Contents
Can diseases experienced in early childhood return with undesirable, unpleasant consequences later in life? It turns out that there is such a probability. It happens that childhood rubella contributes to infertility in an adult male. However, mumps is more dangerous in passing and subsequent illness – it carries a high risk of affecting a man’s infertility. What is this influence? In mumps and rubella, do men have a serious enemy for their fertility?
Rubella in men and infertility
Rubella most often affects minors, statistically, the highest number of sick people is recorded in people aged 14-19. For a long time, doctors and researchers of the link between the transmission of rubella and fertility have been trying to determine how far this disease affects male fertility. Although it usually proceeds calmly, older men often experience testicular pain, hence the search for connections in this area. Previous analyses, however, do not clearly confirm the negative impact of this ailment on later fertility. Complications during the course of the disease are extremely rare, which is usually conditioned by improper treatment. This can lead to inflammation of the testicles, which sometimes results in infertility. In other cases, where the disease does not manifest itself as anything special and disturbing, no effect on fertility is confirmed.
Mumps and infertility
While in the case of rubella there are no definite statements defining this disease as a possible cause of subsequent infertility, in the case of mumps the matter is much more serious and documented. Mumps is a common disease, usually acquired in childhood. However, it is not always routine and without complications. Occasionally, adolescent boys develop mumps orchitis, during which the mumps virus causes degeneration and even atrophy of the seminiferous tubules in which sperm are transported. Then, apart from the traditional symptoms of this disease, such as swelling of the parotid glands, there are symptoms that indicate this inflammation. There will be a fever, severe pain and swelling of the testicle, a feeling of radiating pressure in the abdominal area.
Male infertility after mumps
Mumpsy orchitis may therefore result in negative consequences for the future life of a man and planning to start a family. This complication can lead to oligospermia – insufficient sperm production or azoospermia – loss of sperm in the seminiferous tubules. Statistically, in as many as 50% of men who develop mumps orchitis, sperm disappear or lose their quality. The comforting fact is that this condition usually involves one testicle, so it does not have to be associated with infertility, but only with a reduced chance of the expected successful procreation. On the other hand, in the case of inflammation that involves both testicles, such risk increases immeasurably.
Mumps in men – how to pass and treat it?
The question then remains whether the problems arising from mumps orchitis can be avoided. The way to do this is to get vaccinated early enough – to take the MRM vaccine, which also includes protection against measles and rubella, pancreatitis, meningitis. Boys, in particular, should take care of such protection, in whom the morbidity of mumps is five times higher than in girls, and the possible effects may negatively affect the quality of life. However, if inflammation does occur, various steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended. They have no power to prevent future complications, they can only deal with pain and swelling.