What Causes Male Infertility?

With female fertility getting attention everywhere, issues related to male fertility often get overlooked. But the fact is that many couples across the world are unable to conceive due to male infertility. Knowing the causes that lead to male infertility can help couples deal with the issue and seek proper treatment. Some of the common causes of male infertility are:

Low Sperm Count

If a male's semen contains less number of sperm or no sperm at all, the female's eggs may not get fertilised due to the low sperm count or lack of it. To define clinically, if the sperm count is less than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen, it is known as low sperm count. As such, the low sperm count is one of the leading causes of male infertility.

Quality of Sperm

It is not enough to just have a high sperm count. If the quality of sperm is not good enough, it can become the cause of infertility in males. Abnormal sperm or sperm mobility can impact the quality of sperm. A decrease in sperm mobility affects the quality of sperm as it hinders the sperm's ability to travel to the egg and fertilise it. Many factors related to abnormal sperm haven't been explained as yet. But the assumptions include that an abnormal shape of the sperm can make it hard for it to travel to the egg and fertilise it.

Testicular Damage

Testicles are the sacs that contain and protect the sperm from the impact of the harsh outside atmosphere. If the testicles are damaged, it can harm the sperm and that can become a cause for infertility. Overheating of the testicles can also have a negative effect on the quality of the sperm. As such, it is important that the testicles are prevented and protected from damage at all times to avoid suffering from issues of infertility.

Ejaculation Disorder

Problems in ejaculation can influence a male's fertility. This happens as improper ejaculation can lead to sperm not reaching the egg. As such, no fertilisation may take place. Examples of ejaculatory disorders include complete failure to ejaculate, ejaculation occurring too early (premature ejaculation), and ejaculation into the bladder (retrograde ejaculation).

Lifestyle Choices

There are several lifestyle choices that can become the cause of infertility in males. These choices include excessive consumption of alcohol, using illegal recreational drugs, following an unhealthy diet, indulging in unsafe sex, and putting on excessive body weight.