Male Infertility - Clinical Flashcards
Male infertility is responsible for what percentage of cases of infertility?
1/3rd
Male infertility is usually associated with abnormalities in what?
Semen analysis
What is the most common reason for male infertility?
Unknown (idiopathic)
If there is a known cause for male infertility, what are the two categories these causes can be split into?
Obstructive and non-obstructive
What are some obstructive causes of male infertility?
CF (absence of vas deferens), infections e.g. chlamydia, vasectomy
What is a congenital, non-obstructive cause of male infertility?
Cryptorchidism
What is an infective cause of non-obstructive male infertility?
Mumps orchitis
What are the two main iatrogenic causes of non-obstructive male infertility?
Chemo and radiotherapy
What is the major pathological cause of non-obstructive male infertility?
Testicular tumour
What is a genetic cause of non-obstructive male infertility?
Kleinfelter’s (XXY)
What are some more general causes of non-obstructive male infertility?
Specific semen abnormality, systemic illness, endocrine conditions
What are the 7 main things to ask about in a history of male infertility?
Infertility history/sexual function, general health, genitourinary infections, surgery to the genital tract, medications and therapies, environmental exposures, recreational drugs
What are some medications which may adversely affect spermatogenesis?
Hormone therapy, steroids, sulphasalazine, alpha blockers, 5 alpha reductase inhibitors
What are some environmental exposures that may contribute to male infertility?
Pesticides, excessive heat on the testicles
What recreational drugs are particularly bad for causing male infertility?
Marijuana and excessive alcohol
What are some endocrine causes of male infertility?
Pituitary tumours, hypothalamic problems, thyroid disorders, diabetes, CAH, androgen insensitivity, steroid abuse
What will happen to the levels of LH, FSH and testosterone if there is a pituitary tumour?
They will all decrease
What are some more specific features that a pituitary tumour may cause depending on its type?
Acromegaly, Cushing’s, hyperprolactinaemia
What will happen to the levels of LH, FSH and testosterone if there is a hypothalamic cause for male infertility?
They will all decrease
What are some examples of hypothalamic causes for male infertility?
Idiopathic, Kallmann’s, tumours, anorexia
What may be some changes associated with a thyroid disorder (either hyper or hypo) causing male infertility?
Decreased sexual function and increased prolactin
What may be some changes associated with diabetes being the cause for male infertility?
Decreased sexual function and decreased testosterone
What happens to testosterone levels in congenital adrenal hyperplasia?
Increased
What will happen to the levels of LH and testosterone in androgen insensitivity syndrome?
Normal or increased