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Erectile dysfunction vs. infertility
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve and maintain an erection for pleasing sexual penetration. Infertility is the inability to achieve pregnancy after regular unprotected sex for at least a year. They are two different reproductive health issues.
Problems with getting and maintaining an erection does not necessarily mean you are incapable of impregnating your partner or that you are infertile. You may be producing perfectly good sperm, but have trouble sustaining an erection. This is erectile dysfunction. With infertility, you may have no issue with achieving an erection at all, but your sperm quality is low.
Where the two overlap:
With erection problems, you are unable to deliver sperm during intercourse for conception to occur. Erectile dysfunction can interrupt this process or prevent intercourse altogether. Therefore, erectile dysfunction can lead to infertility. As such, erectile dysfunction and infertility are confused and used interchangeably.
Still, they are distinctly different, and having the one need not mean you have the other.
Causes of ED and infertility
ED | Infertility |
· Damage to the blood vessels, nerves and surrounding tissues of the penis – often a result of an underlying condition, such as diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis or atherosclerosis. | · Obstructive problems: blockages in sperm-carrying tubes caused by infection, a vasectomy or prostate-related conditions. |
· Injuries that affect the pelvic area or spinal cord. | · Testicular injury and disease: trauma and torsion (twisting of the testicle cord) can permanently damage sperm production. Mumps can also affect fertility, but only if it causes orchitis (inflammation of the testicles). Cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) is another common cause of failure of sperm production. |
· Substance abuse. | · Varicocele: the abnormal dilation of the testicular veins in the scrotum. |
· Low testosterone levels. | · Sperm disorders: disorders of sperm count, movement and shape. |
· Certain medication. | · Genetic disorders: chromosome problems can affect the development of the testicles, and disrupt cell division and sperm production. |
· Ageing. | · Problems with erection and ejaculation: erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation or failure to ejaculate. |
· Depression. | · Hormonal problems: testosterone deficiency or hyperprolactinaemia (overproduction of the hormone prolactin). |
· Anxiety and stress. | · General medical disorders that reduce fertility: diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, neurological disorders, kidney disease, cancer, and stress. |
· Low self-esteem. | · Drugs that reduce fertility: prescribed medication and recreational drugs can reduce fertility. |
· In most cases a combination of the above factors can lead to erectile dysfunction. | · Environmental toxins and radiation: increasing environmental pollution and radiation damage can lower sperm count. |
Treatment for ED and infertility
ED
To get the best treatment to suit your needs, first get a diagnosis from your doctor who may recommend one of the following:
- Impotence drugs: work by increasing blood flow to the penis in order to get and keep an erection for sex. Sildenafil, tadalafil and verdenafil are examples of such medicines.
- Hormone therapy: testosterone, bromocriptine, and cabergoline are hormonal treatments that may help with erectile dysfunction.Vacuum constriction device: also called the penis pump; this device is used to facilitate getting and maintaining an erection.
- Penile prostheses: also known as penis implants, this offers a permanent solution to erectile dysfunction.
- Vascular reconstructive surgery: can improve blood flow to the penis, which can improve erections.
Infertility
Like erectile dysfunction, knowing the cause of the problem can ensure the correct treatment. Your doctor may suggest that you look to assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). ARTs offer powerful new infertility options to give sperm an artificial boost to get into an egg. It involves collecting sperm (either from ejaculated semen or by a needle from the testicle), and then processing and introducing them to eggs via:
- Intrauterine insemination: sperm are injected directly up into the uterus at the time of ovulation.
- In-vitro fertilisation: sperm are combined with multiple eggs collected from the woman. Fertilised eggs are then placed in the uterus.
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a single sperm is injected through a tiny needle into an egg. The fertilised egg is then implanted in the uterus.
ARTs do not cure or treat the cause of infertility. They merely help couples achieve pregnancy and make conception possible, even for men with very low or abnormal sperm.
Need to know
A balanced diet, exercise, stable (healthy) body weight, quitting smoking, limiting your alcohol intake, and avoiding recreational drugs can all go a long way in preventing erectile dysfunction or infertility. Make sure you manage existing medical conditions as well.
Reduce the chances of harming your sperm by avoiding tight-fitting underwear and clothing. Heat stress can affect the production and quality of sperm. Wear protective clothing and follow all occupational health and safety guidelines, if you work in an occupation that may affect your fertility. Avoid exposure to any possibly harmful chemicals, especially if you are trying to conceive.
References:
Male fertility problems. Netdoctor. [Online]: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-family/a12006/male-fertility-problems/ - Accessed 1 February 2016.
Male infertility. [Online]: https://www.andrologyaustralia.org/your-health/male-infertility/ - Accessed 1 February 2016.
Erectile dysfunction health centre. WebMD. [Online]: http://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/guide/erectile-dysfunction-treatment-care - Accessed 1 February 2016.
Men’s health: Male infertility treatments. WebMD. [Online]: http://www.webmd.com/men/features/male-infertility-treatments - Accessed 1 February 2016.
