What Are Male Infertility Issues?
Male infertility issues are caused by the quality or volume of the sperm. Oftentimes, these men suffer from erectile dysfunction, low sex drives, and testicular pain long before realizing there’s a problem. According to the Mayo Clinic, less than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen signifies a low sperm count. Another fertility issue is sperm motility. Abnormal sperm cells have a hard time traveling through the cervix to fertilize the egg. Therefore, the sperm cannot penetrate the egg.
Are there risks associated with artificial insemination?
As with any medical procedure, there are some risks associated with artificial insemination. Surprisingly, artificial insemination may increase the chances of multiple births. In addition to artificial insemination, many couples also use fertility drugs to improve the chances of conception. The woman produces more eggs and the sperm fertilizes them which may lead to twins, triplets, or more.
With multiple births come other complications such as:
- Gestational diabetes
- Miscarriage
- Premature births
OHSS is another concern
Another issue with artificial insemination is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. OHSS affects women who take fertility medication. Although rare, the condition causes ovarian swelling. Symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
To treat OHSS, doctors usually encourage patients to drink lots of water and will prescribe medication to patients suffering from severe complications. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) patients also risk infection and vaginal bleeding but risks are minimal.
The Benefits of Artificial Insemination
A couple’s success rate depends on the number of cycles they go through along with other factors such as:
- The age of the female
- The male’s sperm count and quality
- The cause of the female’s infertility issues
Doctors work with couples for three to six months to perform treatments. One of the major benefits of the treatment is conception. Some couples can have one or more children using the procedure.
