• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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BusinessDay

Let’s not get it twisted: Fertility and Virility are different

Fertility

There is a world of difference between virility (potency) and fertility and you should try to not to confuse one with the other. As a man, it could be hard for you to appreciate that ejaculation, sperm count or sperm motility has nothing to do with masculinity or sexual performance.

Virility and fertility are different conditions and should not be mixed up with each other.

Baby-making sex and sex just for the fun of it are to be approached from different perspectives.

You could be potent but infertile and you could be fertile but impotent. As a man, you are often susceptible to thinking that your inability to impregnate a woman compromises your sexuality, but the goal of every man is to be potent and fertile.

Inability to achieve this may make you feel useless and hopeless and if it continues long enough, can lead to performance anxiety and further loss of sexual desire. However, when you are able to learn to separate baby-making sex from sex just for the fun of it, you are on the right track.

As a man you like to think of yourself as enlightened, but in reality, few things put this quality to the test as fast as infertility. Mention male factor infertility at a party and reflexly, most men would flinch, squeeze their knees together and change the subject.

Nowadays things are actually getting better and the atmosphere has relaxed. More men are ready to talk about their personal trials with infertility, even though it’s still mostly women doing the talking.

Medical and scientific advances have also made it easier for men to acknowledge procreative problems, either on their own or as part of an infertile couple.

But then, there is no denying that there should be more men inwaiting rooms supporting their spouses through treatments. Men should be more proactive in seeking information about male factor and pursuing effective therapies.

If you are not inhibited about admitting that you have a challenge becoming a father, you would be surprised just how much you would be willing to do to achieve fatherhood. The bottom line is that you need to know how and when to separate your fertility from your machismo.

Probably you have the general tendency to brush off routine health issues and when you are having infertility issues, it becomes hard to really address these issues. Men are not as readily health seeking as women and it is a problem.

Although it is conventional wisdom that infertility is a couples’ problem and that male factor is the root cause almost half the time, the male partner is often the last to be analyzed and diagnosed.

Discussing Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and infertility in men should occur more often.

It’s important to encourage this trend. For far too long, the male perspective on infertility has not been given the right focus byreproductive professionals and patient advocates. There was even a time that nobody thought that infertility was part of the male agenda. It was a commonly held belief that anything to do with infertility had to begin with the woman.

Men have a point of view on the challenges of virility and fertility. There’s a push-pull between the need for privacy and the need for disclosure and support. The fact is, as a man, this is not a topic that you would talk about when you are with friends. These are issues men do not do well about, man-on-man.

The social stigma associated with infertility challenge does not help your course as a man. Culturally, infertile men are not often regarded as “real” men. Infertile women have their own share of the stigma, but usually find solace in the support of peers and professionals. Infertile men, on the other hand, tend to withdraw into themselves even away from their partners or spouses. Yourspouse could be worried on your behalf and may feel guilty about your inability to impregnate her.

When it comes to male infertility, there are so many myths and misconceptions. It is in your interest to replace them with empathy, understanding and facts. The good news is that more men are feeling more liberated and less humiliated and reticent. If you have a problem getting it up, something can be done about it. Do not confuse erectile dysfunction with infertility.

Impotence and infertility are both problems that can affect yoursexual health and ability to have children, but in different ways.Impotence, otherwise known as erectile dysfunction (ED), refers to trouble getting or maintaining an erection. This can make it difficult or impossible to have intercourse. Infertility, on the other hand, is an inability to produce or release healthy and viable sperm to impregnate a woman.

Many men experience ED and it becomes more common as you get older. For you to achieve a full erection, several different organs, including those within the nervous system, muscles, and blood vessels, need to work in a coordinated fashion. You can have trouble getting an erection if any one of these systems iscompromised.

Erectile Dysfunction can also be related to surgery or radiation to treat prostate cancer or treatments for an enlarged prostate, and can also be caused by emotional issues including stress, guilt, anxiety, low self-esteem and Infertility.

If you’ve been trying to get your partner pregnant for at least a year without success, you may be dealing with infertility. The problem can stem from either partner, or both combined. About one-third of the time, the issue is with the man only.

A man’s infertility can be due to so many problems related to producing or releasing sperm.

The cause for infertility may be unclear. This is because men dealing with infertility often have other symptoms, such as problems with sexual function, reduced desire, swelling in the scrotum, and trouble ejaculating.

If you’re having trouble getting an erection, see a doctor or urologist. Although talking about impotence may be difficult, it’s important to get treated. Letting the problem persist untreated can put a strain on your relationship as well as prevent you from having children.

Your doctor will perform a physical examination and may order lab tests to look for diseases such as diabetes mellitus, heart disease, or hormonal problems that could be causing your erection issues. Based on your examination and laboratory results, your doctor will recommend a treatment plan.

Sometimes, making a few changes to your lifestyle is all it takes, including things like exercising regularly, losing weight, quitting tobacco smoking and cutting back on alcohol.

All of these lifestyle changes can help treat your condition.

When the problem is emotional, seeing a counselor can help you deal with the issues that are making it difficult for you to achieve an erection. Your partner may take part in the therapy sessions.

You should see a doctor if you’ve been trying to conceive for at least a year with no luck.

Your treatment will depend on what’s causing the problem and there are several treatment options.

Understanding the most common causes of impotence, or erectile dysfunction can help you identify why you may be experiencing the condition. For instance, if you’re a smoker experiencing erectile dysfunction or impotence, smoking may be to blame. There are many ways to improve your sexual performance.

This can include improving existing problems or searching for new ways to keep your partner satisfied. Both impotence and infertility can be hard to discuss, even with your doctor. But being open about your condition can help improve your sex life and ensure you get the correct treatment.

 

Abayomi Ajayi

MD/CEO Nordica Fertility

[email protected],