We often ignore the signs of illness, and this whispers back in the form of infertility. There are chronic diseases that not only impact your health, but it has the ability to put a full stop to your dreams of parenthood.
“Fertility is not just about reproduction- it’s a mirror reflecting your overall health”
– Dr. Marc Goldstein (Urologist and Fertility Expert)
Everyone should understand the importance of overall health because this is not a system, but a way to cascade into hormonal imbalance, sexual dysfunction, and compromised sperm production. Aveya Fertility Centre focuses on every possible aspect that can help couples ensure that they can live the life they desire. This article will help you know the chronic illnesses like kidney or liver disease impact male fertility.
According to Frontiers, 40% of men with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) have oligospermia (low sperm count) or azoospermia (absence of sperm). This happens because of sperm morphology, density, and motility deficiencies.
This disease impacts both the kidney and liver and can result in infertility in men. HPG is essential to regulate testosterone production and spermatogenesis. Due to kidney disease, obesity, excessive stress, or other chronic conditions, testosterone level drops, impairing sperm morphology. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism lowers FSH and LH because of the reduced GnRH secretion.
Due to the high blood sugar level, the body starts producing more glucose and this directly impacts sperm quality and potentially leads to infertility. Also, due to increased glucose, oxidative levels increase, causing hormonal imbalances, damaging sperm cells and DNA integrity, and impairing the ability of sperm functionality.
Due to high blood sugar, blood vessels and nerves are unable to maintain erection. If you are experiencing challenges related to erection or impregnating your wife, then this is a sign of underlying serious health concerns.
Glucose is an energy source for sperm cells, and Sertoli cells, which regulate insulin and testosterone, due to diabetes, the blood-testis barrier becomes weak, mitochondrial function is impaired, and FSH and testosterone levels are reduced.
Out of 40% of the infertile men, 15% have issue of varicoceles. Although these are not linked with kidney or liver disease, sometimes, because of blockage in the liver and kidney can increase the pressure in the veins, leading to the situation.
It can either be acquired or congenital. Acquire renal AVM can be caused by biopsy, surgery, trauma, or inflammation and is accountable for 70% of renal arteriovenous abnormalities. This is present in 15% of adult men and can be a rare symptom of Kidney Cancer (Renal Cell carcinoma).
Men with cirrhosis experience primary and secondary hypogonadism. Testicular atrophy and hypogonadism critically affect male fertility by lowering the number of sperm and testosterone levels. Testicular atrophy, defined as the shrinking of one or both testicles, results in low sperm count, poor motility, and defective morphology, hindering conception. Hypogonadism, an insufficiency in the secretion of testosterone, disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HGP) axis, which prevents spermatogenesis.
Etiology involves hormonal imbalance, infection, varicocele, chronic disease (diabetes, renal disease), and drug addiction. Low testosterone impairs libido, erectile ability, and sperm quality, and thus further worsens fertility. Premature testicular atrophy can be caused by other etiologies such as Klinefelter syndrome or anabolic steroid abuse.
This is a case where a protein that helps to bind to testosterone, reduces the level of free testosterone available for biological bodily function. This is linked with hyperthyroidism, liver disease (fatty liver and hepatitis), also in some cases, it results because of estrogen levels. When SHBG elevates, sperm production and libido impair and impact the overall reproductive health.
This majorly happens because of chronic kidney or liver dysfunction, and uremic toxins accumulate in the body during the course of progressive chronic kidney disease, and are responsible for clinical consequences like uremia. The cumulative uremic toxins from CKD impair male fertility through impairment of hormonal homeostasis, spermatogenesis, and testicular function. The uremic toxins disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, resulting in decreased testosterone levels and disrupted spermatogenesis.
The uremic toxins enhance oxidative stress, causing damage to sperm DNA, decreased motility, and abnormal morphology. CKD patients also exhibit hyperprolactinemia, which further inhibits testosterone and sperm production. Apart from that, uremic toxins cause erectile dysfunction as well as low libido, and therefore conception is hard. Even the blood-testis barrier may be breached and the sperm exposed to harmful chemicals.
Leydig cells control male fertility by the release of testosterone, a hormone essential for sex and spermatogenesis. Embedded in the testes, Leydig cells are stimulated by the luteinizing hormone (LH) of the pituitary gland, which stimulates the release of testosterone. When Leydig cells are insufficient- due to age, genetic illness, chronic illness like diabetes or kidney disease, or toxins-testosterone secretion decreases and results in hypogonadism, reduced sperm counts, and low-quality sperm.
Low testosterone levels affect libido, erectile function, and sperm motility and make it challenging to become pregnant. In addition, Leydig cell failure also results in testicular atrophy and thereby further reduces fertility.
Autoimmune disease results when a body’s immune system falsely attacks its own tissue—e.g., reproductive tissue. In men, autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis cause inflammation of the testicle (orchitis), resulting in architectural damage to seminiferous tubules where sperm are formed. This affects spermatogenesis and lowers sperm counts and quality.
The second vital determinant is the generation of anti-sperm antibodies—proteins that are synthesized after the immune system recognizes sperm to be foreign invaders. Anti-sperm antibodies bind to sperm cells, impairing their motility, morphology, and capacity for egg fertilization, thereby substantially diminishing fertility potential. In addition, certain autoimmune drug (e.g., cyclophosphamide) is gonadotoxic, also suppressing fertility.
However, hormone therapy, modification of lifestyle, and assisted reproductive technology such as IVF or ICSI are the treatments. However early diagnosis and treatment will replenish hormonal balance and optimize fertility results.
In this hectic lifestyle, more than 50% are already dealing with chronic illness, and adding infertility to that can become a tormenting situation. Infertility is the result of negligence and delay in treatment. Our body works on smart mechanical processes, and it starts to show the signs in the beginning, which men tend to avoid by naming them as stress.
“Early diagnosis is not just a way to cure- it can truly change the course of disease.”
So, if you are experiencing any changes in your body, that’s an indication. When it comes to fertility-related concerns, our Dr. Nisha Bhatnagar, Director of Aveya IVF Centre provides the best solution to their patients. Authenticity, credibility, and transparency are our keys. So, don’t hide behind your health concerns, contact Aveya IVF Centre.
Book your consultation today and start a journey of a healthy and happy life.