A Closer look at male infertility

Male infertility refers to a male's inability to cause pregnancy in a fertile female.In humans it accounts for 40-50% of infertility.It affects approximately 7% of all men.Male infertility is commonly due to deficiencies in the semen, and semen quality is used as a surrogate measure of male fecundity.

In most cases, there are no undeniable indications of infertility.Intercourse, erections and ejaculation will usually happen without difficulty.The amount and appearance of the ejaculated semen by and large seems normal to the naked eye.Medical tests are needed to find out whether a man is infertile.

Male infertility is usually caused by problems that affect either sperm production or sperm transport.Through medical testing, the doctor may be able to find the cause of the problem.About two-thirds of infertile men have a problem with making sperm in the testes.Either low numbers of sperm are made and/or the sperm that are made do not work properly.Sperm transport problems are found in about one in every five infertile men, including men who have had a vasectomy but now wish to have more children.Blockages (often referred to as obstructions) in the tubes leading sperm away from the testes to the penis can cause a complete lack of sperm in the ejaculated semen.Other less common causes of infertility include: sexual problems that affect whether semen is able to enter the woman’s vagina for fertilization to take place (one in *** infertile couples); low levels of hormones made in the pituitary gland that act on the testes (one in *** infertile men); and sperm antibodies (found in one in 16 infertile men).In most men sperm antibodies will not affect the chance of a pregnancy but in some men sperm antibodies reduce fertility.