Tag: varicocele

April 15, 2022 Male Infertility Post a Comment

Male Fertility Is An Important Factor. Don’t Ignore It!

Generally, we think of infertility as being mostly or exclusively a female problem, but did you know that male and female infertility are equally prevalent? Now, it's time to talk about the men. We recount some surprising secrets about male fertility and male reproductive health.
Dad's health is just as important as mum's for healthy babies. Among couples struggling with infertility, complications specific to the man's health are the sole cause or the contributing cause about 40% of the time, says Dr. Himanshu Dhawan (BAMS). 
'The major issues we see in most of the men are related to their reduced sperm count, motility—the capacity for sperm to propel towards the egg – and reducing numbers of normally shaped sperm.'
Problems with sperms might also indicate underlying health concerns like high blood pressure, skin disorders, heart issues, vascular problems, & endocrine (gland) disorders.

Unknown Facts About Male Infertility You Must Know

There are 'n' numbers of problems that males are resilient to tell & show. Male infertility is one of the major issues which can dig deep into any man's confidence. But, the conditions can be improved & treated. People believe different things about male infertility, which has nothing to do with all such conditions. You might know about different myths, which revolve around male infertility problems, but in this article, we will explain some interesting facts that you might not be aware of till now. These facts have been verified by proficient Ayurvedic doctor Himanshu Dhawan (BAMS), who specializes in male fertility cases.

Did You Know???

  • Men are not Becoming Fathers, it's on the Rise.

There have been improved cases that show that men are unable to become fathers & this is becoming more common. There are around 7% of men in India face infertility issues & are not able to become fathers. It is a growing problem and mainly for those over the age of 35 years. The exact cause of it is not known, but their sperm rate decreases by almost 52%, which is a lot. It keeps on declining every year & hence it can cause numerous problems.

  • Men too have a Biological Clock (Effects of Aging).

It means just as women have a specific time in which the chances are high of becoming pregnant, the same is the case with men, too. The  rate for men decreases after the age of 40 years & then it becomes difficult for men to become fathers. Even if their partner becomes pregnant, the tendency of miscarriage rises. Thus, there is a particular time under which you should try for parenthood to prevent all such problems. 
Having a child after the age of 40 years or while having some kind of infertility issues can even impact your child & result in autism, schizophrenia, & cancer in childhood. Therefore, it is advised to consult your doctor & plan your pregnancy.

  • Food Choices are Linked to Sperm Count in Men.

The food choices you eat & the number of meals you take in a day also affect your chances of male infertility & sperm count. Individuals who consume processed meat practically every day have lower sperm counts than those who don't. Doctors also recommend avoiding excessive sugar, fats, red meat, & soya from your diet to enhance your sperm count & help in overall health. For reducing the chances of male infertility, you should eat more fruits rich in antioxidants. 

  • Smoking & Drinking can Lessen Fertility in Men – Skip your Happy Hours.

Not only do tobacco smokers incline to have lower sperm counts, but secondhand smokers also can experience the same problem. A report by World Health Organization shows, "if your partner is experiencing in vitro fertilization with your sperm, & you are a smoker, you face 44% reduction in your pregnancy rate." Excessive alcohol use, meanwhile, can lower the testosterone level, making it harder to get an erection, & is linked to liver diseases, also tied to fertility issues. Other substances which can impair male fertility include marijuana, cocaine, & heroin.

  • Duration of your Sleep can also Affect the Fertility Rate.

In several conditions, the rate of male fertility gets affected by the sleep duration a body gets. This is related to the amount of rest & volume of sperm produced. It is stated that those men who sleep for more than nine hours a day have more reduction in sperm count as compared to the men who sleep for seven hours a day. The ideal duration of sleep defined for young men is around 7 hours to 7.5 hours, which causes a minimal reduction in male sperm count. 

Words from Dr. Himanshu Dhawan

In couples trying to conceive, boosting male fertility is as equally important as optimizing female fertility. Even if they may not know it, men need fertility support too. At Dr. Health, we'd focus on the male side of the equation. Maybe you've been trying with your partner for some time, and you'd like to focus on improving your fertility.
And that's quite the good news – your decision to optimize your fertility is actually very helpful in increasing your chances of becoming a Dad. If you are seeking a good place to start, we will help you!

Author Name:  Kanika Girdhar

Get Free Consultation

November 8, 2021 Ayurveda, Male Infertility Post a Comment

Ayurvedic Varicocele Treatment

Varicocele is like having vascular veins in scrotum or the testes. Vascular veins is a condition where the blood carrying tubes inside a particular body part swell up and stick tight to the inner skin. It is commonly seen in legs but similar condition can be observed in the scrotum (lies inside the testes). The scrotum is the shielding sac around your testes and is responsible for maintaining its shape. 

Having this condition in your scrotum may feel like a bag of worms as the size of your testes gets enlarged. This affects a type of vein termed as pampiniform plexus, which is situated in the spermatic cord. This chord holds vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm, and the testicular artery, which transports blood to the testicles. 

It is a common condition as approximately 15 – 20% of men experience this at least once in their lifetime. In most cases, varicocele is painless and might feel negligible to notice but can sometimes cause an aching sensation around your testes. For some severe cases, varicocele can cause fertility issues and might reduce sperm quality in the long run. Varicocele can happen at almost any age but is most common in teens for the hormonal imbalance in blood flow during puberty. Varicocele typically affects only one side of the testicles, and usually, it’s the left side.

Signs/ symptoms of having varicocele

If you have following signs of varicocele, you should be considering availing a medical consultancy or making the best use of ayurvedic and home remedies:  

  • Formation of lump inside the scrotum or the testicle
  • Swelling in testes
  • Enlargement of the veins of the scrotum
  • Testes size getting shrunk 
  • Discomfort in standing for long periods of time

 

Treating Varicocele by Ayurveda

While the surgical methods pose the possibility of some serious side effects inside the scrotal sac, Ayurveda on the other hand provides similar properties of treatment with no side-effects at all. 

Following are some possible side effects of having surgery to treat varicocele: 

    • Hydrocele – It refers to the condition wherein the accumulation of fluid around the scrotal sac can be observed. It can double up the tissue inflammation.
    • Abnormal body vitals – Abnormal health disorders like feeling nausea, high fever, and aching pain in abdominal/ pelvic region. 
    • Urinals complications – Difficulty in urinating and inability to empty the bladder in one go are common problems post-surgery. 
  • Scrotal swelling and infections – Prolonged infections inside the scrotal sac can be observed if there are some errors in surgical methods opted 

Having understood with the life-threatening side-effects of surgical methods opted to treat varicocele; it becomes quite evident to utilize the Ayurveda-backed treatments. Ayurveda promotes naturally driven medications and helps in providing immediate relief from the aching pain in scrotum. The medicated oils and other forms of medications used work with the Vayu Dosh (surrounding elements) in your body. This helps in reducing the symptoms and stopping the varicocele from getting bigger. 

Dietary Recommendations

Since the intake of herbal medications plays a major role in treating varicocele; it becomes equally important to have a balanced digestive system. To incorporate the same, the inclusion of easily digestible and nutritious foods is necessary. Whole-grain foods, fish oil, olive oil, fresh fruits, and vegetables are recommended additions. The dietary schedule or the time between the meals should be equal and fixed on a daily basis. This will improve the digestive system and make it easier for herbal medications to reach all fundamental body parts. Lubricants like fast food and excess alcohol should be avoided. Also, excess salty and sourness in foods should be avoided too.

Following can be key takeaways for dietary recommendations: 

    • Whole grains – The consumption of whole grain foods will lighten the abdomen muscles and prevent constipation.
    • Leafy Greens – These are rich source of rare minerals, iron and potassium that will help to enhance muscle strength and overall stamina
    • Dairy Products – To ensure increased bone and muscle strength, the consumption of dairy products is immensely important. 
  • Animal proteins – These are quickest source of protein and provide high quality amino acids in least possible calories. 
  • Fresh fruits – Vitamin rich fruits, especially oranges are especially recommended. They promote tissue regeneration. 

 

Conclusion

Varicocele is a common condition that can affect men of different ages and stages in lifestyle. As per several studies conducted, it is reported that approximately 1 out of every 5 men suffer from varicocele at least once in their lifetime. It is caused due to the accumulation of excess blood in veins inside the scrotum. Such a condition is most commonly seen in teenage due to the hormonal imbalance in the puberty phase. Having enlarged testes, irregular scrotum shape, and lower counts of sperm production are some common signs observed in case of varicocele. Ayurveda offers life saving techniques which have zero side effects, unlike the complexities involved in surgeries. The inclusion of purification techniques like Raktamkokshana (bloodletting) and Virechana (Purgation) are a great means of treating varicocele. These techniques help in removing all unnecessary toxins and reduce the symptoms of varicocele. Having balanced and equally timed daily meals will help in forming an active base for digesting herbal medications. Whole grain foods, dairy products, animal protein, leafy greens, and fresh fruits are some recommended add-ons in daily diet. 

 

For more information

Follow us on Instagram

 

September 20, 2021 Male Infertility Post a Comment

Varicocele

Varicocele is a condition where the veins inside your scrotum swell and get more significant in size. The scrotum is the shielding sac around your testes and is responsible for maintaining its shape.

Varicocele is much similar to the varicose vein, which shows similar symptoms in the legs.

Having this condition in your scrotum may feel like a bag of worms as the size of your testes

gets enlarged. This affects a type of vein termed as pampiniform plexus, which is situated in

the spermatic cord. This chord holds vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm, and the testicular artery, which transports blood to the testicles.

 

It is a common condition as approximately 15 – 20% of men experience this at least once in their lifetime. In most cases, varicocele is painless and might feel negligible to notice but can sometimes cause an aching sensation around your testes. For some severe cases, varicocele can cause fertility issues and might reduce sperm quality in the long run.

Varicocele can happen at almost any age but is most common in teens for the hormonal imbalance in blood flow during puberty. Varicocele typically affects only one side of the testicles, and usually, it’s the left side.

 

Causes of varicocele:

Following are the most common causes of varicocele:

  • The most common cause is that when the valves inside the spermatic chords, which are responsible for carrying blood to and from testes, suddenly stops working efficiently or do nothing at all.

 

  • When these blood-carrying valves stop working, the blood around your testes gets accumulated and leads to swelling around that area. In most cases, it is seen on the left side only.

 

  • Such a condition is usually observed during the teenage due to the hormonal imbalance in the puberty phase.

 

Symptoms of varicocele:

Most males suffering from varicocele do not show any significant symptoms. Rarely, some signs of slight pain are observed, which may be temporary in nature. However, varicocele can be a matter of concern for many reasons, the effect on male fertility being a major one.

Symptoms of Varicocele

Following are some commonly noticed symptoms of varicocele:

  • Slight testicular or scrotum pain, which gets better when you are in a comforting position. This aching pain usually increases as the standing time increases for an extended period of time. This may also be improved with activities like bike riding. Varicocele with painful symptoms is most commonly observed.
  • The concern of male infertility via varicocele condition is the most harmful and alarming symptom. This happens as the blood accumulated around the scrotum area increases the temperature inside the testes and blocks the enlarged veins, resulting in decreased sperm count and other sperm motility issues. Approximately 30% of the male infertility cases reported are mainly due to the varicocele condition.
  • Testicular size is usually seen in an abnormal shape. Swollen size of one or both of your testes due to an excess blood accumulation is commonly seen. Small lump above the affected testicle and in rare cases, shrinking of the scrotum size is also observed. It usually looks like a swollen bag of worms as the size enlarged causes the veins to stick with the inner side of the testes.

 

Diagnosis for varicocele:

Diagnosis for varicocele

Following are three fundamental diagnoses available for varicocele:

Physical Examination – By a mere look and examining the affected testicle, your the doctor shall easily determine the problem of varicocele. Your doctor may ask you to stand straight and practice breathing exercises until the defect in the scrotum is observed. This process is called the “Valsalva maneuver” and helps in identifying the enlarged veins.

Ultrasound test – In case of finding a detailed overview of the affected scrotum, your a urologist may advise you to take an ultrasound test. Ultrasound will help in determining any signs of blood accumulation inside the valves, which are as thin as 3 mm in size. It helps in identifying varicocele in teens and is used when the physical examination doesn’t work for its purpose.

Semen Test – Since varicocele is commonly connected with the issue of male infertility, defaults in semen tests for sperm count and motility can be one of the mechanisms for identifying varicocele.

 

Treatment 

Ranging from home remedies to technical surgeries, varicocele can be treated and managed in various ways. Following are a couple of treatment options that your urologist may prescribe in due course:

Treatment for varicocele

  • Home Remedies – A couple of home fixes can be really helpful to improve the condition of varicocele. Firstly, it is recommended to incorporate some routine changes in your daily lifestyle. It is advised to abstain from standing for long durations and to avoid tight-fitting clothes. Following this, apply ice cubes covered in a towel over the affected area can help to some extent. It is so as this will decrease the increased temperature in the scrotum due to excess blood accumulated.

Caution: Don’t apply the ice cubes directly to the skin.

  • Medications – Supplementing some medications like Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be advised to remove varicocele in cases of minor aching caused in the scrotum.

 

  • Surgery – In cases where the patient suffers from acute pain or has negatively impacting factors from varicocele condition, surgical methods are usually advised by the respective urologists. The surgical methods incorporated will clip or tie off the veining causing the symptoms. This will stop the blood flow from the affecting veins will consecutively reduce the amount of blood accumulated. This will, as a result, improve the sperm count and its motility as the temperature decreases to the ideal level. One might still face varicocele post-surgery, but it won’t cause any pain or harm the sperm levels in the scrotum. Surgical methods for varicocele are outpatient procedures, meaning the patient can leave safely the same day and resume a normal lifestyle after 2-3 days only. Surgery used to fix varicocele is highly common among men suffering from it as it improves sperm count levels to significant levels within one year only. Approximately 40-50% of the couples enhance their chances for pregnancy after getting varicocele fixed through surgical methods.

 

Conclusion

Varicocele is a common condition that can affect men of different ages and stages in lifestyle. As per several studies conducted, it is reported that approximately 1 out of every five men suffer from varicocele at least once in their lifetime. It is caused due to the accumulation of excess blood in veins inside the scrotum. Such a condition is most commonly seen in teenage due to the hormonal imbalance in the puberty phase. Varicocele can have a variance of symptoms, but swollen size of testes, testicular aching pain, and abnormal sperm count levels are commonly observed. Physical examination is the most common form of diagnosing varicocele, but semen and ultrasound tests are also commonly seen. Ultrasound and semen tests are used if the symptoms from this condition are not physically present. Treating varicocele is no more complicated as several home remedies, medications, and surgical methods impact fixes.

 

Know more about us:

  1. Like our Facebook Page
  2. Follow us on Instagram
  3. Subscribe to us on YouTube
Scroll to top