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The treatment and management of infertility in men will depend on the underlying cause or causes of the infertility. Treatment will focus on correcting any structural or hormonal abnormalities that may be influencing infertility. This may be accomplished through medications or surgery. Lifestyle changes and other treatments, such as assisted reproductive technologies (ART) may be used to enhance semen quality and increase the likelihood of fertilization.
The ultimate goal of infertility treatment is a pregnancy ending in the birth of a healthy baby. Infertility treatments can be lengthy and expensive. They are not always covered by medical insurance, and they are not always successful.
Treatment involves the following:
Lifestyle changes
Medications
Surgery
Alternative and complementary therapies
Other treatments
References:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Guideline: management of infertility caused by ovulatory dysfunction. Obstet Gynecol. 2002;99:247-258.
American Society for Reproductive Medicine website. Available at: http://www.asrm.org/ .
American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Guideline: optimal evaluation of the infertile female. Fertil and Steril. 2004;82:S169-S172.
International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination, Inc. website. Available at: http://www.inciid.org/ .
RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association website. Available at: http://www.resolve.org/ .
Sharlip ID, Jarrow J, Beiiker AM, et al. Report on optimal evaluation of the infertile male. J Urol. 2002;167:2138-2144.
Shefi S, Turek PJP. Definition and current evaluation of subfertile men. Internat Braz J Urol. 2006;32:385-397.
Last reviewed November 2008 by Adrienne Carmack, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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