Factors That Will Affect Sperm Health by Dr. Mike Berkley

• Although abnormal SDIA results are detected in men with apparently normal semen analyses, abnormal results are more commonly seen in cases of men who have abnormal sperm parameters (abnormal sperm count, motility and/or morphology)

• There is some suggestion that the use of antioxidant therapy ( Pycnogenol 200mg daily, L-Carnitine 3 grams per day, acetyl carnitine 500mg per day, Vitamin C 1,000mg per day, Vitamin E 800IU per day and acupuncture and certain herbal medicines) taken for several months, can causes the SDI assay to revert to normal in many cases.

There is some suggestion that men who have varicoceles ( a collection of distended veins in the scrotum) associated with an abnormal SDI assay may experience a reversion of the SDI assay back to normal, 3-6 months following surgical or radiological

ablation of the varicocele. Of course acupuncture and herbal medicine will enhance and stimulate blood flow to the testicles facilitating a more rapid recovery with greater possibility of healthy sperm production after a varicocelectomy.

In summary, an abnormal SDI assay augers poorly for the outcome of fertility treatment in general and IVF/ICSI in specific.

In such cases, the fertilization rate and pregnancy rates are reduced and the chance of early pregnancy loss appears to be increased significantly. An abnormal SDIA result does not totally preclude a successful pregnancy.

The prognosis worsens progressively as the age of the egg provider advances beyond 33 yrs. Although abnormal SDIA results rarely revert to normal spontaneously this can and does happen on occasion.

Selective surgical ligation of a varicocele and medical anti-oxidant treatment may be effective in restoring the SDIA to normal. Antioxidant properties are to be found in Vitamins C and E and herbal medicine specific to this situation.

It is quite likely that the SDIA or the SCSA will in time become regarded as required baseline tests (to be performed, regardless of their basic traditional semen analysis parameters (count, motility and sperm morphology) in all cases of recurrent pregnancy loss and IVF where the sperm provider has not previously participated in a pregnancy that has proceeded beyond the 12th week (the traditional point of likely viability).

It should be noted that when the typical sperm analysis reveals normal count, morphology and motility this does not mean that sperm DNA fragmentation is not manifest. In other words, unless the SDIA test is specifically run, fragmentation issues will not be revealed. This type of case then may be labeled ‘idiopathic' infertility.

It is our opinion based on clinical experience that ideally, both the man and the women should be treated even if there is no apparent male factor evident. The reason for this is that stress has been shown to reduce sperm count. Going through the tortuous trial of trying to conceive leaves many couples extremely stressed out. So, which at the time of sperm analysis

everything appears normal, over time, due to the stress inherent with the situation, the sperm quantity may in fact be effected.

Therefore, including acupuncture, herbal medicine and the proper supplements can be seen as either reactive (if pathology is evident) or proactive (if pathology is not evident). It is our opinion that proactive behavior often obviates the need to be reactive. Prevention is key.

Go to Page 1

BIO:

Dr. Mike Berkley has been treating male factor fertility disorders since 1996 with amazing results. He works exclusively in the area of reproductive medicine and enjoys working in conjunction with some of New York’s most prestigious reproductive endocrinologists. Sign up for his free newsletter at www.BerkleyCenter.com

Some Aditional Articles you may enjoy

What You Should Know About Genetically Modified Food by Jarba

CHRONIC HEADACHES AND PAIN OFTEN CAN BE ELIMINATED BY A SPECIAL DENTIST by WWW.LEADINGDENTISTS.COM

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM FOOD POISONING by Patty Avey

The Solution to Healthy Weight Loss by Marilyn Pokorney

Osteopathic Manipulation Study - An Interview with Dr. Miriam V. Mills by Lady Camelot

Click a Number to go to an article index page
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39