Male Sexual Dysfunction and Infertility
MercyOne North Iowa's Dr. Christopher Adams discusses avaialble treatments for erectile dysfunction and infertility.
Our expert urology team offers leading-edge treatments for men who are experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED) and infertility. ED affects men of all ages but most commonly after age 40.
ED, or impotence, is the inability to get and keep an erection hard enough for sex. Having occasional erection trouble isn’t necessarily a cause for worry. But when erectile dysfunction is an ongoing problem, it causes stress and relationship problems and hurts your self-confidence. Problems achieving or maintaining an erection can be signs of some underlying health condition that requires treatment. It is also a risk factor for heart disease.
If you’re concerned about ED, talk to your provider – even if you’re embarrassed. Remember that many men experience this problem. Don’t let embarrassment keep you from a solution. By treating an underlying condition, we can sometimes reverse erectile dysfunction. At other times, a solution can be found in medications or other direct treatments.
Male infertility
Infertility affects about 13 percent of couples who have unprotected sex for at least one year. Of these, about one-third are specifically male infertility problems. There are many possible causes for male infertility:
- Abnormal sperm production
- Sperm delivery problems
- Damage related to cancer treatment
- Overexposure to environmental factors (smoking, alcohol, marijuana, certain medications, frequent heat exposure, etc.)
- Obesity or underweight
- Lack of sufficient exercise
Treatments for male infertility include:
- Surgery – A varicocele can be surgically corrected. An obstructed vas deferens can be repaired and prior vasectomies can be reversed. When there are no sperm in ejaculate, sperm can often be retrieved directly from the testes using advanced retrieval techniques.
- Treatment for Infection – Antibiotic treatment might cure an infection of the reproductive tract, but it cannot always restore fertility.
- Treatment for Sexual Intercourse Problems – Medication or counseling can help improve conditions such as erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation.
- Hormone Therapies and Medications – We might recommend hormone replacement therapy or certain medications in cases where infertility is caused by high or low levels of certain hormones or problems with the way your body uses hormones.
Male Sexual Dysfunction and Infertility Frequently Asked Questions
