Male Infertility Causes

If you and your wife are having trouble having children, you may want to research male infertility causes. If a couple is unable to conceive a child, infertility is because of a problem with the man about one-third of the time. Various factors can lead to male infertility. Here are some common male infertility causes.

1. Varicocele (enlarged veins in the scrotum). This condition is the most common cause of male infertility. The enlarged veins increase the temperature of the scrotum. This leads to reduced sperm production, a major factor of male infertility.
2. Certain medications. If you are having trouble having children, ask your doctor about any medications you are taking. If low sperm count or infertility is a side effect, talk to your doctor about discontinuing that medication and exploring other treatment options.
3. Low sperm count. This is defined as less than twenty million sperm per milliliter of semen. The fewer healthy sperm you have, the less likely it is that one of your sperm will fertilize your partner's egg.
4. Sperm that are abnormally shaped or don't move correctly. Sperm must be able to reach your partner's egg for her to get pregnant. Decreased or abnormal movement of the sperm makes it difficult for this to occur.
5. Infection. Some infections can affect sperm production or health. This can make it more difficult for your sperm to fertilize your partner's egg. These infections include chlamydia, gonorrhea, inflamed prostate and other conditions that affect the reproductive organs.
6. Problems with ejaculation. Some diseases, including diabetes and some medications, such as drugs for enlarged prostate, can cause retrograde ejaculation. This means that sperm enters the bladder instead of emerging from the tip of the penis during ejaculation. Some men cannot ejaculate at all, particularly those with spinal cord injuries.

If you and your partner have been unable to conceive a child after one year of trying, you should both visit your doctors. They can determine the cause of the infertility and work with you on a treatment plan.