Male infertility overview

Male infertility is a disorder of the reproductive system that prevents you from impregnating a female. You may have infertility problems if you engage in recurrent, unprotected sexual activity with a fertile woman for a year or longer and the female doesn’t become pregnant. Nearly one in seven couples is infertile, and up to half of these couples are affected to some extent by male infertility. Low or poor sperm production, or obstructions that limit sperm delivery, can all contribute to male infertility. Male infertility may be brought on by illnesses, chronic health issues, lifestyle choices, and other circumstances. Having infertility problems does not preclude you from having a kid of your own because there are therapies that can raise your likelihood of conception. The cause of your infertility will determine your course of treatment. Artificial insemination, medications, and surgery are all forms of treatment.

 

What are the symptoms of male infertility?

Infertility usually has no visible signs other than the inability to conceive a child within a certain time frame. There might be no other overt symptoms. However, in certain circumstances, symptoms are caused by an underlying issue, such as an inherited ailment, hormonal imbalance, dilated veins around the testicle, or a condition that prevents sperm from passing through.

Observable symptoms include:

• sexual function issues, such as problems ejaculating or ejaculating little amounts of fluid, decreased sexual desire, or erectile dysfunction.
• discomfort, edema, or a bump near the testicles.
• hair loss on the face or body or other chromosomal/hormonal anomalies.
• a below-than-average sperm count.

 

What are the causes of male infertility?

For a man to impregnate a woman, the male body should be able to:

• produce healthy sperm: at least one of the testicles must be healthy, and the body must produce testosterone and other hormones to start and maintain sperm production.
• transport the sperm into the semen: after the sperm are created in the testicles, they are transported through tubes until they combine with the semen and are expelled from the penis.
• have semen that contains an adequate number of sperm. The likelihood that one of your sperm will fertilize a woman’s egg lowers if there are few sperm in your semen. A low sperm count is considered to be less than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen or less than 39 million per ejaculate.
• have functional and mobile sperm: Your sperm may not be able to enter or pierce your partner’s egg if its motility or function is faulty.

 

1. Environmental causes: Overexposure to certain environmental factors, including heat, pollutants, heavy metals, and chemicals, can impair sperm function or production.
2. Lifestyle causes: Male infertility can also be brought on by drug or alcohol use, smoking, and obesity.

3. Medical causes: Several medical conditions have been shown to affect male fertility, such as:

 

Varicocele. A varicocele is an enlargement of the testicular veins that may result in infertility for unclear reasons; however, irregular blood flow may play a role. Sperm quantity and quality are decreased as a result of varicoceles.

Infection. Some infections might affect sperm health or production or lead to scarring that prevents sperm from passing through. These include epididymitis, orchitis, and some sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea.

Ejaculatory problems. When orgasm occurs, semen enters the bladder rather than coming out the tip of the penis, resulting in retrograde ejaculation. Retrograde ejaculation can be brought on by numerous medical disorders, such as spinal injuries and surgeries on the bladder, prostate, or urethra.

Sperm-attacking antibodies. Immune system cells called anti-sperm antibodies wrongly view sperm as dangerous invaders and make an effort to destroy them.

Cancers and nonmalignant tumors. Male reproductive organs can be affected by cancers and benign tumors through reproductive hormone-producing tissues like the pituitary gland, or unexplained causes. Surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy used to treat malignancies can have an impact on male fertility.

Undescended testicles. One or both testicles in certain males fail to descend from the abdomen into the testicular sac during development. Men who have experienced this problem are more prone to have decreased fertility.

Hormonal imbalances. Abnormalities affecting other hormonal systems, such as the hypothalamus, thyroid, and adrenal glands, can cause infertility.

Defects in the sperm-transporting tubules. Sperm travels through various tubes, which may become blocked for many reasons, such as unintentional harm from surgery, past infections, trauma, or improper growth.

Genetic diseases. Male reproductive organs grow abnormally as a result of inherited diseases such as Klinefelter’s syndrome, in which a male is born with two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome (instead of one X and one Y).

Difficulties during sexual contact. These include erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, anatomical anomalies like hypospadias, which is the presence of a urethral hole beneath the penis, and sex-interfering psychological issues.

Certain medications. Male infertility can be decreased by testosterone replacement therapy, chemotherapy for cancer, some pharmaceuticals for ulcers and arthritis, and a few other drugs.

 

How is male infertility diagnosed?

During your appointment, the doctor will perform a physical examination to check your general health and spot any medical issues that may affect your fertility. Physical examinations make it possible for your doctor to determine whether you suffer from symptoms of hormone insufficiency (such as increased body fat and diminished face and body hair) and find issues, such as hernias and varicocele. They will also review your medical history and ask if you have experienced any testicular or penile injuries in the past.

If the physical examination and medical history fail to reveal any causes for your failure to conceive, the doctor may request some tests to determine the cause of your infertility. To evaluate the condition and caliber of your sperm, they may request a sample of your semen (semen analysis). Blood tests to measure your hormone levels, genetic tests, and testicular biopsy are examples of possible additional examinations.

 

How is male infertility treated?

The doctor will determine your course of treatment depending on the cause of your infertility. If no cause of infertility has been found, evidence-based treatments that increase fertility may be suggested to treat your condition.

Male infertility treatments include:

• Use of assisted reproduction technology (ART). Depending on your unique situation and preferences, ART treatments may involve acquiring sperm by ejaculation, surgical extraction, or from donors. The sperm are subsequently used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection, in vitro fertilization (IVF), or insertion into the female genital tract. The IVF process entails activating and removing several mature eggs, fertilizing them with sperm in a dish in a lab, and implanting the embryos in the uterus a few days later.
• Antibiotics to treat infections. Antibiotics may be used to treat an infection of the reproductive tract. However, fertility is not always restored after treatment.
• Medication or counseling. In cases of issues with sexual activity, such as erectile dysfunction or early ejaculation, medication or counseling can help enhance fertility.
• Medication and hormone treatments. In circumstances when infertility is brought on by hormonal problems, such as high or low levels of hormones or issues with how the body uses hormones, hormone replacement therapy or medications may be useful.
• Surgery is required in some cases of infertility. Varicocele surgery, which removes twisted, bulging veins from the scrotum, can occasionally enhance sperm quality. Surgery can also be done to undo an earlier vasectomy. Moreover, blockages in the tubes that carry sperm can be repaired by surgery.

In rare cases, a man’s inability to father a child is caused by reproductive issues that cannot be remedied. Your doctor might advise you to consider adopting a child or utilizing donor sperm.

 

Schedule your appointment today!

Contact our knowledgeable team to schedule your consultation and learn more about male infertility treatments.

 

FAQ

How can I prevent male infertility?

Sometimes male infertility can’t be avoided, but you can try to prevent several recognized factors that contribute to male infertility. For instance, avoid tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs. It would also be helpful to keep a healthy weight and avoid exposure to pollutants such as pesticides and heavy metals.

 

Are male infertility treatments effective?

The good news is that many male infertility cases can be successfully treated, enabling couples to realize their dream of having a baby. Male infertility can be treated surgically, non-surgically, or with treatments utilizing assisted reproductive technology.

 

Is male infertility a lifelong condition?

Depending on the underlying cause, male fertility is not always permanent and may be curable. Your doctor may suggest a combination of treatments if the issue causing the infertility is curable.

 

What is the onset age of male infertility?

Although the exact age at which men are most fertile has not yet been determined, male fertility loss normally starts at the age of 35 and becomes more pronounced around the age of 40.

 

Is male infertility a common problem?

Male infertility is a common problem; 10% of men may not be able to conceive on their own or have difficulty getting their partners pregnant.