What is Male Infertility?

Parenthood is one of the most beautiful gifts bestowed on us by nature. But unfortunately, there are couples who face difficulty in conceiving a baby. There are many issues pertaining to this matter. One of them is male infertility. According to the recent statistics, one in five couples who face infertility was diagnosed with the problem in the male partner.

Cause of Male infertility

To treat an infertile man, it's important to find the root cause of his condition. Following are the common causes of male infertility:

Sperm Disorders

Low sperm count is a major sperm disorder. Some are unfortunately born with this problem, while for some suffer due to their unhealthy lifestyle choices like drinking alcohol and smoking.

Varicoceles

The swollen vein in the scrotum can hinder the sperm growth in scrotum.

Retrograde Ejaculation

This is a condition when semen instead of going out through the penis, goes back into the bladder. It happens due to some complications in past-surgery or due to some nervous system issues.

Immunological Infertility

Sometimes the antibodies formed in one's body can attack its own sperm causing low sperm production.

Obstruction

Due to certain infections, surgery or swelling, the reproductive tract can get blocked and thus the sperm stays blocked in the testicles.

Hormones

Low hormone level can cause low sperm production.

Chromosomes Abnormalities

Even a small change in chromosome number and structure can cause infertility in men.

Medications

Certain medications used for arthritis, depression, cancer etc. can hinder the production, function and delivery of sperm.

Other Causes of Male infertility

• Stress
• Depression
• Weight
• Alcohol and tobacco

Symptoms of Male Infertility

There are no visible symptoms. However, the following conditions can be indicators of male infertility:

• Ejaculation issues
• Lack of sexual desire
• Kallman's syndrome
• Erectile dysfunction

Diagnosis

It's hard to diagnose the cause of male infertility. It starts with a medical history and physical examination of the patient. After which, his semen is collected given for a detailed analysis. And based on the analysis, a hormone profile, transrectal ultrasound or even a testicular biopsy may be done to know the cause of this condition.