Male Infertility
Alternate Names : Infertility due to Male Factors
Infertility is defined as a couple's inability to become pregnant after
one year of regular, unprotected sex. Male infertility means
the male is unable to impregnate the female because of male factors.
What is going on in the body?
The inability to get pregnant may be caused by conditions in either partner. It is
estimated that 30% of infertility is caused by male factors. An additional 30% is caused by female
factors. The remaining 40% is caused by a combination of female and male factors. Male infertility may be caused by many diseases, conditions, and other factors. Situations that raise the temperature in the testicles can interfere with normal sperm production.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
There are many male factors that can make a couple unable to become pregnant. These may include conditions such as the following:
diabetic neuropathy, in which nerve damage causes problems with erection or ejaculation
extreme obesity
hormone imbalances, such as hypothyroidism
hypogonadism, a condition in which the testes fail to develop normally
inherited conditions that impair the ability to produce sperm, such as
Down syndrome
testicular torsion, a condition in which the blood supply to the testicle is cut off
undescended testicles, a
condition in which the testes fail to drop into the scrotum
varicocele, a group
of enlarged veins inside the scrotum
Diseases also can be a factor in infertility, for example:
autoimmune disorders, which
can cause the body to produce antibodies that attack sperm
liver
disease
sickle cell anemia
kidney disease
genital infections such as gonorrhea and genital herpes
infections of the reproductive organs, such as prostatitis and epididymitis
infectious diseases, including mumps
Additional factors in infertility include the following:
certain medications, such as cimetidine and phenytoin
certain supplements, such as anabolic steroids
chemotherapy used for cancer
diet low in folic acid or low in lycopene, which is found in plants such as tomatoes
excessive exercise, which lowers testosterone levels and decreases sperm production
exposure to diethylstilbestrol, also known as DES, as an infant in utero
exposure to toxins such as lead, mercury, or pesticides
frequent hot baths or use of hot tubs
injury to the testicles
low sperm count, poor sperm quality, and
poor movement of sperm
radiation therapy
recreational drugs, such as alcohol, methadone,
and marijuana
sexual problems, such as erectile
dysfunction and premature
ejaculation
side effects of treatments for
testicular cancer or prostate
cancer
surgery of the reproductive system, such as transurethral resection of the prostate
vasectomy, a surgical
procedure to tie off the sperm-carrying tubes
wearing tight-fitting pants and underwear
work that requires prolonged sitting, which increases the temperature in the scrotum
A recent study has found that baby boys who wear diapers lined with plastic have
significantly higher temperatures inside the testicles. The researchers suggest that disposable
diapers may have contributed to the increase in male infertility over the
past 25 years.
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