Addressing Male Infertility
Statistics show that men struggle with infertility at the same rate as women, but male-factor infertility is often overlooked as a potential cause. Infertility can be an emotionally stressful condition for men to navigate, but possible treatment options are available. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a potential solution to the condition. The first step is to find the underlying cause of infertility. A common reason is issues with sperm motility, which limits the chances of pregnancy. In vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are forms of ART that can help achieve pregnancy. Knowing which procedure to select will help improve outcomes.
Why your sperm’s motility matters
Men struggling to conceive should visit a doctor, urologist, or reproductive specialist immediately. The doctor will perform a semen analysis, which can pinpoint possible reasons for infertility. Sperm motility, or the ability of sperm to move effectively, can be a potential concern. If sperm cannot move quickly and efficiently, sperm cells cannot swim through the fallopian tubes to penetrate an egg released by the ovaries. During a sperm analysis, motility is typically measured based on how many sperm move and the movement patterns assessed under a microscope. The fertility team categorizes sperm as progressive motility, non-progressive motility, or immotile. Individuals with a significant percentage of immotile sperm can be infertile.
Taking a traditional approach with IVF
In vitro fertilization is an effective solution for male-factor infertility, including men with serious motility challenges. With IVF, a fertility team takes a sperm sample to combine with eggs extracted from a woman’s ovaries. The woman is required to take hormone medication to develop multiple follicles, which are then surgically removed. An embryologist will fertilize the eggs with the sperm sample in a special petri dish. With IVF, the sperm is required to move and fertilize the eggs naturally. This process should ideally result in the creation of multiple embryos, which can then be used for implantation and potential pregnancy. While IVF has high success rates, this process may be less effective with poor motility. Sperm may struggle to reach and penetrate the egg naturally.
A targeted solution with ICSI
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is a specialized technique used in conjunction with IVF. This procedure requires specialized expertise from the embryologist. With ICSI, the embryologist injects a single healthy sperm directly into each mature egg. This extra step provides more control and can help naturally create multiple embryos. ICSI also bypasses the need for the sperm to fertilize the egg naturally. The procedure is also essential for other forms of severe male infertility, like extremely low sperm count and sperm morphology. Repeatedly failed IVF cycles or surgically retrieved sperm are other reasons when ICSI may be used.
ICSI vs IVF
While ICSI promises more control, this procedure is not typically recommended for all cases of male-factor infertility. IVF is helpful as a first line of fertility treatment for women and men and may be attempted in cases of mild male-factor infertility. However, IVF requires enough sperm in each sample to increase the chances of success. Note that motility is a critical factor in IVF success. ICSI is strongly recommended in cases of significant male-factor infertility, low sperm count, and other issues that restrict natural fertilization.
Empower your fertility journey
Male infertility due to poor sperm motility needs medical support. Natural conception will be challenging due to declining sperm health. Using fertility treatments like IVF and ICSI can help. ICSI is particularly useful for individuals with poor sperm motility. IVF still relies on sperm’s ability to fertilize the egg when placed with an egg in the laboratory. ICSI involves more control, allowing a single sperm to be directly introduced into the egg. IVF and ICSI have similar success rates, so ICSI is not a replacement for IVF in cases of healthy sperm. A reproductive specialist will consider ICSI to battle poor motility.
