Mumps refers to a viral infectionof the parotid glands in the neck and face. Men who are infected with mumps during puberty may have lifelong infertility once the infection spreads to the testicles. Of course, patients who contract mumps after the age of 14 do not have lifelong infertility. About half of the patients, the virus cannot invade the testicles and will not have an impact on fertility. In some patients, the virus only infects one testicle, so the spermatogenic function of the healthy testicle will increase compensatoryly. Even if both testicles are infected with the virus, some seminiferous tubules will recover their spermatogenic function as the disease is controlled.
Why are patients infected with mumps during puberty prone to orchitis, leading to lifelong infertility? The reason is: Before the puberty period, germ cells are in a relatively static state and are in a non-susceptible period. At the puberty stage, germ cells divide and multiply rapidly. The virus resides in the germ cells and can multiply rapidly, causing permanent damage to the germ cells.
Fortunately, the incidence rate of mumps during puberty or after puberty is only 18%, of which 70% of cases only infect one testicle, and the unaffected testicle functions normally. Viral infection of both testicles is often controlled before the spermatogenic cells are damaged. It usually takes about 1 year for spermatogenic function to recover, and only 5% of mumps patients will lead to lifelong infertility.
The diagnosis of infertility caused by mumps includes physical examination, blood tests and sperm analysis. The results are often small testicles and elevated follicle-stimulating hormone levels in the blood (pituitary secretion in response to low testicular hormone levels). Increased), oligospermia or no sperm; the most unfortunate of which is azoospermia, which has no cure. As long as there is a small amount of sperm, hormone treatment is also effective.
This article is provided by Baidu Reading and is excerpted from \”The Clear \”Conception\” Plan\” Author: Sun Jianqiu and Xie Yingbiao