diabetes is a health condition that affects millions of people around the world. It can affect many organs including heart health, eyes, ears, kidneys etc. But do you know that it can also affect fertility? With the huge increase in diabetes cases across India, doctors are bringing to the fore a less discussed issue, diabetes-related male infertility. Diabetes is a silent cause of infertility in men. Research has shown that diabetes can contribute to infertility in men, affecting their ability to conceive with a partner. But how can high blood sugar affect you? sperm healthTo better understand this link, we contacted Dr. Ila Gupta, Director of Reproductive Medicine and Senior Consultant at Fertility IVF, who explains the need to be aware of the impact of diabetes on sexual health. “Diabetes not only impacts overall health, but can also reduce sperm quality and function, making it an important factor when discussing infertility,” says Dr. Gupta.

Why are men with diabetes at greater risk of infertility?

It has been observed that men who have diabetes have a higher risk of problems like infertility erectile dysfunctionLow sperm count, and decreased sperm quality, as well as hormonal losses. Erectile dysfunction is caused by decreased blood flow to the penis, which occurs with blood vessels and nerves damaged by high blood sugar over time. Diabetes can further complicate the situation, which can also cause reverse erection, where sperm enters the bladder instead of exiting through the penis, making it harder to get pregnant.

“Diabetes causes various reproductive problems. For some men, they may experience DNA damage within the sperm itself, this has a direct impact on fertility,” explains Dr Gupta.

Fertility experts are becoming more concerned about sperm DNA fragmentation in men with diabetes, which disrupts the genetic material needed for successful conception and embryo development. Since DNA damage often remains undiscovered, couples experiencing infertility may not consider diabetes a silent culprit.

Dr. Gupta explains that apart from physical complications, diabetes is also a psychological burden, which suppresses libido and impairs mental health. This is further compounded by the high stress and anxiety that men with diabetes experience, leading to increased male infertility. These key aspects required to help couples conceive are addressed by fertility experts.

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

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