Infertility is characterized by a long period (generally 12 months) of complete and unprotected sexual intercourse without conception. Infertility is not the same as true sterility, and does not necessarily indicate a total inability to conceive. While 75% of couples trying to conceive will be successful within the first nine months that number jumps to 90% after 18 months.
Male infertility refers to those cases of infertility in which the inability to conceive is due to factors affecting the male partner. Across all cases, infertility is evenly split between male and female, with 40% of all cases being due to male factors, 40% to female factors, and 20% being due to both male and female factors or having no identifiable cause.
About
Male infertility is the result of one or more of several factors, including:
- Abnormal spermatogenesis (the ability to create sperm)
- Impaired sperm motility
- Erectile dysfunction
- Impaired ejaculation
- Varicoceles (dilated veins in the scrotum)
FYI
Risk Factors
Several external causes have the potential to contribute to one or more male infertility factors. They include:
- Exposure to environmental toxins
- Drug and alcohol consumption (including prescription drugs)
- Prior medical treatment such as surgery or chemotherapy
- Previous sexually transmitted infection or urinary tract infection
- Radiation exposure
- Exposure to extreme heat
- Genetic conditions
Symptoms
What to do if you think you are experiencing male infertility:
If you believe you are experiencing male infertility, consult your healthcare provider. They will conduct a thorough medical history and physical examination of the penis, testes and prostate. Depending on your symptoms, your healthcare provider may also order laboratory screening of sperm, prostatic fluid and hormone levels. They may also test for the presence of sexually transmitted infections, or perform an ultrasound or digital thermography to assess tissue health.
Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider
It’s important that you become proactive in your healthcare so that you may get the best treatment. Here are some questions you can ask your healthcare provider about infertility.
- My partner and I are having trouble conceiving. Is it possible that one of us is experiencing infertility?
- What treatments are available for male infertility?
- What are the risks, benefits, and side effects of these treatments?
- What personal behaviors may contribute to infertility?
- Is there anything in my medical history that could lead to infertility?
- If treatment does not lead to conception, do I have any other options?
- When should I consult a fertility specialist?
Treatments
Because male infertility stems from many different of causes, the type of treatment will vary. Common treatments include:
- Surgery- for physical conditions such as varicoceles
- Medication – for conditions involving sperm production and some ejaculatory problems
If these treatments do not work, fertilization techniques such as intrauterine insemination (inserting sperm directly into the uterus) or in vitro fertilization (fertilizing the egg outside of the body and implanting it in the uterus) may also be used to assist in conception.
Resources
For more Information about male infertility visit:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Urology Care Foundation
Hormone Health Network
Medline Plus
Urology Care Foundation