Treatment for male factor infertility & sperm testing.
Male Infertility Support in Toronto & Ontario
Male infertility is more common than many realize. We offer advanced testing and tailored naturopathic care to support sperm quality, hormonal balance, and overall health.
Male Factor Infertility
While most couples usually focus on the female’s cycle, ovulation, and health when trying to conceive, up to 50% of all infertility cases are (partly or completely) impacted by the male counterpart. In fact, male sperm counts have decreased by 50% at a rate of 1.5% per year over the last 60 years — with little sign of slowing down. At Conceive Health, we diagnose and treat male factor infertility to help you grow your family.
The first — and most important — step is to get tested early on in your fertility journey via a semen analysis. This will help identify the following:
The First Step in Understanding Male Fertility
Get clarity early in your fertility journey. A comprehensive semen analysis reveals critical factors like sperm count, motility, shape, and DNA integrity — all of which impact your chances of conceiving.
Optimal Sperm count is at least 20 million per ml to achieve pregnancy. This number can be highly influenced by environmental factors (stress, male hormones, heat, chemicals). The great news is that it can be improved if treated for a full spermatocytic life cycle (almost 100 days).
More specifically, can they swim straight or make headway? Typically, motility is looked at as progressive, non-progressive, and immotile — and it’s normal to have a mix of all three. However, the goal is for 40% of the sperm sample to have progressive motility.
In a nutshell, does everyone have the right shaped head? The morphology is a testament to mature sperm (immature isn’t formed properly). If there is low morphology, the sperm may not be able to swim properly or fertilize the egg. We need at least 4% of the sample to have normal morphology. If morphology is low, we can do a ‘DNA fragmentation test’ to see the extent of the damage.
Viscosity refers to the seminal fluid that the sperm is carried in. If it’s considered sticky, it’s difficult for the sperm to swim.If the male is dehydrated, this can also affect viscosity. Other reasons can be high white blood cells (bacterial contamination of fluid, or infection). On the opposite side, If viscosity or volume is low, then there are some medications and supplements that can help to thin the fluid.
Consider doing an in depth test, called a DNA fragmentation test, if a) your semen analysis reveals low morphology, b) if there is difficulty getting pregnant, or c) if there are repetitive pregnancy losses.
Sperm is a high contributor to placental formation (the development of the placenta) — this may be a reason why the egg isn’t fertilizing, or contributing to miscarriage. It truly does take two to tango (and in this case, egg and sperm). If there is a high level of degradation (fragmentation, like breaks and chips within DNA helix) it indicates a high level of oxidative stress.. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the DNA fragmentation should be less than 30%. If there is not an anatomical issue, then treatment response rates are more than 80% successful — we can genuinely impact DNA fragmentation quickly.
Common Causes of Male Infertility
The common causes of male factor infertility ranges from patient to patient, however it’s typically a result — or a combination — of the following factors:
Blockage of Sperm Transport
- Infections
- Prostate-related problems
- Absence of vas deferens
- Vasectomy
- Sperm Antibodies
- Injury or infection in the epididymis
- Unknown cause
Lifestyle Factors
This one of the top causes of male factor infertility! Numerous studies indicate that poor diet and lifestyle (including stress and sleep patterns) can negatively affect sperm production and maturation.
Hormonal Issues
- Pituitary tumors
- Congenital lack of LH/FSH
- Andropause (low testosterone)
Other Issues (Erection and Ejaculation)
- Retrograde and premature ejaculation
- Failure of ejaculation
- Infrequent intercourse
- Spinal cord injury
- Prostate surgery
- Damage to nerves
- Some medicines
Sperm Production Issues
- Chromosomal or genetic causes
- Undescended testes
- Infections
- Testicular Torsion / Injury
- Heat
- Varicocele
- Drugs and chemicals
- Radiation damage
- Unknown causes
Contact us today to discuss how testing can help you achieve your fertility dreams.
Natural Treatment for Male Infertility
At Conceive Health, we recommend that both partners undergo testing if there is difficulty conceiving. Since it takes approximately 100 days to positively impact a sperm cycle, we often begin with food and lifestyle first, examine circadian rhythms (ie. sleep), review exercise habits , and encourage our patients to halt smoking of any kind. We will then review the best supplement and antioxidant plan for you, based on your sperm analysis and medical history. The key take-home; you get a new kick at the can every 90 days because you turn over your entire sperm cohort — so, once diagnosed, the treatment can be very effective.
FAQs About Male Infertility
Here you will find the answers to the most commonly asked questions about male factor infertility.
Can male factor infertility be cured?
Sometimes. There are several factors that can influence male fertility, including nutrititonal and lifestyle factors, exposure to toxins, stress, infections, and genetics to name a few. Several of these things can be improved with preconception care which can lead to improvements in male fertility. In some cases, such as genetic influences, male infertility might not have a cure. In this case, there are various options (then go into the medical treatments listed in this response).
How long before we see results?
It takes approximately 90 days to impact the health of sperm.
Does alcohol impact sperm health?
The impacts are typically dose dependant and can be influenced by other health factors and genetic predispositions.
Can I continue preconception care after my partner is pregnant?
Antioxidants are not just for sperm and egg health, they also impact other high metabolic activity areas in the body – including heart, brain and liver function.
What is frequency of sex for optimal sperm count?
For sperm collection for a test or procedure its generally recommended to abstain for 2-5 days prior to the test.
What if I miss my partner’s fertile window?
Ready to take the first step?
Contact us today to discuss how preconception care can help you achieve your fertility dreams.