Male infertility is when a sexually mature male is unable to get a fertile female pregnant.
Treatment may involve medications, hormone therapy, surgery, and specialist procedures likeintrauterine insemination (IUI).
It also offers tips on how to prevent male infertility with healthy lifestyle choices.
Illustration by Mira Norian for Verywell Health
Causes of Male Infertility
There are many causes of male infertility.
These include genetic disorders that can impair either of these systems.
Others still affect the endocrine organs that regulate the production of sex hormones liketestosteroneandestrogen.
Common pathological causes of male infertility include:
What Is Idiopathic Male Infertility?
Not all causes of male infertility are known.
Sexual Causes
Sexual dysfunctionis a common cause of male infertility.
Sexual dysfunction in males may be due to physical causes, psychological causes, or both.
In some cases, the underlying cause may be unknown.
Common acquired causes of male infertility include:
How Common Is Male Infertility?
Around 15% of couples in the United States experience infertility.
Of these, 20% of cases are due to issues related solely to the male partner.
Your sexual practices would also be discussed.
Adigital rectal exam (DRE)may also be performed.
This involves the insertion of a gloved finger into the rectum to check for problems with your prostate gland.
Semen Analysis
Aspermiogramis typically the tool used to investigate male infertility.
The semen sample can be collected at the healthcare provider’s office by masturbating and ejaculating into a cup.
The noninvasive test uses high-frequency sound waves to generate images of internal organs and tissues.
There are different types your healthcare provider may use:
How Is Male Infertility Treated?
The treatment of male infertility varies by the underlying cause.
This may involve the treatment of testicular diseases,STIs, or conditions likeerectile dysfunction.
Oftentimes, several conditions are involved, each of which needs to be treated individually.
Some of the more common treatments used for male infertility include:
Can Supplements Help?
Can You Prevent Male Infertility?
There are many causes of male infertility that cannot be prevented.
With that said, male infertility often involves multiple factors that contribute to the loss of fertility over time.
These include lifestyle factors like smoking and drinking.
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