Male Infertility - An overlooked test you must know about
Male Fertility- Keep Exploring
An overlooked test that might explain low sperm count in some men
Issues with male fertility can account for up to 50% of all fertility cases but testing rarely goes beyond one or two tests for the male when low count is detected.
Most times if they can’t find anything from one or two tests people are often said the low count is unexplained and sadly in the clinic we have had patients who have come to us and said they were told it’s just “bad luck”.
We like to dig deeper and see if there are any other missing pieces to the puzzle. Anything else within the total picture of a person’s health that might contribute to understanding why the count is low.
One simple and easy test to do that may explain why there is a low count is also important to rule out because it can be related to poor overall health as well. There are more tests related to male fertility than just this one test but this test is an important piece of the puzzle
We see many males that present with low count, issues with motility (swimming ability) and with morphology (the shape of the sperm). We are always amazed at how many times when these issues come up, there are NO tests done to try to determine what may be causing the issue. One of the people we saw had a family history of this issues and still he wasn’t tested for it. When we suggested to have this simple blood test done his doctor was hesitant. Thankfully he did go on to test and the levels in his blood were extremely high.
The issue he was tested for was Hemochromatosis.
What is Hemochromatosis and How Does It Impact Male Fertility?
Hemochromatosis occurs when ferritin levels (which are the iron stores in our system) are too high. The result of this can be iron deposits in various organ systems in the body, including the reproductive organs decreasing the ability of the testes to create healthy sperm.
People who menstruate do not have the same issue because of the blood loss each month (however we have seen cases where menstruating women have excessive ferritin levels too so women should always have iron studies done as well).
There can be a familial tendency for excessive iron stores in the system therefore if there is anyone in the family that has been diagnosed with Hemochromatosis it is worth getting tested.
As discussed, this issue, i.e. excessive ferritin accumulating in different organ systems may be correlated with male fertility issues if the iron is accumulating in the testes as it could obstruct the making of sperm but also the accompanying inflammation may affect the health of the remaining sperm.
There are some symptoms associated with Hemochromatosis which may be a clue that someone has it. The person may always have red face and complain of aching in the joints of the fingers. And quite surprisingly because one of the symptoms of low iron is tiredness, but one of the symptoms of high iron can also be tiredness.
However, symptoms are not the only reason iron studies should be done. We have seen elevated levels of ferritin when there are no symptoms. Any general fertility work up should include iron studies and that will include an assessment of your ferritin levels.
There are a few ways Hemochromatosis can be addressed.
One is through diet
● Eliminate refined sugars as well as other high glycemic carbohydrates
● Increase healthy fibre in your diet
● Support bowel function with a multi-strain probiotic or other bowel support that you can discuss with you naturopath or herbalist.
● Eliminate iron rich foods such as red meat
● Avoid alcohol consumption or significantly decrease it.
● Avoid iron fortified foods which are usually processed foods
● Excess iron in the system can create more free radical damage in the body and decrease cellular health and remember, the sperm are cells too. Therefore it is important to have an antioxidant rich anti-inflammatory eating plan.
Supplementation
● Avoid any iron supplementation (check supplements, especially any that are supposed to help with energy to make sure there is no iron)
● Consider adding Turmeric to your supplementation and or your eating plan as studies has shown the benefits of Turmeric to lowering excessive iron in animal studies. We recommend speaking to us at your next appointment to see if this is indicated for you.
● St Mary’s Thistle is a herb that we commonly use in our formulas and can play a role in supporting a person with hemochromatosis. We can discuss whether this herb is indicated for inclusion in a herbal formula for you.
Note: Some health professionals suggest that a person with high ferritin levels stay away from Vitamin C because this nutrient encourages absorption of iron however Vitamin C is a vital nutrient so stopping this can be short term while the other areas are addressed to help decrease the excessive iron stores.
Giving Blood To Reduce Ferritin Levels
Giving blood sometimes referred to as venesection at regular intervals can be ordered by your doctor and can help decrease the excess levels of ferritin in your system.
Genetic Factors Affect the Absorption of Iron.
More and more research is showing how our genetic makeup can predispose us to having certain health issues. This is true for Hemochromatosis. But the research is also showing that the environment can influence these genetic factors and the environment includes what we put in and on our bodies. So it’s important to not just put the answer down to genetics as it makes it appear that there is nothing you can do. If your iron studies come up high and you’re diagnosed with hemochromatosis, there is so much you can take control of to improve your fertility and your overall health.
To book your appointment to review yours (or your partners) semen analysis from optimal and consider factors which may be involved please visit : https://www.naturalfertility.com/book-now
Here at Natural Fertility Co we have been helping patients with their fertility and hormone health for over two decades. If you would like to book your first consultation with us then please go to our booking page.