Ignacio Galmés, urologist: "There are many cases of male infertility that can be treated without resorting to assisted reproduction."

Infertility is a challenge that affects millions of couples worldwide. And although attention is often focused on the female factor, it is crucial to remember that male reproductive health plays an equally significant role. In this regard, Dr. Ignacio Galmés, a renowned urologist with more than three decades of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility, has shed light on a hopeful outlook: a considerable proportion of male infertility cases can be resolved. Even more importantly, they are resolved without the need to resort to expensive and complex assisted reproduction techniques.

"The causes of male infertility are very varied and can affect semen production, quality, or output," explains Dr. Galmés. However, what is truly optimistic is that "many of these causes can be resolved and can be solved with certain treatments, whether medical or surgical."

The urologist emphasizes a fundamental advantage of this approach. "The great advantage of solving a male infertility problem is that we are solving both the problem of today and the problem of tomorrow, thus avoiding the need to resort to assisted reproduction techniques," he explains in the video. He also highlights that by effectively treating men, "couples can have children naturally." Therefore, he emphasizes the importance of a complete evaluation of the male, beyond the traditional semen analysis, when a couple consults for infertility.

Dr. Galmés breaks down the main causes of male infertility that can be reversible and treatable. Among them is varicocele , a condition characterized by dilated veins in the scrotum (usually on the left side) that affect sperm quality and production. The good news is that "intervention on this varicocele, whether surgical or embolization, can lead to a very significant improvement in semen quality," the expert assures.

Seminal tract infections , such as orchitis, epididymitis, or deferentitis, can also affect fertility, but if detected early and treated with appropriate antibiotics, "they can be resolved and the situation permanently solved," says Galmés.

Likewise, obstructions in the seminal duct , whether in the epididymis, the vas deferens or the ejaculatory ducts, preventing the release of semen, have a solution, since "we have different surgical techniques to resolve these obstructions, depending on their location," explains the urologist, mentioning procedures such as epididymovasostomy or vasovasostomy.

Another group of causes is hormonal disorders , such as hypogonadism, hyperprolactinemia, or hypothyroidism; in these cases, the solution involves "hormone replacement therapy or treatments aimed at resolving the endocrine disorder," the specialist points out.

The use of certain medications , such as steroids, chemotherapy, or antiandrogens, which can have a toxic effect on the testicles, is also a common cause, and the solution, in many cases, is simple: "it would be enough to eliminate or replace the treatment to be able to recover sperm production," says Dr. Galmés.

Environmental and lifestyle factors , such as obesity, chronic stress, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and drug use, can impair semen quality, and Dr. Galmés is clear: "Changing these habits or vices can significantly contribute to improving semen quality." Finally, ejaculation problems , such as retrograde ejaculation, are "largely solvable, and in this way, we will resolve the infertility problem that the couple has," concludes the urologist.