We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
To save content items to your account,
please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies.
If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account.
Find out more about saving content to .
To save content items to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org
is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings
on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part
of your Kindle email address below.
Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations.
‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi.
‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
For many years sperm epigenetics has been a focus of studies hoping to identify novel mechanisms that drive infertility and offspring health abnormalities. This effort has yielded many exciting prospects but to date no direct and firm mechanistic pathways have been fully elucidated. This is largely a result of the unique nature of the mature sperm that is reflected in the distinct epigenetic signatures that are found therein. This unique landscape makes traditional approaches for understanding mechanisms difficult. However, the utility of sperm epigenetic marks in the prediction of specific reproductive outcomes is becoming clearer. While the mechanisms that explain the biological underpinnings of some of the associations between sperm epigenetics and reproductive health have yet to be elucidated, the value that these marks offer in prediction of various reproductive outcomes is becoming clearer.
There is a complex interplay between male sexual dysfunction and male factor infertility, including ejaculatory dysfunctions which are the most common male sexual dysfunction. It is divided into four categories: premature ejaculation (PE), delayed ejaculation (DE), retrograde ejaculation (RE), and anejaculation/anorgasmia (AE). Unfortunately, some of these ejaculatory dysfunctions are less studied and not as well understood. Various pharmacologic treatments and surgical procedures can be offered for patients with ejaculatory dysfunctions seeking fertility. These include the off-label use of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) for PE, surgical (testicular sperm aspiration, testicular sperm extraction, and microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration) and nonsurgical methods (medications, positive predictive value, and electroejaculation) for patients with RE and AE. The interaction between chemical impulses and the modulation of the ejaculation process in an individual patient is necessary to conclude the clinical status of the patient and feasibility of the available treatment techniques. Ultimately, this can help in deciding the best sperm retrieval technique to increase pregnancy outcomes.
Donor insemination (DI) remains a very important treatment option with acceptable pregnancy rates. In order to optimize pregnancy rates with DI, careful consideration should be given to various aspects of this service, including the recruitment and screening of sperm donors, cryopreservation of semen, and the screening and management of recipients. This chapter examines these important aspects of treatment to consider how to optimize DI services in the future. Treatment using DI was initially designed to treat male factor infertility. However, DI remains a therapeutic option for male factor infertility when either too few or no sperm are obtained at surgical sperm aspiration. With the advent of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) many assumed that DI would become a very limited treatment. Although the numbers of cycles have reduced considerably there has been an increasing trend for DI to be used for other groups of patients such as single women and lesbians.
Rational treatment of the infertile male requires a correct and complete etiological diagnosis. Varicocele develops during puberty, and it is the most common cause of male infertility with prevalence varying between 30 and 60 percent. Thermography, endovascular treatment, and transcatheter embolization are treatment options for varicocele patients. Male accessory gland infection (MAGI) may result from infestation by sexually transmitted pathogens. The prevalence of immunological infertility is related to that of the diseases initiating the antibody formation, but it is no more than 5 percent in our population. Idiopathic sperm deficiency probably results from the combination of unfavorable external and lifestyle factors which includes conditions like idiopathic oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, or teratozoospermia. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is an effective mode of treatment but if IUI remains unsuccessful after a maximum of four cycles, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) should be recommended.
This chapter deals firstly with the anatomy and physiology of male reproduction, and then gives an account of the aetiology and management of male factor infertility. The male reproductive system consists of the penis, testes, ejaculatory ducts and accessory sex glands. The testis produces the majority (6-7 mg/day) of testosterone, although a small amount is also produced by the adrenal glands. Spermatogenesis and synthesis of testosterone are under control of the anterior pituitary gland. Prior to investigating the infertile male, the clinician must ensure that the female partner has been thoroughly evaluated. The World Health Organization has defined the minimal semen parameters for fertility. These parameters are volume, pH, sperm concentration, total sperm number, motility and morphology. The surgical causes of male infertility include varicocele and cryptorchidism. The infertile male should be managed in a tertiary centre where appropriate facilities exist for microsurgery, assisted conception techniques and cryostorage of sperm.
Recommend this
Email your librarian or administrator to recommend adding this to your organisation's collection.