Trying to get pregnant?

About 50% of the cases of infertility are actually related to the man

1 out of every 7 couples in Israel faces a fertility problem, but contrary to the common perception that the source of the problem lies mostly with the women, in about 50% of the cases the source of the problem is in the man

In collaboration with Raphael Hospital

31/08/2022

Wednesday, August 31, 2022, 12:38 p.m

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The Men's Health Center at the Raphael Hospital in Tel Aviv offers comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of fertility problems originating from men.

The male fertility clinic operates under the leadership of Dr. Dana Livna, an expert in male fertility and in urological surgery and innovative microscopic surgeries.

Dr. Dana Livna (Photo: Courtesy of the photographer)

"Over the years, I have treated many couples who underwent fertility treatments without a preliminary examination of the man. In one case, I met a couple who underwent a year and a half of fertility treatments, without examining the man, and it finally turned out that he suffered from testicular cancer. After several cycles of fertility, which included daily injections of hormones, egg retrieval in the room Surgery, exhausting follow-ups, and a nerve-wracking wait every month when no embryo developed, they came to me and a physical examination revealed a lump in the testicle. The meaning of the late diagnosis, apart from the unsuccessful fertility treatments, are the metastases that were discovered, so that after the testicle removal he needed complementary chemical treatment. When a couple encountered In a fertility problem, the examination of the man is just as essential as the examination of the woman, its purpose is to find out the causes of infertility, including those that are life-threatening. It is possible that if he had been examined earlier, the disease could have been discovered at an earlier stage. In this case, the end was happy and after receiving appropriate treatment, Make the couple happy parents."

Shares Dr. Livna.

Difficulty conceiving can be a stressful and frustrating process, but it is important to remember that quick diagnosis and correct treatment may shorten the path for both partners and lead to the desired result, pregnancy.

The possible reasons for infertility among men are diverse.

The origin of fertility problems in men is just as diverse as in women, and requires consideration and a thorough and thorough examination of the man.

Many times, the problem will manifest itself as a decrease in the quantity or quality of the sperm, but not necessarily, the process of producing the sperm consists of the production of the sperm that originates in the testicles and its transfer with the help of the sperm tube to the urethra, therefore the source of the problem may be in one of the three stations.

Also, the sperm creation process is affected by hormones, the general state of health as well as dietary habits and lifestyles.

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- The most common cause of fertility problems that can be treated.

(It exists in 15% of the general population and in 30-40% of men with fertility problems) A varicocele is an expansion of the veins that drain the testicle.

The thought is that the enlarged veins cause the conditions in the testicle to change, including the increase in temperature and the accumulation of substances that harm the normal production of sperm.

Eliminating these veins in a small operation with a microscopic approach may improve sperm counts in about 70% of cases, and in some cases even help a couple who was a candidate for fertility treatments to get pregnant naturally.

Even among couples undergoing fertility treatments, varicocele repair can reduce the number of treatments until pregnancy.

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- can be caused by inflammation of the testicle (orchitis), various infectious diseases (gonorrhea, syphilis, AIDS).

- Lack of development of part of the sperm carrying system that drains the testicle.

In addition, blockages can also result from past surgeries such as: fixation of the testicles, repair of the drucella (water drainage in the testicles), prostate surgeries, various abdominal surgeries and even surgeries to repair hiatus hernias may cause unilateral/bilateral blockage of the spermatic ducts.

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- problems with sexual desire, erection problems, premature ejaculation, pain during intercourse, as well as psychological problems or in the relationship between the spouses.

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- a congenital problem in which the testicle is not in the scrotum, even after surgery to lower and fix the testicle at a young age, long-term fertility may still be affected.

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- smoking, excessive drinking of alcohol, drug consumption, obesity and high exposure to stressful situations.

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- Exposure to high doses of radiation, prolonged exposure to heavy metals such as lead, prolonged heating of the scrotum - Exposure to high temperature over time can damage sperm counts (regular use of hot tubs, heated seats).

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- a decrease in testosterone levels, an imbalance in the thyroid gland and other hormones can manifest in a decrease in sperm production.

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- taking medicines that reduce sperm production such as long-term treatment with testosterone, long-term use of anabolic steroids (used to increase muscle mass), chemotherapy drugs, anti-anxiety and depression drugs.

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- a condition in which semen is ejected into the bladder instead of being ejected out.

May be caused in various situations: diabetes, spinal injuries, various surgeries in the bladder area, abdominal surgeries, prostate and urethra surgeries.

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- various syndromes that are inherited and may affect male fertility such as: Klinefelter syndrome, Kalman cystic fibrosis syndrome.

Operating room, Raphael Hospital (Photo: Amit Gron)

What are the solutions?

Modern medicine and advanced technologies offer us a whole spectrum of solutions starting from conservative treatments, drug/hormonal treatments and ending with advanced surgical treatments.

It is important to know that before approaching the solutions, the problem must be diagnosed through a visit to a urologist who specializes in the treatment of male fertility (andrology) and having a series of recommended tests.

Male fertility problems can be treated, in some cases even with immediate and relatively simple solutions.

We remind you that in about 50% of the cases in Israel the source of the problem is the man and in some cases both partners have a problem that should be diagnosed and treated at the same time.

A correct diagnosis can save you time, unnecessary treatments for your partner, and bring you closer to the desired pregnancy.

According to the accepted definition, when trying to get pregnant for over a year without using contraceptives.

However, even after several months it is possible to start clearly, especially if it is age 35 or older and in any case each of the spouses should be examined independently.

In the Men's Health Center at the Raphael Hospital, there is a male fertility clinic, led by Dr. Dana Livna, an expert in urology and andrology who has many years of experience treating many couples in the field of male fertility, which includes conservative, hormonal treatments and advanced microscopic surgeries in Israel and at Mount Sinai Hospital in Canada.

Health Center The Men's Center at Raphael Hospital is a unique center of its kind in Israel, specializing in men's health, including a comprehensive fertility assessment, offering a holistic treatment package, and responding to his many needs. The center specializes in other areas related to men's health, including prostate cancer treatment and sexual function.

For more information and consultation coordination>>

Raphael Hospital, Atidim Park Tel Aviv. Photographer: Amit Goron (Photo: ShutterStock, Amit Goron)

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