Expert elaborates on causes of infertility

Across the world more than 60mn  males face infertility-related problems, said Dr C Mohamed Ashraf, a  specialist from India in the treatment of infertility. Dr Ashraf, who is the director of Centre for Infertility Treatment (CRAFT), Kodungallur, was addressing members of the Indian Doctors Club at a session of their  monthly Continuing Medical Education (CME) meeting recently. At the session on ‘Recent trends in the management’, Dr Ashraf said the male testicles were highly vulnerable and very sensitive organ in the body which could be damaged by several common toxicants like polluted air, foods with high contents of fertilisers, pesticide residue, changes in atmospheric temperature and gadgets like cell phones and laptops emitting radio frequency electromagnetic radiations. The speaker stressed that the occupational hazards associated with certain industries involving dyes, ink, solvents, adhesives, petroleum products, welding materials also contributed to further risks. Those working closely with heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury and others exposed frequently to X-rays are also affected badly. Similarly medicines like salazopyrine, which is used for irritable bowel syndrome, some of the anti-hypertensive, anti-depressants and anabolic steroids also contributed to the magnitude of infertility. “Smoking reduces fertility by four times and alcohol by five times and both enhance the chances of repeated abortions as well,” he said. Dr Ashraf said the management of these conditions meant to diagnose what exactly was going wrong in men and depending on different conditions they are treated with specific medications. He also highlighted the utility of reproductive methods like IVF-ICSI or TESE-ICSI, Micro TESE-ICSI each of which is available at select centres across the world. Indian Ambassador and chief guest Sanjiv Arora presented Dr Ashraf with a memento. Cultural secretary of the Indian Doctors Club-Indian Medical Association (Qatar)  Dr Rato Barman compered the programme and general secretary Dr Joyal Jacob Mathews proposed a vote of thanks.