Male infertility - an overview

Published on October 31, 2023   54 min

A selection of talks on Reproduction & Development

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0:00
Welcome. Good day and greetings to you. I'm Professor Dr. Pandiyan Natarajan, chief consultant in andrology and reproductive sciences at Apollo 24/7 and NOVA IVF Fertility. I have recently concluded my tenure at Chettinad Super Specialty Hospital and I am now holding the position of Professor Emeritus at the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University.
0:25
The prevailing trend suggests a perception of declining fertility and increasing infertility. While there are arguments both in favor of and against this notion, the available evidence is not definitively conclusive. A clear consensus regarding the decline in fertility or the rise in infertility is lacking.
0:44
Infertility is typically defined as the inability to achieve conception after a year of consistent unprotected sexual activity. It's worth noting that multiple definitions of infertility exist, including clinical, demographic, and epidemiological perspectives. Recently, there has been scrutiny surrounding the applicability of this one year time frame to all age groups. Additionally, this definition does not precisely outline what constitutes regular unprotected intercourse. The term regular remains ambiguous. Is it once, weekly, monthly, or daily? This vagueness can significantly impact the probability of achieving pregnancy. Various definitions of infertility exist, each with its limitations.
1:31
Referencing a study conducted in the UK, the distribution of infertility causes is depicted in this slide. Male factors contribute to 30% of cases, while female factors account for 45%. Within female factors, tubal issues contribute to 20% and ovulatory disorders to 25%. Unexplained infertility contributes 25%.