It is common belief that infertility is referred as a woman’s problem. However, there have been numerous cases where the problem is solely with the male partner.
With regards to male infertility, everything relies on the quality and quantity of your sperm. Male infertility refers to a man’s lack of ability to induce conception in his fertile female partner. Majority of the male infertility cases are due to low sperm count, poor quality of sperm, or both factors. The remaining cases can be caused due to other conditions such as anatomical problems, hormonal imbalances, and genetic defects.
It is crucial for men to get tested for fertility as well as women. We, at Rao Hospital, strongly recommend you to consult with a Fertility Expert and to undergo early testing so as to spare your partner from a great deal of unnecessary discomfort and expenses.
The reasons that cause male infertility can be classified into Medical, Environmental and Lifestyle. A few causes are listed below:
- Medical causes
- Varicocele. A varicocele is a swelling of the veins that drain the testicle and result in reduced quality of the sperm. It is the most common reversible cause of male infertility.Ejaculation issues. Various health conditions can cause retrograde ejaculation, including diabetes, spinal injuries, medications, and surgery of the bladder, prostate or urethra. Some men with spinal cord injuries or certain diseases can’t ejaculate semen, even though they still produce sperm. Often in these cases sperm can still be retrieved for use in assisted reproductive techniques.
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- Chromosome defects. Inherited disorders such as Klinefelter’s syndrome — in which a male is born with two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome (instead of one X and one Y) — cause abnormal development of the male reproductive organs
- Undescended testicles. In some males, during fetal development one or both testicles fail to descend from the abdomen into the sac that normally contains the testicles (scrotum). Decreased fertility is more likely in men who have had this condition
- Hormonal Problems. Hormonal imbalance in your body – inadequate function of thyroid, pituitary glands can cause low sperm count.
- Environmental causes
- Overexposure to certain environmental elements such as heat, toxins and chemicals can reduce sperm production or sperm function.
- Lifestyle and Health causes
- Alcohol Consumption. Alcohol can lower testosterone levels and cause decreased sperm production. When you’re looking to have children, its best to avoid alcohol.
- Stress. Physical or emotional stress can severely reduce your chances of having children. Night shifts, working and sitting long hours in front of computers, work-stress, personal problems can all hamper the biological rhythm of your body. Stress is major issue for a lot of health problems; try to live a life with minimalistic stress or no stress at all. Exercises and yoga can really help you manage your stress levels.
- Weight. It is vital to look into your BMI index, overweight or obese can be reduce your sperm count level. It is important you do your best to maintain your ideal weight, and exercising can also improve your testosterone levels.
- Drug Intake. Drugs – cocaine, marijuana and others, and any kind of steroids can lower your chances to have children.
- Usage of Cell Phones in Pocket. The radiations coming out of mobile phones can reduce the sperm production levels. It is important that you avoid keeping cell phones in your pockets, rather keep it in your back pocket or keep it separately.
At Rao Hospital, we are researching and managing fertility related problems for more than 35 years. Having the best diagnostics center, and infrastructure we should be able to help you have the dream of your life.