Infertility is not for women only.
About 30 percent of infertility cases involve a male factor and about 20 percent involve factors from both partners.
With these statistics, the male partner is either the sole or a contributing cause of infertility in half of the infertile couples.
Like those of female infertility, male causes of infertility are categorized, usually into seminal and structural abnormalities.
Seminal abnormalities Seminal abnormalities include low or poor sperm production.
Both the quantity and the quality of sperm are important for conception to occur.
When no sperm are found in the ejaculate, the condition is called azoospermia; a low sperm count is called oligospermia.
If too few sperm are ejaculated during sexual intercourse, the chances of a viable sperm meeting an egg are greatly reduced.
Not only is the number of sperm important, but so is the quality.
Sperm quality is judged according to their motility (ability to move) and their morphology (structure).
Without good motility, sperm cannot make that long swim up to an awaiting egg.
If damaged, they can't swim properly or penetrate an egg.
Structural abnormalities Male infertility can be caused by structural anomalies that are present at birth, are complications of illness or surgery, or develop over time.
The main male factors for infertility include the following: oVaricocele, which is a network of dilated varicose veins in the scrotum, is the most common cause of infertility in men.
More than 90 percent of varicoceles are found on the left side.
oUndescended tests is a congenital deformity in which the tests do not descend normally from the abdomen into the scrotum during fetal development.
If the tests remain in the abdomen too long, sperm production is impaired.
oSurgical complications, sometimes after hernia repair, prostrate or bladder neck operations, and testicular cancer surgery.
oObstruction of the vas deferens or epididymis, which impairs the sperm's ability to travel normally into the penis during ejaculation.
A man can be born with these obstructions or get them after an infection or surgery.
Sometimes, however, their cause is unknown.
oVoluntary sterilization in which the vas deferens is closed off, preventing sperm from mixing with the ejaculate.
Medical disorders Several medical conditions can also harm male fertility.
The most common are infections and injury.
In addition, cystic fibrosis, sickle-cell disease, and renal disease can impair a man's ability to father a child.
Also a variety of drugs and environmental agents can hamper male fertility.
Infections Several medical conditions, in particular, infections, can affect a man's ability to produce a child.
In fact, any infection or fever can impair sperm development and affect the ability to conceive for three months! So if your doctor orders sperm analysis, don't forget that one test result is not always conclusive.
Testicular trauma or torsion Testicular trauma or torsion can injure the tests and impair their function.
Torsion is a condition in which a testis twists on the cord that attaches it to the body.
The sudden of interruption of blood flow to and from the testicle causes dramatic and painful swelling.
Surgical correction is usually very successful at saving the testis.
But, if untreated, the testis will shrivel and die.
Medications, toxins and illicit drugs A variety of drugs-therapeutic and illicit-can have detrimental and sometimes devastating effects on male fertility.
These can range from impotence to sterility.
In addition, exposure to environmental and occupational toxins can impair testicular function.