This archive report was first published on 31 August 2019.
Infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, with the blame often unfairly placed on the woman. However, a significant number of cases are caused by male factors, with up to 25% of cases attributed to problems with the man's reproductive system.
Dr. Osur shares a case where a woman, Dorcas, came to his clinic seeking treatment for infertility. Despite having regular sex with her partner, James, Dorcas had not conceived for five years. The couple's sex life was infrequent, with James experiencing frequent erectile dysfunction.
Dr. Osur examined Dorcas and found no underlying medical issues contributing to her infertility. However, when James finally presented himself for examination, the doctor discovered that he had a low sperm count and high levels of prolactin, a hormone that can interfere with sperm production and cause erectile dysfunction.
With James' high prolactin levels identified as the root cause of their infertility, Dr. Osur put him on a long-term medical treatment to lower the hormone levels. Nine months later, Dorcas called the doctor to share the exciting news that she was pregnant.
