When we talk about infertility, we normally think of it as a problem for women. Few realize that it is a problem for men too. Male infertility is very common, troubling 1 out of 3 couples trying to get pregnant.
But this is very manageable, from hormone inducing medicines to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or donor sperm insemination and In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). So there still is hope. Once the cause is found, then you can do steps to treat it.
There are many causes, and here we will explain some of them to answer most of your questions.
These are the frequent causes of male infertility:
- low sperm count;
- poor sperm movement;
- zero sperm count;
- erectile dysfunction; and
- testicular trauma.
Low sperm count
Oligozoospermia or low sperm count is when a man has less than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. Successful pregnancies can still happen. But having a low sperm count can lead to male infertility. It will be more difficult to naturally conceive.
Poor sperm movement
Sperm motility, or the sperm’s ability to move efficiently, is necessary infertility. The sperm has to travel through the woman’s reproductive tract to reach and fertilize her egg. Poor sperm movement or asthenozoospermia is when less than 32% of the sperm are capable of moving efficiently.
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Suffering from azoospermia
Around 15% of men suffer from azoospermia, or zero sperm count in a semen sample. With this, there are very low chances of conceiving. The cause of this can either be a problem in your body’s ability to create sperm (non-obstructive azoospermia); or a blockage that blocks the sperm during ejaculation (obstructive azoospermia).
Diagnosing this condition can be difficult but once diagnosed, it is still manageable. Despite this, there is still hope.
Problems with erectile strength
Erectile dysfunction is frequent among men of advanced age. But it is not a normal part of aging. Eating lots of fried, fatty and processed foods and very few fruits and vegetables can decrease blood circulation throughout the body. It can also stop blood flow to and within the penis.
Being overweight, especially with Type 2 diabetes and/or high cholesterol and high blood pressure can also cause ED. This leads to male infertility.
Testicular trauma and male infertility
Testicles are two male organs that make sperm and male hormones. They are in the scrotum, a skin sac that hangs below the penis. Unlike most organs, they don’t have muscles or bones to protect them. They have no shield so anything can hit or crush them.
Testicular trauma is when a testicle is hit by force. Trauma or injury to the testicles or scrotum can hurt any of its contents. So when having it, men should have a urologist check them right away. If damage threatens fertility, it is critical that sperm collection and freezing be done to keep them.
Remember, once you are diagnosed with any of these causes, that doesn’t mean it is the end of your dream to become a parent. There are ways to go around it. Talk to specialists who can help you find solutions. At Dunya IVF Clinic, we have IVF specialist doctors who can give you answers. Contact them here.
