Male infertility affects 40% of couples struggling with infertility. Causes include impotence, reproductive system problems, environmental factors, and genetics. Treatment ranges from correcting the underlying cause to IVF or donor sperm. Infertility can be psychologically distressing, and some men may choose to induce infertility deliberately.
Male infertility is a medical condition characterized by the inability to fertilize an egg. In about 40% of couples struggling with infertility, the problem is male infertility. There are a number of reasons why men are infertile and different treatment approaches can be used to address infertility in men. Usually, treatment is provided by a fertility doctor, who can draw on specialized training and experience to diagnose and treat male infertility.
In some cases, male infertility is caused by impotence and addressing the impotence will resolve the issue. In other cases, infertility can be caused by a problem with a man’s reproductive system, such as decreased sperm production or poor motility among sperm cells. Tests usually include taking the patient’s history and a semen sample, and physical exams will also be conducted.
Environmental factors can often contribute to male infertility. Exposure to radiation and some chemicals can cause fertility problems. The problem can also be genetic in nature. In some cases, a few rounds of medical treatment can lead to infertility, in which case a doctor may recommend that a man consider collecting a semen sample before treatment takes place so that he has a chance to have children in the future. Cancer treatment, for example, usually results in infertility, and a young person being treated for cancer may not be ready to give up the possibility of having children.
Treatment approaches can range from correcting the underlying cause and allowing the couple to conceive naturally to collecting a sperm sample for IVF. If infertility cannot be addressed, a fertility doctor may recommend a pregnancy achieved with donor sperm.
Infertility can be very psychologically distressing for men, especially when it is associated with impotence. Some men find it helpful to work with a psychologist or similar mental health professional to discuss issues and questions that arise during the infertility treatment process. As with infertility in women, it’s important to be aware that the problem is not uncommon and is usually not the fault of the person experiencing fertility issues.
Some men may choose to deliberately induce infertility, temporarily or long-term. Vasectomy is the best known technique used to create permanent male sterility, but it is also possible to use implants to block the passage of sperm for temporary sterility, or to use hormonal drugs to induce sterility or impotence. Male infertility is usually induced deliberately because a man does not want to have children, or is not yet ready to have children, and in some regions of the world, so-called chemical castration with hormones is used to control sexual offences.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
