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Subfertility

Subfertility - How to prevent?

Subfertility - Causes and Risk Factors

Subfertility - Treatments

Treatment can broadly be divided into lifestyle management, medications, or surgical therapy. In general, the choice of treatment depends on the underlying cause for the infertility, as well as you and your partner’s preferences. 

Lifestyle modifications: Alterations to lifestyle and/or environmental exposures can have a positive effect on sperm parameters, including -

  • Physical exercise: Regular moderate-to-high intensity exercise is recommended, as it has not only been shown to result in better sperm parameters, but improves a man’s hormonal profile as well. It also has an added benefit of decreasing the risk of several long-term chronic diseases.
  • Weight loss: Weight loss, especially for obese individuals, can have a positive effect on both sperm parameters and testosterone levels.
  • Smoking cessation
  • Moderate alcohol consumption: Heavy long-term alcohol consumption negative affects hormone levels, and should be moderated.
Medications:
  • Antioxidants: There might be some improvements with sperm parameters with use of antioxidants like Vitamin C and E and coenzyme Q10, and can be taken.
  • Hormone medications: These medications are generally prescribed if the hormone evaluation is abnormal; they aim to modulate hormone levels which then improves testicular function and induces sperm production.
Surgery:
  • Sperm retrieval: These are techniques to obtain sperm directly from the testis or epididymis when sperms are absent in the semen. This is done via a surgical procedure, and a biopsy of the testis is usually also performed at the same time.
  • Varicocelectomy: For patients with varicocele, the blood present within the engorged veins increases the temperature of the scrotum, which compromises sperm production and fertility. A varicocelectomy might be performed, where the engorged veins are cut through a small incision in the scrotum.
Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART): These are performed in conjunction with our colleagues from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and includes:
  • Intrauterine insemination: Involves introduction of sperms directly into the womb of the female at the time of ovulation.
  • In-vitro fertilisation (IVF): Involves retrieval of eggs from the female, which are then inseminated with sperms obtained from the male. The fertilised embryos are then implanted into the uterus.

Subfertility - Preparing for surgery

Subfertility - Post-surgery care

Subfertility - Other Information

The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

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