Connection Between Diabetes & Infertility In Females & Males

Why are so many young couples struggling to conceive? What factors are preventing them from getting pregnant? At the same time, many young people are being diagnosed with diabetes. High blood sugar levels are a defining feature of diabetes. The hormone insulin, which the pancreas produces, aids in cells' absorption of glucose for energy.

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas either doesn't release enough insulin or the body can't use the insulin effectively. One of the concerns is the diabetic sexually side effects that can affect fertility and overall sexual health.

Several decades ago, diabetes and infertility primarily affected people over 45. Today, many young people are also facing diabetes, which unfortunately impacts their fertility.

Diabetes And Infertility In Males

Diabetes is quite common among men in India and worldwide. While some men with diabetes can father healthy children without issues, others may face conditions related to how does diabetes affect a man sexually, leading to infertility and requiring medical assistance.

Many diabetic men, including those who are insulin-dependent, have healthy lives provided they control their food and weight. However, men with unhealthy lifestyles may face fertility issues.

Today, infertility is a growing concern, and diabetes could be one of the potential causes. Some of the effects of diabetes on male fertility are:

Erectile Dysfunction

Many men with diabetes have a problem getting an erection or maintaining one. The main cause of this is nerve damage and lowered blood circulation.

Retrograde Ejaculation

Retrograde ejaculation occurs when semen retreats to the bladder instead of being expelled during intercourse. Caused by nerve damage, it doesn't harm the man but prevents sperm from entering the female body, making conception impossible.

Delayed Ejaculation

Delayed ejaculation is due to reduced nerve sensitivity and is caused by damage to the nerves in the penis.

Low Testosterone

Testosterone is a hormone which plays a significant role in the production of sperm. Lowered production of testosterone means less sperm are being produced. The reduced quantity of sperm affects male fertility.

Reduced Sperm Quality

Diabetes is said to affect the overall quality of the sperm, but fortunately does not impact sperm motility. This means that even with less sperm or poor sperm morphology, the sperm is still able to locate the female egg and fertilise it.

Reduced Semen

Men who have diabetes are found to have less semen in their ejaculate as compared to men who are not diabetic.

DNA

The most dangerous side effect of male diabetes is DNA damage. When the DNA of the sperm is affected, it not only leads to a miscarriage but can also cause birth defects and may prevent a live birth.

Relationship Between Diabetes And Infertility In Females

Women with diabetes can get pregnant, so if you have diabetes and worry about conception, many women with diabetes conceive successfully.

However, diabetes can cause fertility issues. Even if an egg fertilizes, diabetes implantation might not occur due to the less receptive uterus, leading to early miscarriages. High blood

sugar can disrupt hormone balance, affecting progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone levels.

Women with diabetes who do get pregnant face additional challenges. High glucose levels can increase the risk of birth defects as excess glucose harms the embryo. Diabetes can also complicate ovulation and delivery, often requiring a caesarean section, which increases the risk of infection and slows healing.

Additionally, women with diabetes are at higher risk for gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy. Although it typically resolves after delivery, it can affect glucose levels and insulin effectiveness.

Risks To The Unborn Baby

When a woman has diabetes, and she wants to get pregnant, there are several concerns. One of the significant concerns is how does diabetes affect a woman sexually and her ability to conceive. Additionally, there are worries about the effects it will have on the baby. What are the risks that the baby may suffer if the mother is diabetic? Some pregnancy risks are:

Macrosomia:

This is a condition in which the baby grows larger than average. The big size of the baby affects a normal delivery, and the mother may have to have a Caesarean section.

Hypoglycaemia:

Is a condition characterised by low blood glucose. The high levels of insulin and a decreased glucose level can lead to hypoglycaemia during pregnancy.

Preeclampsia:

Women with type 1 diabetes have a higher risk due to their condition of high blood pressure. Preeclampsia occurs around the 20th week of pregnancy. It can damage the liver and kidneys of the baby besides causing other problems such as blood clotting and fluid in the lungs.

Birth Defects:

If the blood sugar is not maintained in the safe range during pregnancy, it can cause birth defects in the baby. This can affect the normal development of the baby's heart, spine, brain, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract etc. It can also lead to respiratory and heart problems in the baby.

Miscarriage:

The risk of a miscarriage during the first 20 weeks is high when the mother has high blood sugar.

Precautionary Measures To Be Taken For Pregnancy

Controlling insulin and blood sugar levels is crucial for women who want to get pregnant. Women with Type 1 Diabetes, who don't produce insulin, need insulin injections. This type of diabetes can cause risks to both mother and baby.

Women with Type 2 Diabetes produce some insulin but often due to lifestyle factors. Maintaining a healthy weight and diet helps regulate insulin levels, leading to a safer pregnancy.

Before getting pregnant, doctors advise women with diabetes to:

Maintaining good health and managing sugar levels are essential for a successful pregnancy.

How Can Medicover Fertility Help You To Deal With Infertility Due To Diabetes?

Medicover Fertility is a fertility clinic that specializes in helping couples with their fertility issues. Due to diabetes sex problems, many men and women suffer from infertility issues. In most instances, they are either not able to conceive or not able to hold the pregnancy. With the latest technology fertility treatment options, Medicover Fertility is able to address these medical problems and help couples where either one or both are suffering from diabetes to have a healthy baby.

Understanding does diabetes affect sex life is crucial for addressing these issues. Medicover has a large team of in-house specialized doctors who are highly qualified and widely experienced. The Medicover panel of doctors works in conjunction to diagnose specific problems pertaining to particular patients and create a case history which can be used to help them treat the specific problems which are preventing the couple from getting pregnant.

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