When it comes to producing healthy sperm to make a baby, a healthy male hormone balance is essential. The hormones that control female reproductive processes are the same hormones that control these processes in males. Not surprisingly, reproductive specialists sometimes prescribed the same fertility drugs for sperm problems in men that women receive for ovulation problems.
Types of male fertility drugs
If the male partner is facing male infertility as a result of abnormal hormone levels, the physician may prescribe any of the following treatment regimens:
1. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG): Injections of 1500 to 2000 IU of hCGthree times a week for up to six months is the standard regimen for this treatment. During this time, testosterone levels will be monitored and the dosage is adjusted accordingly. The mechanism of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is to stimulate the testes to produce testosterone and sperm.
2. Human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) with hCG injections: If the sperm count has not increased after six to nine months of receiving regular hCG injections, the doctor may adjust the regimen to include human menopausal gonadotropin.
3. Recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rhFSH): Another option to boost the effect of fertility drugs is to incorporate recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rhFSH). Like hMG, rhFSH is added to the treatment regimen for hCG. Regimens of hCG with or without the other added hormones may require as long as two years of treatment for a man to regain normal fertility.
4. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH): Male infertility as a result of hypogonadotropichypogonadismsecondary to hypothalamic disease may warrant treatment with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). This medication is delivered via a pumping device with an attached needle and catheter. The drug is delivered through the pump in precise, injected doses. Since this device requires that the patient wear the device on a daily basis, it can be a very difficult form of fertility treatment.
5. Clomid: As one of the most common drugs prescribed to increase female fertility, clomiphene citrate is another treatment option for male infertility. Clomid works for men by signaling the pituitary gland to produce luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), ultimately stimulating the testicles to produce testosterone and sperm. The standard dose for men is one tablet of Clomid per day for three to six months.However, although Clomid is effective for women, Clomidhas relatively low success rates for men.