Male Fertility

Symptoms of Male Infertility

Just the idea of undertaking an infertility investigation can be very confronting for a man. In most cases, it’s surprisingly easy to assess infertility in men.

The major causes of male infertility may include:

A block or the absence of tubes (potentially due to an injury or vasectomy) is the cause of around 1 in 3 cases of male infertility.

A low sperm count and/or poor sperm quality can be an underlying factor in male infertility. This could be caused by genetic factors such as the male chromosome missing. This may cause:

  • Absent sperm (azoospermia) – The semen not containing any sperm due to a tube blockage or testicular failure.
  • Low sperm count (oligospermia) – The ejaculate does not contain enough sperm to achieve conception.
  • Abnormally shaped sperm – A healthy sperm looks like a tadpole. Abnormally shaped sperm may have problems penetrating female eggs.
  • Sperm motility problems – A healthy sperm has a tail that helps to propel it through a women’s reproductive system. Sperm with poor motility may not swim well, decreasing the chances of conception.

  • Impotence – Inability to get or maintain an erection.
  • Ejaculation problems – Retrograde and premature ejaculation (see Dr. Myran’s help centre).
  • Testicular problems – These are commonly caused by injury, disease, or previous medical treatments.
  • Surgery prostatectomy – Removal of the prostate gland.
  • Certain disorders, such as diabetes, can cause erection and ejaculation difficulties.
  • A man’s immune system can sometimes make antibodies that hinder the activity of sperms.

The pituitary gland and the hypothalamus influence hormone production in the testicles. A relatively uncommon cause of male infertility is the failure to make enough of the hormone gonadotrophin.

How can male infertility be diagnosed?

  1. Charting and analysing medical history.
  2. Physical examination.
  3. Semen analysis – Analysing a sperm sample in a laboratory and checking for abnormalities and the presence of antibodies.
  4. Blood tests – To assess hormone levels.
  5. Testicular biopsy – To check the network of tubes within the testicles to see if they contain any sperm.
  6. Ultrasound scans – To check the reproductive organs.

Please remember – Investigating suspected causes of infertility requires testing for both partners.

Low sperm production, poor sperm function, or obstructions that limit sperm delivery can all contribute to male infertility. Illnesses, injuries, chronic health issues, lifestyle choices, and other circumstances may bring on male infertility.

Nearly half of all couples experiencing infertility are affected by male infertility, which is the second most common reason for pregnancy delays after a woman’s age. Male infertility can be tested via a semen analysis. This is usually the recommended first step before the discomfort and expense required to assess if the issue is present in the woman. Problems with male fertility account for about 40% of all infertility cases. However, the good news is that the most common causes of male infertility are easily diagnosed and successfully bypassed with effective fertility treatments, including IVF with Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

As a male – What can you do to improve your fertility

  • 1

    Avoid Smoking.

  • 2

    Reduce Alcohol Consumption.

  • 3

    Be cautious about Sexually transmitted diseases.

  • 4

    Treat Heat stress.

  • 5

    Avoid using Tight-fitting underwear and clothing around the genitals.

  • 6

    Reduce consumption of Steroids.

Male Infertility Treatment

For some men, the act of intercourse may be a challenging

This may come in the form of:

  • Difficulty maintaining an erection
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Loss of sex drive

These problems may be resolved with medical or non-medical therapy.

If the signal hormones from the brain to the testis are not being released, then it’s possible to replace these hormones to increase or recommence sperm production.

(The pituitary gland in your brain releases hormones called gonadotropins that stimulate the testicles to produce sperm. In some cases, male infertility is caused by insufficient levels of these hormones. Taking these supplemental hormones as medication may increase sperm production.)

Previous injury to the testis from trauma, infections, medications, chemotherapy, and radiation may or may not be amendable to treatment.

Sometimes the outlet tubes that carry sperm are blocked. It’s possible to bypass the blockage by either collecting sperm from the testis or epididymis with a biopsy needle under local anaesthetic. Sometimes the testis may need to be surgically explored to find sperm while you are under anaesthetic sleep.

In men with a low sperm count or sperm motility problems, washing the sperm to remove impurities before injecting the sperm into the uterine cavity may help couples achieve pregnancy.

When sperm count and or sperm mobility is meagre, then IVF and ICSI procedures may significantly help many couples fall pregnant. IVF is when the female’s eggs are fertilised outside the body with the male’s sperm. The fertilised eggs (the resulting embryos) are then placed into the woman’s uterus in the hope that a successful pregnancy will follow.

In the ICSI procedure, the female’s eggs are removed from the woman’s ovaries, and each egg is injected with a single sperm. This significantly increases the chance of producing a fertilised egg. The fertilised eggs hopefully develop into embryos that are transferred back into the woman’s uterus at the appropriate time.

We talk to people just like you about infertility issues everyday – Take the next step

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our reception: