Men's Health / Male Infertility

What is Male Infertility?

Having a baby is generally a simple and natural experience. However, for some couples it can be difficult to conceive a child.
As a male, your fertility generally depends on the quantity and quality of your sperm. If the number of sperm you ejaculate is low, or if the sperm are of a poor quality, it will be difficult, and in some cases impossible, to get pregnant.
If you’ve been trying to get pregnant without success for a period of 12 months, and you’ve been having sex at least twice a week, it’s worth visiting the doctor. If you’re aware of factors that could have an impact on your chances of conceiving a baby, it’s a good idea to seek help earlier on. Both you and partner should be tested for reproductive problems at the same time.

What are the symptoms of male infertility?
In most cases, there are no obvious signs of infertility. You’ll usually have no difficulty with sexual activity, erections and ejaculation, and your semen will look normal to the naked eye. You’ll need medical tests to help find out the cause of the infertility.

What causes male infertility?
  • Sexual problems that affect whether semen is able to enter the vagina (one in 100 infertile couples)
  • Low levels of hormones made in the pituitary gland (a hormone controller in the brain) that affect the testicles (one in 100 infertile men)
  • Sperm antibodies (proteins that fight against sperm, which are found in one in 16 infertile men). In most men, sperm antibodies will not affect the chance of a pregnancy, but in some cases it can reduce your fertility.
  • Sometimes, male infertility is simply genetic.

Can I do anything to prevent male infertility?

There are a number of things that can harm the production of sperm, so it’s best to avoid:

  • Smoking cigarettes
  • Drinking excess alcohol
  • Catching sexually transmitted infections
  • Heat stress from tight fitting underwear
  • Anabolic steroids taken for body building or sporting purposes.
  • If you work somewhere that may affect your fertility, it’s important to wear protective clothing and to follow all occupational health and safety guidelines. We also recommended that couples trying to conceive stay away from harmful chemicals.
  • Because of the possible effects on fertility, it’s important to tell your doctor if you have had hormone treatment, or had surgery as a child to fix undescended testes.

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