How common is male infertility, and what are its causes and symptoms?

An issue with your reproductive system called infertility prevents you from becoming pregnant with a female. If a male and a female engage in frequent unprotected sex for more than a year and the female is unable to become pregnant, either you or she may be experiencing infertility problems. 

In this blog we will specifically address the issue of male infertility, its symptoms, causes and treatments. 

Men frequently struggle with the issue of infertility. There are numerous challenges and difficulties involved in conception. Fortunately, if you struggle with infertility, it does not mean you and your partner won’t be able to start a family. The likelihood of conception can be improved with certain treatments.

How common is infertility in men?

One in every six couples who are attempting to get pregnant suffer with infertility. Male factors are a main or contributing cause of infertility in at least half of the cases. 

Which males are likely to suffer from infertility? 

The following men are most likely to suffer from infertility issues: 

• You are obese or overweight.
• 40 years of age or older.
• Exposure to radiation has occurred to you.
• Environmental pollutants including lead, calcium, pesticides, or mercury have been exposed to you.
• You consume alcohol, or cigarettes.
• You take certain medicines.
• Your testicles keep getting warmer because of your exposure to the environmental heat. 
• You’ve previously experienced undescended testicles.
• You’ve previously had scrotal varicoceles, which are enlarged veins in your scrotum..
• You’ve come into contact with testosterone. For low testosterone, some men require injections, implants, or topical gel.

Symptoms of infertility in males

Inability to conceive a child is the main symptom of male infertility. There might be no other obvious symptoms or indicators.

However, in certain circumstances, signs and symptoms are caused by an underlying issue, such as an inherited disease, hormonal imbalance, dilated veins around the testicle, or a condition that prevents sperm from passing through. Visible symptoms and signs include:

• Erectile dysfunction, or difficulties keeping an erection: It can cause issues with sexual function, such as problems ejaculating or ejaculating little amounts of fluid.
• Having discomfort, edema, or a bump near the testicles
• Respiratory diseases that reoccur
• Being unable to smell
• Gynecomastia: It causes abnormal development of breasts
• Hair loss on the face or body, or other chromosomal or hormonal anomalies
• A sperm count that is below average 

Causes of male infertility

Your fertility may be impacted by a variety of biological and environmental factors. The factors causing male infertility may include the following are

• Azoospermia: Your failure to generate sperm cells may be the cause of your infertility.
• Oligospermia: the formation of sperm of lower quality.
• Genetic illnesses: Klinefelter’s syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, microdeletion and more
• Unhealthy sperm: Sperm that isn’t healthy and won’t live long enough to fertilize the egg.
• Medical problem: Diabetes, a few autoimmune diseases, cystic fibrosis, and a few infections, can cause fertility issues.
• Medications: Certain medicines and supplements can cause fertility problems.
• Variococles: This is a disorder where your testicles’ veins are larger than usual. This causes them to overheat, which might alter the form or quantity of your sperm.
• Cancer: Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or testicular removal surgery are all cancer therapies that can cause infertility.
• Substance abuse: Consumption of alcohol, and smoking tobacco can affect your fertility.
• A testicular trauma. 
• Hormonal disorders: Issues with your hypothalamus or pituitary glands may have an impact on your ability to conceive.

When to visit a fertility specialist? 

Consult a fertility expert if you haven’t been able to conceive after a year of consistent, unprotected sexual activity or if you are facing the following:

• Low sex drive, issues with erection or ejaculation, or other issues with sexual function
• Ache, pain, bulge, or swelling in the testicle area
• If you have a background of testicular, prostate, or sexual issues
• If you have had a scrotum, penis, testicles, or groin surgery
• If your partner is older than 35

What questions might a fertility expert ask to diagnose male infertility?

1. How long have you been attempting to conceive with your partner?
2. Have you ever gotten a partner pregnant before?
3. Do you smoke? Do you drink alcohol?
4. What medications do you take?
5. Do you work in a chemically contaminated environment?
6. Have you ever suffered groin trauma?
7. Do you have any mental health issues, such as clinical depression?
8. What are your medical conditions? Diabetes? Is it an autoimmune disorder?
9. Have you been exposed to radiation before?

Diagnosis of male infertility

A thorough physical examination is the first step in the diagnosis to determine your general health and spot any medical issues that may have an impact on your fertility. On a semen analysis the following is determined: 

• Sperm volume: The number of sperm in an ejaculate.
• PH: An evaluation of acidity or basicity.
• Sperm concentration: The number of sperm per millimeter of semen.
• Total sperm count: Number of sperm in your entire ejaculate.
• Velocity: The sperm’s rate of movement.
• Linearity: The sperm’s movement’s straightness.
• Morphology: Your sperm’s size and shape.
• Color of your sperm.
• Viscosity: The rate at which your semen dissolves.
• Viability: The ability of the sperm to survive.
• Morphology: The sperm’s shape and composition.
• Motility: the mobility of your sperm that allows it to reach the egg and fertilize it.

Treatments for male infertility

The number of treatments for male infertility has increased thanks to modern technology and procedures. Depending on the cause of infertility treatments vary from person to person. The treatments of male fertility include:

1. Medications: Sperm production is increased with hormone therapy.
2. Changes in lifestyle:
   • Keep your body weight at a healthy level.
   • Quit smoking.
   • Avoid drinking.
   • Quit consuming marijuana.
3. Surgeries:
   • Vasectomy reversal: The surgeon reattaches your vas deferens, which is the sperm-passing tube in your scrotum. 
   • Vasoepididymostomy: This procedure clears blockages in your vas deferens. 
   • Sperm Recovery: In some serious cases, sperm recovery requires a testicular biopsy.
   • Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): This procedure takes place in a lab and includes injecting live sperm into a person’s eggs. A fertilized egg can become an embryo through this process. 
   • In vitro fertilization (IVF): In this procedure, mature eggs are removed from the ovaries and fertilized in a laboratory by sperm. One or more of the fertilized eggs are then surgically implanted in a uterus, which is where babies begin to grow. 

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