Varicocele Repair Leads to a Happy Father’s Day
A varicocele is an abnormal dilation of veins around the testicle which damage testicular cell function and can have an adverse impact on sperm production. Varicoceles are found in 15% of men in the general population and 40% of men presenting for male fertility evaluations, making a varicocele the most common correctable cause of male […]
AFRM opens andrology laboratory at South Austin location for semen analyses and IUIs
Andrology laboratory services are a crucial need in the care of fertility patients. These services include the semen analysis, which is the cornerstone of the male fertility evaluation, as well as higher level functional testing such as sperm DNA fragmentation testing. Austin Fertility & Reproductive Medicine/Westlake IVF has traditionally offered such diagnostic andrology services at […]
Dr. Parviz Kavoussi co-authors study on global use of antioxidants for male infertility.
The use of antioxidants for infertile men is a common clinical practice globally; however, there is a great deal of variation between practice patterns amongst physicians worldwide on whether antioxidants are given, for which patients, which antioxidants, in what combinations, and at what dosing. The truth is there is not confirmed definitive benefit of antioxidant […]
Challenges Finding Male Fertility Specialists
Infertility affects up to 15% of all couples worldwide, and up to 50% of these couples will have a male factor contribution. Common causes of male infertility may result from hormonal or anatomical issues, such as varicoceles. These are important to identify because if corrected, they can improve semen parameters and pregnancy rates. Other procedures […]
Marijuana: Good or Bad for Male Fertility?
As more and more states legalize marijuana, there has been a corresponding increase in its utilization. In fact, it’s been estimated that 16.5% of adults in the US regularly use marijuana. Understandably, this has led to increased interest in possible health benefits and risks, including its potential effects on male fertility. There is evidence that […]
Men with an atrophic testicle due to damage from varicocele get improvement in fertility with repair
Forty percent of men with infertility have a varicocele which is identified by physical examination. A varicocele is an abnormal dilation of veins around the testicle which has been well established to cause an adverse effect on testicular function. This includes decreasing semen parameters over time as well as causing an increase in sperm DNA […]
E-cigarettes may have negative effects on Sperm Counts
Billed as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes, the popularity of electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, has increased in recent years. While e-cigarettes do contain fewer chemicals and may be beneficial in adults as a substitute for smoked tobacco products, they are far from safe. E-cigarettes contain nicotine, heavy metals, and other volatile organic compounds, all […]
The team at AFRM has a 71% sperm retrieval rates with microTESE for men with sperm count of zero
Non-obstructive azoospermia (having a sperm count of zero due to a failure of adequate production of sperm rather than a blockage), arguably poses the most challenging scenario for a couple with infertility. Over the last couple of decades, the technique of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (MicroTESE) has been developed and refined to offer couples in […]
Dr. Parviz Kavoussi co-authors guideline for clinicians on sperm DNA fragmentation
As 60% of couples struggling with infertility have a male factor contribution in their difficulty conceiving, higher levels of testing of the male partner is necessary. Since the 1600s, the traditional semen analysis has been the cornerstone of the male fertility evaluation. This includes measuring the semen volume, the sperm concentration (number of millions of […]
The Role of Male Sex Hormones
While female hormones may get more media attention, male hormones are just as critical to reproductive health. When the body produces too little or too much of any of the male sex hormones, it can have a detrimental effect. A thorough check-up with a urologist who specializes in male reproductive/sexual health may be the best […]
