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Raising a Family
New Paths to FatherhoodFulfilling family dreams Physical issues can hinder a man’s ability to produce a child, but they have nothing to do with being a good partner or a good father. “Men often associate fertility with masculinity,” says reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist Albert Peters, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “They feel they’ve let their partner down or are less of a man if they can’t father a child.”The fact is, difficulty conceiving can be traced back to the man about as often (35 percent of cases) as the woman. “Men may feel awkward about being tested, but it’s important to consider every possible cause,” Peters says. “We begin by discussing lifestyle factors and medical and sexual history. We do a comprehensive semen analysis on all male patients to evaluate sperm volume, health and speed, and we can test for hormonal problems. Everything is handled with privacy, respect and confidentiality.” Some men can improve their fertility through simple measures like quitting smoking (which affects sperm quality). Others need high-tech approaches like intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization. Specialists can even extract sperm through biopsy for men with problems like paraplegia. “Today’s technology,” Peters says, “can make biological fatherhood a very real possibility for men who had no hope only a few years ago.”
Want to Know More about male and female causes of infertility? Click here. This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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