Infertility Causes in Men

Studies show that one in every seven couples wishing to conceive is infertile. Earlier, it used to be assumed that the problem was solely due to disorders in the woman's reproductive system. However, it is now generally recognized in medical circles that 35-40% cases have male contributing factors. This is quite incredible considering an average, healthy male releases around 120 to 600 million sperm each time he ejaculates. Reproduction should be easy for the male, but sometimes, things go a bit awry.

So what is it that causes a male to be infertile?

Male infertility could be on account of congenital disorders or could be acquired at any time during his reproductive years and usually has to do with sperm abnormalities such as low sperm count, insufficient motility and abnormal morphology. A sperm analysis is the best method of finding out if a fertility problem exists. A simple procedure, the analysis requires a sperm sample that will be analyzed for the following factors:

• Volume: Normal ejaculate ranges between 2 to 5 ml. If the sample is more or less, it would indicate that there could be a problem.
• Appearance: Abnormal color would indicate the presence of an infection.
• Sperm Count: Whether the number of sperm per ml meets the norm of 20 million/ml or above. A concentration of less than 20 million/ml would be considered as a low sperm count.
• Motility: The ability of the sperm to swim towards the egg will be observed. Sluggish or inefficient movement will mean that the sperm has low motility.
• Morphology: The size and shape of the sperm plays an important part in fertility. Abnormally shaped sperm are hampered in their ability to swim to the egg and penetrate it. If it is observed that more than 50% of the sperm are not normally shaped, it indicates that fertility is affected.
• Viscosity: Too thick a sample would indicate the presence of infection.
• pH Level: The quality and concentration of sperm could be affected by the pH level of the semen. The normal range is between 7 to 8, and anything outside this range would have an impact on fertility.

Other factors that contribute to male infertility are:

• Impotence or erectile dysfunction which is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection. An erection is required in order to ejaculate.
• Ejaculation disorders such as premature ejaculation or retrograde ejaculation (where the ejaculate is forced back into the bladder).
• The failure of the testes to descend into the scrotum. This causes heightened temperatures in the testicles which affects the quality of the sperm.
• Scrotal varicocele, an enlarged vein outside the scrotum that slows down blood flow to the scrotum causing a rise in temperature in the testicles. The increased temperature can adversely affect the production of sperm.
• Blocked tubes that can prevent the ejaculation of semen prohibiting fertilization.
• Medical conditions that include among others, injury or major surgery in the groin area, mumps, diabetes, HIV, thyroid disorders, heart attack and major organ failures. Medical treatments like radiation or medication for heart disease and high blood pressure can also affect fertility.
• Prolonged testicular exposure to high temperatures from hot tubs, saunas, steam baths and even tight clothing that inhibit healthy sperm production.
• Exposure to toxic substances like pesticides, x-rays, electromagnetic or microwave emissions or radioactivity can encourage sperm abnormalities.
• Alcohol and drug abuse as well as smoking can negatively impact male fertility.
• Aging brings about a decline in sperm production as well as sperm quality. This decline commences around the age of 35.

Factors such as stress, insomnia, intense exercise, vitamin C deficiency, insufficient nutrition and even prolonged abstinence can affect male fertility.

While some causes of male infertility are irreversible, the others can be treated by appropriate infertility treatments.

If you are concerned about your fertility, connect with your health provider who will recommend the tests you need to take and subsequently appropriate corrective action.