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Infertility
Infertility occurs when a couple is unable to achieve pregnancy after attempting for >1 year. As you can imagine, this can create significant stress and anxiety for the couple. Often times, the first step in management is for the male partner to undergo a complete exam. This is because the exam for the male is relatively easy and non-invasive. Historically, one-third of the time the difficulty in achieving pregnancy is due to a male factor, one-third of the time it is due to a female factor and one-third of the time it is a mixture between male and female factors. Fortunately there are a number of treatment options for both men and women to help the couple achieve pregnancy. Often, the specialized urologist works in concert with the woman’s infertility doctor to assist the couple.
The Colorado Center for Male Infertility and Reproduction is a division of Urology Associates. It was designed to specifically help the infertile male in all aspects of treatment. Dr. Cowan is a renowned specialist who devotes a large portion of his practice to the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. He strongly encourages the female partners to accompany the men to the first consultation. In this manner, he can answer all questions and more effectively treat the couple. Several very common conditions encountered in infertility as below:
Varicocele: A varicocele is a dilation of the blood vessels that drain the scrotum. It is a very common problem that most often involves the left side of the scrotum, but can be found on both sides. You can think of it as varicose veins of the scrotum. Most men who have a varicocele don’t have any symptoms. However, some men with a varicocele can have difficulty with fertility. This is because the dilated veins increase the temperature in the scrotum and the testicles (this is where the sperm is produced) don’t function as well at higher temperatures. Correcting the varicocele can oftentimes correct the fertility issues. Varicoceles are most often corrected with a small surgical procedure.
Vasectomy Reversal: In some cases, the challenge of fertility can be due to a prior vasectomy. A vasectomy reversal is a surgical procedure that reconnects the two cut ends of the vas deferens -- the tube that carries the sperm away from the testicle. This is a technically challenging procedure that requires the use of an operative microscope to assure the best rate of success. For that reason, it is important that your surgeon have sufficient experience performing the procedure. Dr. Cowan would be happy to evaluate you and to answer any questions you may have.
For additional information regarding
infertility, please refer to the following:
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