Why does the IVF fail?
There may be several reasons, the gynaecologist will investigate most of them. However, the insufficient preparation of the assisted persons is a common cause of an IVF failure. Before the IVF one should:
a) consult an endocrinologist, who is competent to cure possible hormonal disorders, such as high prolactin or pathological conditions related to these disorders, such as endometriosis or polycystic ovaries;
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b) men shall consult an urologist, since his semen can be improved and if so, the probability of success in IVF increases, too.
It is essential, before undergoing an IVF treatment, to have a complete microbiological exam (not just an aerobic culture; read also semen microbiological exam) in order to exclude the presence of microbes
No. No. Usually, low sperm motility is due to an infection. Of course, both partners are infected. Consequently, in case of conception, it is possible that the infection causes a pregnancy loss. Most importantly, even in the case of a full-term pregnancy and birth of a healthy child, the man might no more be concerned about his semen’s condition and the infection will remain. He will keep transmitting the infection to his partner. She will suffer from recurrent inflammations, e.g. recurrent vaginitides. Nonetheless, if the infection remains in his urogenital system for too long, it may threaten his prostate’s health.
The weak semen may also be the result of other pathological conditions, even more severe, but it is the competence of an urologist to investigate them.
Besides, a weak semen can be improved and the better the quality of semen is, the higher the probability of a successful IUI is.
Yes, Yes, most of the times the semen quality can be improved. It may also return to absolutely physiological values. This depends mainly on the time the semen remained untreated. However, although rarely, there are pathological conditions that cannot be cured, e.g. those due to genetic defects.
No. No. Abnormal sperm morphology hinders a spermatozoon from fertilizing the ovule. The more the spermatozoon is dysmorphic, the more difficult it is to fertilize. It is therefore meaningful to know also the kind of morphological abnormalities, not just the percentage of normal forms. However, since the morphological abnormalities may be due to the presence of a microbe, the microbe may threat the child’s health.
The spermatologist and the urologist. Similarly to each woman consulting her gynaecologist, competent to analyse the sperm is only the spermatologist and competent to advise men about their health is only the urologist. Only a spermatologist can assess correctly your sperm and only an urologist can investigate a man’s health properly and advise him for the proper treatment, if needed. Sometimes, the advice of an endocrinologist may also be necessary.
At SPERMLAB or any Spermatology laboratory certified by the Association of Spermatology.
Usually, a spermiogram costs as much as an andro-test, but it contains much less information (read andro-tesτ – spermiogram – semen analysis).
An andro-test informs us about a Man’s Health, not just about his fertility. Moreover, the andro-test can be performed only by accredited biologists and by specialized Spermatology laboratories certified by the Association of Spermatology, facts that ensure the examinee for the reliability of the analysis, while a spermiogram may be performed by non-specialized laboratories and technicians lacking of specialized training, often without following neither the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
First of all, you must have a semen alalysis andro-test at a specialized Spermatology laboratory. A proper semen analysis gives valuable information to the urologist who will recommend further tests and examinations if necessary. Your partner must consult her gynaecologist. However, it is important to consult also an endocrinologist who will investigate whether there is any disorder that may affect your fertility, especially in women. In some cases, you may also need to consult a rheumatologist, especially when a problem in embryo implantation is suspected or right after a pregnancy loss (abortion, miscarriage, biochemical pregnancy).
Because only the urologist can examine men properly. Apart of a semen analysis, a clinical examination of the genital area, an ultrasound or other exams might be requested. Furthermore, only the urologist knows which regimen is proper for men and usually, this regimen differs from the one of his female partner, while only the urologist is competent to perform a surgical intervention in men.
Only a specialized Spermatology laboratory assesses the semen correctly. Studies all over the World show that non-specialized laboratories commit mistakes in a semen analysis because of the fact they lack of proper equipment and training.
Usually, yes. Low motility is rarely due to causes that an urologist could not treat.
Yes. The frequent blood transfusions may cause hormonal disorders. For this reason, the storage (cryopreservation) of semen, already by adolescence, is strongly recommended. The parents of a child with beta thalassemia shall consult an endocrinologist, who will advise them about the time when cryopreservation of semen shall be performed.
It is not needed. If a microbe is detected in one of the sexual partners, it is a sufficient condition for that both follow a proper antibiotic regimen at the same period of time, since any microbiological examination may fail to detect the microbe in question (i.e. the fact that a microbe is not detected, it does not equal that there is not any). Moreover, if the sexual partner does not follow a proper regimen contemporarily, the treatment fails, since the partner is expected to return/retransmit the infection. Besides, it is logical that when someone is infected, his sexual partner is infected, too.
In practice, no, because it is not used as intended: an infection is transmitted through the genital secretions the partners pass to each other during the foreplay, before the application of the condom. If the condom is put on just before vaginal penetration, it only protects from an undesired pregnancy. Furthermore, after using a condom, one touches the vaginal secretions found on the condom in order to took it off and then touches the genital area transmitting this way an infection. Moreover, the scrotal area was exposed to the vaginal secretions, as it was not covered by the condom. Once the condom is taken off and the penis touches the scrotum, the infection could be transmitted.
Concluding, the condom protects from an infection only if it is put on before any foreplay or contact with the genital secretions and only if it is taken off after washing the genital area. Since this practice is hardly implemented, whenever your sexual partner has an infection, you shall both follow a proper regimen at the same time.
It depends on the kind of abnormalities. There are cases where none of the spermatozoa is perfect, but the majority bears slight deviations from normal values, which means that these spermatozoa can fertilize the egg. The morphological abnormalities describe the difficulty a spermatozoon faces in fertilizing the egg. For some of them it will be harder, for others it will be easier. In a semen analysis, the description of the kind of morphological abnormalities in detail will guide the diagnosis and help the urologist prescribe the proper treatment.
The medications for the treatment of erectile dysfunction cannot negatively affect sperm quality. These products can improve the ejaculation by improving the erection.
However, there is an indirect relation between these medications and sperm quality. If there is erectile dysfunction, the use of these medications increases the male partner’s self-confidence, improves his mood for more frequent sexual intercourse, i.e. more frequent ejaculations, and therefore better sperm quality. Moreover, the more the sexual intercourse the better the chance to have sex inside the fertile period. Often, the effort to conceive is stressful negatively affecting the erectile function, especially during the fertile days. The use of medications that assist to the erectile function can improve the quality of sexual contacts.
CAUTION: do never use these medications without consulting your urologist, because the erectile dysfunction may not be due only to the stress, but to some other cause that the urologist is competent to diagnose and advise for the proper treatment.