There can be various physical, environmental, and lifestyle factors of male infertility, which can reduce the chances of a man impregnating a woman. Any health issues affecting the reproductive system of the men can lead to infertility. There are several diagnostic methods, lifestyle modifications, and assisted reproductive technology that can improve your chances of conception.
The key symptom of male infertility is the inability to impregnate a woman. Other than this, there can be no other signs or symptoms of male infertility. However, in some cases, the underlying health conditions can lead to certain symptoms that can cause severe distress. Some such symptoms that you may notice:
Sometimes, the inability to conceive can also cause some emotional and psychological symptoms such as feelings of grief, failure, depression, and loss.
Lifestyle Causes
The lifestyle factors that can cause male infertility include excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, obesity, and tobacco smoking. These factors often lead to low testosterone levels, decreased sperm production, and erectile dysfunction which can lead to infertility.
Medical Causes
The health issues that can be associated with male infertility include infection, varicocele, anti-sperm antibodies, hormonal imbalances, tumours, ejaculation issues, defects in the sperm transportation system, and chromosomal defects.
Environmental Causes
Your sperm function and production can be impaired due to certain environmental elements. The environmental causes that can contribute to male infertility are overheating the testicles, exposure to industrial chemicals, and radiation.
Male infertility can affect anyone assigned male at birth but there are certain risk factors which increase the chances of it. Discover some of the common risk factors that can lead to infertility.
To determine the main causes of infertility, the doctor may recommend certain diagnostic tests to identify the associated problems. Some of the effective diagnostic tests include:
Semen Analysis
Semen analysis is the most accurate test since this test checks the overall functioning and morphology of sperm, which includes density, pH scale, vitality, volume, and motility.
Hormone Testing
This test is done to measure the hormones produced by the testicles, pituitary gland, and hypothalamus. Any imbalances in the hormone levels indicate improper sperm production and sexual development.
Testicular Biopsy
In this test, certain samples from the testicles are removed to check for any sperm transportation or production issues.
Genetic Tests
Any genetic abnormality or presence of inherited syndrome can be easily detected with genetic tests. This test is often recommended when there are low sperm concentration levels.
Ultrasound
Several ultrasounds such as transrectal and scrotal can also be performed by the doctor to detect the abnormalities. Any blockages or health issues in the male reproductive system can be determined with the USG.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
One of the main treatment options that can manage male infertility issues is advanced ART techniques. The most effective options to attain a healthy pregnancy are intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). These methods help in extracting the sperm surgically, normally, or through sperm donors.
Surgery
The surgical methods to treat male infertility include the reversal of vasectomies, sperm retrieval techniques, and surgical correction for varicocele. These surgeries can help in solving significant ejaculation and low sperm count problems.
Hormone Treatments
If low or high levels of hormones are found to be the main cause of male infertility then the doctor may recommend hormone medications or hormone replacement therapies.
