Reasons for Male Infertility

Male infertility is a much less discussed topic in society than OctoMom. Yet, it is a very common occurrence. It is the cause of infertility in couples almost as often as female infertility. Three major reasons for male infertility are

• Inability to produce a healthy sperm
• Blockage in ducts that prevent the sperm from reaching the semen
• Impotence

Sperm Production

Sperm production in men is a sophisticated and highly temperamental process. A low sperm count is the leading cause for infertility in men. Low sperm count can be caused by

• Heat

  The testicles need to be at a slightly cooler temperature than the rest of the body for optimum production of sperm. Wearing tight briefs, jeans and working in extremely hot conditions can cause a decrease in sperm counts. Some basic precautions you can take include wearing boxer shorts, avoiding spending too much time in hot tubs or saunas. Take bath in cold water twice a day and drink lots of fluids

• Alcohol/Drugs/Tobacco

  Excessive consumption of alcohol affects the liver, causing excessive levels of estrogen which affects the production of sperms. Tobacco affects both sperm count and sperm motility. Drugs like marijuana, coccaine cause low sperm count, reduced motility as well as malformed sperms. They can also lead to impotence and erectile dysfunction. Intake of >2 cups of coffee can impair the function of both sperm and egg.

• Undescended Testes

  This is a condition where the testes have not descended into the scrotum. Some babies are born with this condition and in some cases it corrects itself. However, if it does not correct itself, it maybe necessary to operate within one year to set it right. This condition if left unattended can cause loss in fertility.

• Torsion

  This refers to the testes becoming twisted. This could cause the testes to get damaged due to loss of blood supply. This condition manifests itself with sharp pain and swelling of the testes. Emergency surgery may be needed to correct the testes position.

Duct Blockage

The blockage of the passageway from the testes to the penis is another major cause for infertility in men.

Epididymitis, an infection of the epididymis, can block the duct through which the sperm travels. Common symptoms of epididymitis include severe pain in the scrotum area. Diseases like smallpox and tuberculosis can damage the epididymis. Sexually Transmitted Disease (STDs) like chlamydia can also cause epididymitis.

In some cases, surgery may be used to clear the block. However, the surgery is complicated and you should discuss with your doctor other options and the risks involved before undergoing the procedure.

Impotence

Another problem that men face frequently is impotence. However, impotence for a brief stint of time is normal and not alarming. If this continues for a prolonged period, contact your doctor. The causes of impotence could be either psychological or physical.

Other Causes

Some other rare causes of male infertility are hypogonadism, retrograde ejaculation and antisperm antibodies.

• Hypogonadism

  Hypogonadism can be primary, secondary or tertiary. Primary hypogonadism is due to testosterone deficiency. Testosterone deficiency is due to undescended testicles, excess iron in the blood, injury that damages the testicles, mumps, and chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Secondary hypogonadism is due to pituitary disorders and other diseases that affect the pituitary gland. Tertiary hypogonadism occurs due to disruption in the hypothalamus.

• Retrograde ejaculation occurs when the sperm is diverted from the male's ejaculate to the bladder during orgasm. However, this situation is very rare.

• Antisperm Antibodies

  The man or the woman may develop antibodies to the sperm. These antibodies cause the body's defense mechansim to treat the sperm as a foreign organism and start attacking it. This could happen due to inflammation or injury to the testes. Intra-uterine Insemination (IUI) is the generally used treatment option when these antibodies are found. In some cases IVF or ICSI may be recommended.

• Other minor causes of male infertility include hormone disorders, illness, reproductive anatomy trauma and obstruction and sexual dysfunction.

Various kinds of sperm tests such as semen analysis, sperm mucus test, sperm viability test, sperm penetration assay test and antisperm antibody test are used to determine male infertility.