How to know if you are infertile male? Symptoms like changing in sexual desire, swelling of testicles, erectile dysfunction, or problems with ejaculation make you realize something is not going good with your sexual potential.
If you are struggling to conceive a baby, you are not alone. In the US, nearly 10 to 15% of couples are facing some kind of infertility issues. The condition is defined as the inability to conceive despite having frequent and unprotected intercourse for more than a year. Infertility may either result from conditions either with you or your partner. In some cases, a combination of factors is responsible for causing infertility. To conceive a baby, a man’s sperm play a vital role from getting delivered to the female reproductive tract to combining to a woman’s egg. The most common problem that leads to infertility in men is how well the testicles work. There may be other factors as well that can contribute to fertility problems in males; these include hormonal imbalances, blockages in the male reproductive organs. According to studies, about half of the cases of male infertility are unidentified.
Reasons Behind Male Infertility
Well, a man with infertility may experience signs of hormonal problems which include sexual dysfunction and hair growth. Infertility in males can be caused by problems associated with sperm production, sperm count, shape and movement of the sperm. A complete lack of sperm may make a man infertile. Blockage of sperm movement due to hormonal fluctuations or other medical condition can cause a lack of sperm. There are some cases of infertility, where there is no enough sperm production, means men produce less sperm than normal. According to research studies, about 40% of cases are due to a medical condition called varicocele, the presence of an enlarged vein in the testicles.
Making healthy sperm that can travel to women’s reproductive tract depends on many things. Any internal issue/issues can prevent sperm from undergoing the growth process. These issues can prevent fertilization. Let’s have a brief look at the common causes of male infertility:
- Sperm disorders- The most commonly reported problem of male infertility is sperm growth. In some cases, sperm may not grow completely, the shape is odd, they do not move the right way, or there may be low sperm count. Sperm disorders can be an issue related to your birth problem. Sometimes lifestyle habits can give rise to low sperm count. These may specifically include smoking, alcohol consumption, and using certain medicinal products can lower your sperm counts. A long term sickness, childhood infection or hormonal imbalance s can lead to male infertility.
- Varicoceles or enlarged veins– Another common cause of infertility in males is the swollen veins in the scrotum also called varicoceles. The condition affects sperm growth by interfering with the blood supply towards the male reproductive organ. An enlarged vein in the scrotum causes the backflow of blood from your belly to the scrotum. This makes the testicles too warm to produce sperm resulting in low sperm counts.
- Obesity- Men with Body mass index (BMI)above 30 can have an impact on sperm quantity and quality. It is believed that fat deposition affects the production of male’s hormones that plays a key role in reproductive activity. One of the major hormones is testosterone, which is essential for the production of semen in male’s testicles. The entire hormonal imbalance caused by fat deposit overload can cause significant changes in sperm development.
- Use of certain medications– Consumption of certain medication can affect the sperm production, and function of testicles. These medicines are often using to treat medical conditions such as arthritis, high blood pressure, depression, cancer, digestive problems, and infections.
The bottom line
Several conditions affect how testicles make and store sperm and ejaculation by the penis. One of the common causes that lead to male infertility is how well the testicles work. Hormonal imbalances and lifestyle changes are other common factors for male infertility. Luckily, there are effective treatments that can help you get rid of the conditions and improve your chances of getting pregnant.
Also Read: Causes Infertility in Men
