- Prelims: Current events of national importance, WHO, male reproductive system, ICMR, ART, intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) etc
- Mains GS Paper I & II: Development and management of social sectors/services related to Health and education etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- In 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that globally, between 60 million to 80 million couples struggle with infertility.
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Health:(WHO)
- A certain totality of health to the realms of mental and social well-being and happiness beyond physical fitness, and an absence of disease and disability.
- We cannot achieve health in its wider definition without addressing health determinants.
Prevalence of infertility in India:
- It remains unspecified according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) National Guidelines for Accreditation, Supervision and Regulation of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) Clinics (2005).
- WHO’s data: approximately 13 million to 19 million Indian couples may face infertility issues.
- This incidence is only set to increase, shaped by factors such as environmental pollution and adverse lifestyle shifts.
- Male infertility accounts for 50% of all infertility cases in the country.
Causes of male infertility:
- Infertility in men can manifest as an absence of sperm, low sperm count, low sperm motility, or both.
- The form of infertility can depend on various factors that include:
- stress
- hormonal imbalance
- genetic
- anatomical and epigenetic factors
- exposure to certain infections.
- External factors such as environmental pollution and an indiscriminate use of pesticides on crops, plastics, and plasticisers can also affect fertility and influence the epigenetic makeup.
- Lifestyle factors such as diets, sleep patterns, work schedules, and consumption of alcohol and tobacco.
- Growing preference for late marriages among youth, creating challenges due to declining sperm quality with age.
How to safeguard Male reproductive health?
- Be aware of reproductive and sexual health and the factors that influence it,
- Particularly during the formative period from secondary school to junior college.
- Parents, particularly fathers, play a critical role and must educate their sons on the issue.
- At an individual level, young men should proactively adopt good lifestyle practices, ensuring healthy eating, regular sleep patterns, and eliminating the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and other intoxicants.
- While mobile phones and laptops have become occupational hazards in most fields, their excessive usage, in proximity to the body, should be avoided.
- Stress is a major deterrent to reproductive health, and regular exercise, yoga, and meditation can reduce its adverse effects on well-being.
- Couples together must adopt healthy lifestyle practices to safeguard their reproductive health and enhance their well-being.
Way Forward
- Lifestyle interventions play a critical preventative role, it is important to discuss treatments available for those grappling with infertility.
- Seek help from a medical professional to identify and treat the issue.
- The medical professional should guide the person to undergo a routine semen analysis, conducted after a two to seven day period of sexual abstinence (WHO recommended).
- If the issue is physical or anatomical such as blocked sperm flow, undescended testicles, or an abnormal urethral opening, these can be fixed with surgery.
- Issue is an absence of sperm, treatments such as intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) should be undertaken.
- Couples facing this issue can opt for donor sperm insemination or adoption.
- In cases where the sperm count is very low, there is a chance for the couple to conceive naturally if sperm motility is very good.
- If both sperm count and motility are low, intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), or ICSI are advocated.
- In cases of male infertility due to gene mutation/s, genetic counseling is of utmost importance before seeking the support of assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF and ICSI.
- There is an urgent need for open and informed discussions on reproductive health.
- Recognise and address the significant issue of male reproductive health.
- Awareness building, sex education, and timely medical interventions are key to supporting couples on their journey to parenthood.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
- Besides being a moral imperative of the Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary precondition for sustainable development.” Analyze.(UPSC 2021)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
