FCC Fertility Blog

From kidney issues to eye complications, it’s a well-established fact that diabetes has multiple negative effects on the body. For men, this includes both fertility and sexual health issues.

While infertility is often discussed as being a female reproductive issue, male factor infertility plays a role in about half of all cases. As such, couples who have been trying to conceive for a long time without any success often turn to semen analysis testing to determine whether there are any issues with the male’s fertility. Here are some common questions that patients have about the exam.

In a traditional pregnancy, conception happens when sperm travels from the penis into the vagina, through the cervical area, and through the uterus before finally arriving in the fallopian tube, where it fertilizes an egg that has traveled from an ovary.

Sperm banks, which are typically known for sperm donation or sperm freezing, often aren’t considered by people who are looking for frozen egg and embryo storage options. While it’s true that some sperm banks are focused only on sperm, some, such as the Fertility Center of California, have the capacity and expertise to expand their cryopreservation storage space to more than just sperm.

Like all forms of third-party reproduction, sperm donation is an act of generosity in which one person provides an individual or a couple with the means to create the family of their dreams. However, the process of becoming a sperm donor is often misunderstood.

Throughout most of human history, expectant individuals and couples had to wait until a baby was born to know whether they were having a boy or a girl. As medical care became more technologically advanced, prospective parents were able to learn of their child’s sex during an ultrasound or specific early testing. Today, technology has taken the science of sex another step further with gender selection.

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), there are approximately 17,810 new cases of spinal cord injury in the United States every year, with 78% of these cases happening to men.

Although infertility is frequently considered to be primarily a female issue, it’s estimated that up to 30% of cases are related to male infertility complications. These complications include issues such as:

●  Sperm disorders

●  Retrograde ejaculation

●  Obstructions in the reproductive system

●  Hormonal imbalances

●  Varicoceles, which are swollen veins in the scrotum

●  Genetic defects

Sperm freezing, or sperm banking, is becoming an increasingly popular option for men looking to preserve their fertility or expand their future reproductive options. Whether you are experiencing a health issue, making a lifestyle choice that can impact future fertility, want to delay family building to a later point in life, or simply want to play a more active role in the family planning process, freezing can help you take control of your fertility health.

When discussing infertility, most conversations are focused on female factors. For example, it’s a fairly well-known fact that women’s ovarian reserves and egg quality diminish as they get older. What many people may not realize is that infertility is just as common in men as it is in women.