What is male infertility?
Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system. It makes a person unable to have children. It can affect a man, a woman, or both. Male infertility means that a man has a problem with his reproductive system. It means you cannot start a pregnancy with your female partner.
What causes male infertility?
Natural male reproduction depends on several things.
You must be able to:
- Make healthy sperm that can fertilize the egg
- Have an erection and ejaculate so the sperm reaches the egg
Problems with either of these may mean you have infertility. Below are some of the main causes of male infertility.
Sperm disorders
Problems with making healthy sperm are the most common causes of male infertility. Sperm may be immature, abnormally shaped, or unable to swim. In some cases, not have enough sperm. OrĀ not make any sperm. This problem may be caused by many different conditions, including:
- Infections or inflammatory conditions. One example is infection with the mumps virus after puberty.
- Pituitary gland problems
- Immune problems in which you make antibodies against your own sperm
- Environmental and lifestyle factors. These include tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, use of marijuana or steroids, or exposure to toxins.
- Genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis or hemochromatosis
Structural problems
Anything that blocks the genital tract can stop the flow of semen. This could be a genetic or birth defect. Infection or inflammation from a sexually transmitted disease can also block semen. Other causes include scar tissue from surgery or twisted, swollen veins in the scrotum.
Other factors
Other factors may include erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation. Liver or kidney disease, or treatment for seizure disorders are examples of problems that can cause infertility.