Quick Highlights
- In India, nearly 77 million people live with diabetes.
- Diabetes refers to a condition in which high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood are present.
- It is a chronic disease that increases the risk of many other serious health problems, including heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, and infertility.
- Diabetes and infertility in males are not comorbid conditions. However, having diabetes can worsen infertility issues if they are already present. It can cause sexual dysfunction and obesity, which affects sperm quality and reduces overall fertility health.
- Diabetes could result from insufficient insulin production (type 1) or insulin resistance (type 2), while infertility is a clinical issue that impacts reproductive health.
- Diabetes and infertility in females trigger hormonal imbalances, leading to PCOS and oligomenorrhea (irregular menstrual cycle).
Diabetes and Infertility in Males: How Does It Impact?
Male fertility depends on the abundance of healthy sperm (over 15 million per ml of semen). Besides, 40% of sperm must show vigorous motility to reach the ampulla for fertilisation. Following are some conditions related to diabetes and infertility in males:
Erectile Dysfunction
Diabetes leads to obesity and a lack of stamina, reducing sensitivity towards sexual urges. This hinders copulation and is among the prime reasons for male infertility.
Poor Libido
Excess glucose reduces sexual urges due to testosterone deficiency. This causes lethargy and weakness, lowering the intensity and reducing copulation frequencies.
Sperm Damage
Diabetes and infertility in males cause poor sperm structure and viability. It damages the mitochondrial DNA, affecting the semen volume. It also reduces the viability, impairing the male sexual potential to ensure successful fertilisation.
Reduced Serum Testosterone Level
Serum testosterone level is the amount of testosterone that is in your blood. In patients with diabetes, their insulin-resistant cells weaken the body’s ability to produce testosterone.
Reduced Semen Volume
Semen volume is a measure of the amount of semen ejaculated by a man during a single orgasm. It is usually measured in milliliters. An average semen volume is around 3.7 milliliters but ranges from 1 milliliter to 10 milliliters. Unfortunately, men with diabetes may have reduced semen volume.
Impaired Spermatogenesis
One of the major complications of diabetes is that it can affect spermatogenesis. This is the process by which the sperm is created in men. When a man’s sperm count is low, it can be difficult to conceive.Diabetes and Infertility in Females: What Do You Need to Know?
Women may develop the following reproductive complications when having chronic diabetes:
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a leading cause of infertility in women. In this condition, a woman’s ovaries produce too many male hormones, leading to symptoms like acne, excess hair, weight gain, and the formation of cysts in the ovaries.
Women with type 2 diabetes are highly likely to develop PCOS.
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
It is a condition in which a woman’s ovaries stop producing eggs before the age of 40. This is often due to genetics, autoimmune disorders, or cancer treatments.
Studies have found that type 2 diabetes can elevate the risk of POI.
Vulnerable to Urinogenital Infections
Diabetic patients develop urinary tract infections (UTIs) more frequently, making them vulnerable to reproductive complications besides poor immunity.
Gestational Complications
Excess blood sugar during pregnancy leads to gestational diabetes, a driving factor for developing preeclampsia.
Diabetes and infertility in females can also harm the developing baby, leading to congenital issues and possibly causing a miscarriage.
Lower Sexual Desires
Unlike male libido, female sexual urges depend on hormonal balance. Having diabetes causes vaginal dryness, while anxiety or depression may lead to unpleasant experiences.
Diabetes and infertility thus reduce the scope for unprotected intercourse necessary for pregnancy.
Unstable Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle has a vital role in planning pregnancy. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes cause menstrual anomalies such as:
- Menorrhagia (prolonged menstruation with heavy shedding)
- Amenorrhoea (absence or delay in the menstrual cycle)
- Late menarche (delayed onset of the menstrual cycle)
Anovulatory Menstruation
Ovulation during the menstrual cycle leaves no chance for natural fertilisation. Excessive anxiety and stress, hormonal imbalance (lower LH levels), and obesity are among the side effects of diabetes and infertility in females.
Can a Diabetic Woman Get Pregnant?
Women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes can have a safe pregnancy. Managing your blood sugars throughout the pregnancy is your best chance of having a healthy baby.
However, doctors will treat your pregnancy as high-risk and will be monitored frequently.
Listed below are the diabetic pregnancy risks you should know about:
- preterm birth
- stillbirth
- congenital disabilities, such as nervous system and heart abnormalities
- overweight baby, which increases the probability of a cesarean section
- miscarriage
How to Prevent Diabetes Pregnancy Risks?
- The key to a successful, full-term pregnancy with diabetes is to have your blood sugar control – both during pregnancy and before conception.
- Talk to your doctors at least six months before you plan to get pregnant. They will guide you on how to control and monitor your blood sugar tightly.
- Not every pregnancy can be planned. So, if you are already pregnant, it’s best to consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Treating Diabetes and Infertility in Males and Females
Diabetes and infertility are not comorbidities. Preventive lifestyle and assisted reproductive technology help keep both conditions under control. This includes:
- Reducing weight
- Lowering blood sugar
- Getting treated for underlying reproductive complications (PCOS, preeclampsia)
- Using assisted reproductive technology (ART) to manage fertilisation issues
What Can Be Done if Diabetes Has Caused Infertility?
You can consider the following options for becoming a parent:
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF): IVF involves fertilising an egg in the laboratory and then implanting the fertilised egg in the woman’s uterus. However, you may still have diabetes pregnancy risks, as mentioned earlier.
- IVF and surrogacy: Your egg fertilised via IVF can be implanted in a surrogate to prevent complications later in the pregnancy.
- IVF using donor egg: If diabetes has caused you to stop ovulating, this is another option. In this method, a donor egg is fertilised in the laboratory using the IVF technique. You may still need a surrogate to carry the pregnancy full-term.
Final Thoughts
Diabetes, when unmanaged, can impact fertility in both men and women. In men, it may lead to challenges like low testosterone, reduced sperm quality, and erectile dysfunction. For women, it can contribute to conditions such as PCOS, POI, thyroid issues, and irregular periods. If you’re pregnant and living with diabetes, keeping blood sugar levels in check is essential to prevent complications like preterm birth or miscarriage. And if starting a family feels out of reach, options like IVF, surrogacy, or donor eggs offer hope.
At Birla Fertility & IVF, we’re here to support you with compassionate care and personalised solutions. Book an appointment today to take the next step.
FAQs
Can a Diabetic Man Become a Father?
Diabetes and infertility do not necessarily prevent a man from fathering a child. Seeking treatment for fertility issues and leading a preventive lifestyle to counter diabetes has led to successful pregnancies.
Does Diabetes Affect Your Sperm Morphology?
Diabetes affects sperm morphology, sperm count, and semen volume in males. Without treatment, it can lead to permanent infertility.
Can a Diabetic Man Fertilise a Woman?
Both men and women having diabetes can get pregnant while keeping their blood sugar under check and using ART to ensure fertilisation.
Does Diabetes Affect Your Eggs?
Diabetes can significantly impact fertility and eggs. Women diagnosed with diabetes are likelier to have ovulation problems.
If you have diabetes and want to get pregnant, you may want to consult your doctor about managing your blood sugar levels.
Can Diabetes Stop Ovulation?
Type 2 diabetes can elevate the risk of anovulation (no ovulation) due to the imbalance of progesterone and estrogen levels.
Other causes of anovulation are hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid hormone) and PCOS, both of which have a correlation with increased blood sugar.
Can I Conceive if I Have Diabetes?
It’s possible to conceive with diabetes, but there are risks like preterm birth, stillbirth, and congenital disabilities in the offspring. If you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar levels in check and eating a healthy diet is important.
However, to navigate these risks, you can consider other options like IVF, donor eggs, or surrogacy.
Is Diabetes Pregnancy High Risk?
The effect of sugar in pregnancy can lead to complications such as miscarriage, a large baby, or congenital disabilities. It can also increase the probability of caesarean delivery. Hence, your pregnancy will be considered high risk by doctors.
