Condition
Male infertility
There are many causes of male infertility, and to determine whether it exists, at least two semen analyses at different times are necessary. Among the most common causes is varicocele, the most common reversible cause, which is corrected with an outpatient surgery called varicocelectomy.
How is male infertility diagnosed?
To determine whether infertility exists, it is necessary to perform at least two semen analyses at different times, with proper preparation. The semen analysis can show different alterations that manifest clinically as infertility:
- A lower sperm count (oligozoospermia)
- Low motility of the sperm present (asthenozoospermia)
- Alterations in sperm shape (teratozoospermia)
- Dead sperm (necrozoospermia)
- Presence of antisperm antibodies
- Presence of bacteria
What is the most common reversible cause?
Among the most common causes of male infertility are varicoceles, the most common reversible cause. Their diagnosis is established through a physical exam and a scrotal Doppler ultrasound. Varicoceles are dilated veins in the testicle that raise its temperature, which alters sperm formation. Varicocele is usually on the left side, and after surgery, most patients improve significantly.
How is varicocele treated?
The procedure is called varicocelectomy: it is an outpatient surgery in the groin that involves tying off the veins of the spermatic cord. It can be performed as open or laparoscopic surgery. The results of the surgery begin to show between 3 and 6 months after the procedure.
