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Diabetes is a health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can affect a lot of organs including heart health, eyes, ears, kidneys etc. But did you know that it can impact fertility as well? With a drastic surge in diabetes cases across India, doctors are bringing out a lesser-talked-about issue, diabetes-related male infertility. Diabetes in men is a silent contributor to infertility. Research has increasingly shown that diabetes can contribute to infertility in men, affecting their ability to conceive with a partner. But how can high blood sugar impact your sperm health? To understand this link better, we got in touch with Dr Ila Gupta, Director and Senior Consultant of Reproductive Medicine at Ferticity IVF who explains the need to be aware of Diabetes’ effect on sexual health. “Diabetes not only impacts overall well-being but can also downgrade sperm quality and function, making it a crucial factor while discussing infertility,” says Dr Gupta.

Why Are Men With Diabetes High Risk Of Infertility?

It has been observed that men who have diabetes are at high risk for infertility due to problems like erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, and reduced quality of the sperm, as well as hormonal disadvantages. Erectile dysfunction is caused by decreased blood flow to the penis, which takes place over time with damaged blood vessels and nerves from high blood sugar. The situation can be further complicated by diabetes, which can also cause reverse erection where sperm enters the bladder instead of out through the penis, making it tougher to get pregnant.

“Diabetes results in various reproductive issues. For some males, they may experience DNA damage within the sperm itself, this has direct implications on fertility,” Dr Gupta explains.

Fertility specialists are getting more concerned about sperm DNA fragmentation in diabetic men, which disrupts the genetic material essential for successful conception and embryo development. As DNA damage often remains unseen, couples experiencing infertility may not consider diabetes to be a silent culprit.

Dr Gupta shares that apart from the physical complications, diabetes is also a psychological burden, repressing libido and deteriorating mental health. This is further increased by high stress and anxiety, which men with diabetes tend to experience, adding to male infertility. These key aspects, essential for helping couples conceive, are addressed by fertility experts.

"Such disorders affect a large population, yet there is very little awareness about their impact on fertility," says Dr Gupta.

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