Male fertility is a complex process. To get your partner
*You must produce healthy sperm. Initially, this involves
the growth and formation of the male reproductive
organs during puberty. At least one of your testicles
must be functioning correctly, and your body must
produce testosterone and other hormones to trigger and
maintain sperm production.
.
Sperm have to be carried into the semen. Once sperm
are produced in the testicles, delicate tubes transport
them until they mix with semen and are ejaculated out
of the penis.
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There needs to be enough sperm in the semen. If the
number of sperm in your semen (sperm count) is low, it
decreases the odds that one of your sperm will fertilize
your partner's egg. A low sperm count is fewer than 15
million sperm per milliliter of semen or fewer than 39
million per ejaculate.
Sperm must be functional and able to move. If the
movement (motility) or function of your sperm is
abnormal, the sperm may not be able to reach or
penetrate your partner's egg.
★Medical causes
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★Problems with male fertility can be caused by a
number of health issues and medical treatments. Some
of these include:
Varicocele. A varicocele is a swelling of the veins that
drain the testicle. It's the most common reversible
cause of male infertility. Although the exact reason that
varicoceles cause infertility is unknown, it may be
related to abnormal testicular temperature regulation.
Varicoceles result in reduced quality of the sperm.
Treating the varicocele can improve sperm numbers and
function, and may potentially improve outcomes when
using assisted reproductive techniques such as in vitro
fertilization.
Infection. Some infections can interfere with sperm
production or sperm health or can cause scarring that
blocks the passage of sperm. These include
inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis) or
testicles (orchitis) and some sexually transmitted
infections, including gonorrhea or HIV. Although some
infections can result in permanent testicular damage,
most often sperm can still be retrieved.
Ejaculation issues. Retrograde ejaculation occurs when
semen enters the bladder during orgasm instead of
emerging out the tip of the penis. 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.
★Antibodies that attack sperm. Anti-sperm antibodies
are immune system cells that mistakenly identify sperm
as harmful invaders and attempt to eliminate them.
.
★Tumors. Cancers and nonmalignant tumors can affect
the male reproductive organs directly, through the
glands that release hormones related to reproduction,
such as the pituitary gland, or through unknown causes.
In some cases, surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to
treat tumors can affect male fertility.
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.
.
★Hormone imbalances. Infertility can result from
disorders of the testicles themselves or an abnormality
affecting other hormonal systems including the
hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands.
Low testosterone (male hypogonadism) and other
hormonal problems have a number of possible
underlying causes.
.
★Defects of tubules that transport sperm. Many
different tubes carry sperm. They can be blocked due to
various causes, including inadvertent injury from
surgery, prior infections, trauma or abnormal
development, such as with cystic fibrosis or similar
inherited conditions.
Blockage can occur at any level, including within the
testicle, in the tubes that drain the testicle, in the
epididymis, in the vas deferens, near the ejaculatory
ducts or in the urethra.
.
★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. Other genetic syndromes
associated with infertility include cystic fibrosis,
Kallmann's syndrome and Kartagener's syndrome.
Problems with sexual intercourse. These can include
trouble keeping or maintaining an erection sufficient for
sex (erectile dysfunction), premature ejaculation, painful
intercourse, anatomical abnormalities such as having a
urethral opening beneath the penis (hypospadias), or
psychological or relationship problems that interfere
with sex.
Celiac disease. A digestive disorder caused by
sensitivity to gluten, celiac disease can cause male
infertility. Fertility may improve after adopting a gluten-
free diet.
★Certain medications. Testosterone replacement
therapy, long-term anabolic steroid use, cancer
medications (chemotherapy), certain antifungal
medications, some ulcer drugs and certain other
medications can impair sperm production and decrease
male fertility.
.
☆Prior surgeries. Certain surgeries may prevent you
from having sperm in your ejaculate, including
vasectomy, inguinal hernia repairs, scrotal or testicular
surgeries, prostate surgeries, and large abdominal
surgeries performed for testicular and rectal cancers,
among others. In most cases, surgery can be performed
to either reverse these blockage or to retrieve sperm
directly from the epididymis and testicles.
.
☆Environmental causes
Overexposure to certain environmental elements such as
heat, toxins and chemicals can reduce sperm production
or sperm function. Specific causes include:
Industrial chemicals. Extended exposure to benzenes,
toluene, xylene, pesticides, herbicides, organic solvents,
painting materials and lead may contribute to low
sperm counts.
Heavy metal exposure. Exposure to lead or other heavy
metals also may cause infertility.
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☆Radiation or X-rays. Exposure to radiation can reduce
sperm production, though it will often eventually return
to normal. With high doses of radiation, sperm
production can be permanently reduced.
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☆Overheating the testicles. Elevated temperatures
impair sperm production and function. Although studies
are limited and are inconclusive, frequent use of saunas
or hot tubs may temporarily impair your sperm count.
Sitting for long periods, wearing tight clothing or
working on a laptop computer for long stretches of time
also may increase the temperature in your scrotum and
may slightly reduce sperm production.
☆Health, lifestyle and other causes*
Some other causes of male infertility include:
Illicit drug use. Anabolic steroids taken to stimulate
muscle strength and growth can cause the testicles to
shrink and sperm production to decrease. Use of
cocaine or marijuana may temporarily reduce the
number and quality of your sperm as well.
☆Alcohol use. Drinking alcohol can lower testosterone
levels, cause erectile dysfunction and decrease sperm
production. Liver disease caused by excessive drinking
also may lead to fertility problems.
Tobacco smoking. Men who smoke may have a lower
sperm count than do those who don't smoke.
Secondhand smoke also may affect male fertility.
hormones needed to produce sperm. Severe or
prolonged emotional stress, including problems with
fertility, can affect your sperm count.
Weight. Obesity can impair fertility in several ways,
including directly impacting sperm themselves as well
as by causing hormone changes that reduce male
fertility.
.
Certain occupations including welding or those involving
prolonged sitting, such as truck driving, may be
associated with a risk of infertility. However, the
research to support these links is mixedhttps://m.facebook.com/Medipharmac-Medical-Centre-816261791727356/?refid=17&ref=opera_speed_dial&_ft_=top_level_post_id.844073385612863%3Atl_objid.844073385612863%3Athid.816261791727356%3A306061129499414%3A2%3A1388563200%3A1420099199%3A-2285392348337784175&__tn__=C
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