVF allows couples with no hope of having children (15 years ago) to have children of their own. However, this technique has many shortcomings, high cost, many manual sessions, high genetic risk, high rate of multiple births etc. It should be chosen carefully in the light of one’s own situation, such as the fertility potential of both partners (quality and quantity of sperm and ovulation), age (especially the female partner) and financial conditions. Currently, spermatic duct reconstruction surgery for obstructive azoospermia is becoming more and more mature, allowing many patients with this condition to achieve natural fertility.