Male Infertility: Finding the Right Care in Atlanta
Posted on June 9, 2022
A man’s role in conception is often simplified, but the reality is nuanced and complex. Male infertility, and it’s more common than you may think, accounting for 20 to 30 percent of infertility cases, and there are many possible causes.
What is male factor infertility?
Male factor infertility is defined as an abnormality in sperm production, function or delivery that impedes a couple from establishing a pregnancy. If you have been trying to conceive for 12 months or more, you may want to schedule a semen analysis that evaluates sperm count, motility, and morphology to determine how male factor may be contributing to infertility.
Sperm Count
A healthy sperm count is an essential measure of overall health – with a lower sperm count, your chance of getting pregnant decreases. Low sperm count may be caused by several different factors, including genetics, past surgeries, general health, or sexually transmitted diseases. Possible treatment options include surgery, antibiotics, medication/counseling, and hormone treatments. Although many causes of a low sperm count require medical intervention, lifestyle choices are also a factor. If you want to improve your sperm count without medical intervention, you may want to consider modifying your diet, taking vitamin supplements, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco.
Sperm motility
Motility, sometimes referred to as the “mobility” of sperm, describes the movement and swimming of sperm to reach the ovulated egg. Poor sperm motility means that the sperm do not swim properly, which can lead to male infertility. Typically, when sperm motility is poor, other problems are found with sperm health.
Sperm morphology
Sperm morphology refers to the size and shape of sperm. Sperm must meet specific sets of criteria to be considered normal, and a sperm analysis will assess morphology. The head shape is important, because it affects the sperm’s ability to dissolve the outer surface of an egg and fertilize it. If you have discovered that your sperm morphology is in the low range, your diet and lifestyle can impact the health of future sperm.
Other possible causes of male infertility include blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm, hormone problems, infections, retrograde ejaculation, undescended testicles, and/or varicocele. A physical examination and genetic testing can help identify specific obstacles to fertility and determine if there are any inherited disorders. By understanding what may be causing your difficulty of conception, you can be proactive by taking the next steps to visit a fertility specialist.
Treating Male Factor Infertility at RBA
At Reproductive Biology Associates in Atlanta, GA, Dr. Michael A. Witt, specializes in treating male infertility, sexual function, and urology. He joined Reproductive Biology Associates in 1995 and specializes in treating male infertility, sexual function, and urology. Dr. Witt received his medical degree from Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a Diplomat of the American Urology Association, a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and the American Society of Andrology.
Dr. Witt is also active in both the Georgia and Atlanta Urological Societies. He is board-certified in urology by the American Board of Urology. He completed his residency at Boston University Hospital and male infertility fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. Before joining Reproductive Biology Associates, Dr. Witt was an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at the Emory University School of Medicine.
Dr. Witt has published over twenty articles in medical journals and written numerous medical text chapters on the treatment of male infertility. He has participated in many patient education seminars and has been featured on the Learning Channel and CNN in stories relating to infertility. Atlanta Magazine has honored Dr. Witt as one of “Atlanta’s Top Docs.”
