How to Conceive With Low Male Testosterone

When infertility issues arise, often the burden is on the woman. Many people still assume that the health and viability of woman's eggs are the primary ingredient to a successful pregnancy. However, if a man's testosterone levels are low, this could be the problem. Recently, reproductive medicine has come up with many advances to overcome this hormonal deficiency and aid in helping couples get pregnant.

Instructions

Explaining the Cause and Finding the Solution

• 1

  Hypogonadism, when the testes do not produce enough hormones, has many causes. Occasionally, this can be the result of trauma to the testicles, certain diseases, pituitary tumors or in many causes, radiation and chemotherapeutic treatment. Sometimes, much to the frustration of the patient, the cause simply is unknown.

• 2

  First and foremost, it is crucial that the man undergo a complete and comprehensive testosterone analysis so that a cause for the hypogonadism can be ascertained. This is accomplished by taking blood from a vein in the arm. The testing of his levels is called a testosterone assay.

• 3

  For many cases of unexplained hypogonadism, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is often recommended. TRT has been known in many cases to aid in male fertility issues. Another treatment that has been found to be successful is the use of clomiphene citrate (Clomid). While this is a drug that is normally used by women to regulate ovulation, it has been known to assist in regulating the production of the hormone prolactin, which is necessary to regulate semen potency. Prolactin can be adversely affected in some patients with pituitary tumors.

• 4

  If the man's testosterone can be brought up to normal levels, potent-enough sperm can likely be produced. If this is successful, there is nothing standing in the way of initiating a successful conception.

• 5

  Assuming that the issue of low testosterone is solved and conception has still not occurred, the couple may choose to undergo Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). One technique in ART is called ICSI (intracytoclasmic sperm injection). Essentially, the male's sperm is inserted via hypodermic needle directly into a mature egg. This is often used if the sperm has low motility, which is essentially the sperm's inability to swim toward a waiting egg.