Causes of Male Infertility

Nowadays, compared to past periods, awareness about male-factor infertility has started to rise. However, it is difficult to say that we have sufficient knowledge about the physiological reasons why men cannot become fathers yet. In this article, I would like to convey information specifically on the causes of infertility in men.

But first, I will briefly touch upon questions such as "What does male infertility mean?", "Can male infertility be treated?", and "How does infertility affect men?".

What Does Male Infertility Mean?

If couples wishing to have a baby do not achieve pregnancy despite engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse for one year, this situation is called infertility. Infertility can be female, male, or both female and male in origin. Male infertility can be defined as the failure of conception due to a problem affecting the male reproductive system.

Can Male Infertility Be Treated?

The answer to this question may vary in line with the causes of male infertility. Once the causes of male infertility are determined, it is possible for men to have babies both through Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) and natural means. In this context, methods such as pharmacotherapy (medication), hormonal therapy, and surgical treatment can be resorted to in line with the causes of infertility in men. You can read my content titled "Male Factor Infertility Treatment" for detailed information.

How Does Infertility Affect the Male?

Infertility does not only affect the male; it affects the couple. Infertility mostly emerges as a result of a physical health problem, and if treatment options are not evaluated, it can cause couples to experience psychological problems. The important thing at this point is to evaluate infertility as a health problem and to resort to treatment options.

After a short introduction, I can list the answers to the question "What are the causes of infertility in men?" as follows:

1. Abnormal Sperm Production or Function Conditions such as undescended testis (cryptorchidism) that are not treated in time, genetic defects, systemic diseases, or infections such as HIV have a negative effect on the sperm production process (spermatogenesis) and the functions of the sperm. Sperm quality must be sufficient for pregnancy to occur. Any disease that can cause deterioration in sperm quality can trigger the formation of male-factor infertility.

Varicocele is also among these diseases. Varicocele is a condition that can affect both sperm quality and testosterone release by increasing the temperature of the testes. The most common varicocele symptoms can be listed as infertility, shrinkage in the dimensions of the affected testis (testicular atrophy), and pain in the testes and groin. The gold standard in its treatment is the Microsurgical Varicocele Operation.

2. Problems in the Sperm Delivery Process Any malfunction experienced in the process of delivering sperm to the vaginal canal or expelling sperm from the body can become a cause of male-factor infertility. Premature ejaculation experienced before sexual intercourse, genetic diseases, structural problems causing blockage/obstruction in the testes, or damage and injuries in the reproductive organ can disrupt the sperm delivery process and lead to infertility in men.

3. Exposure to Various Environmental Factors Choices related to occupation or lifestyle can cause male-factor infertility. Inhalation of chemicals, exposure to radiation, excessive alcohol consumption, use of anabolic steroids, and smoking can be shown among the causes of infertility in men. Likewise, frequent exposure to high heat and the rise in testicular temperature (hyperthermia) can also prevent conception by damaging the sperm production mechanism. After the factors reducing sperm quality are determined, treatment processes are planned specifically for the patient.

4. Obesity Obesity has an effect on the formation of many chronic diseases such as sleep apnea, liver and kidney diseases, depression, high blood pressure, and diabetes. There is also a link between obesity and male infertility. The increase in fat stores can affect androgen hormone metabolism. It can disrupt the sperm development process, especially by reducing testosterone release. Moreover, it can lead to DNA damage in sperm.

5. Age Unlike women, the thought that men possess the reproductive capacity of their youth in advancing ages is not correct. It is known that men's reproductive potential also decreases after the age of 35. The probability of men over the age of 40 having a baby without genetic mutation decreases by 11% each year. The probability of conditions such as Down Syndrome, Neurofibromatosis, Autism, and Klinefelter Syndrome being seen in the children of men older than 50 is quite high.

Conclusion

As can be seen, there are many detectable causes that prevent men from becoming fathers. Many factors such as hormonal problems, accidents undergone, emotional stress, infections, medications used, and retrograde ejaculation can also be effective. Therefore, examining only women in couples diagnosed with infertility would not be a correct approach. Causes of infertility in men can be variable and complicated. For this reason, couples who want to have a baby need to have the necessary tests done together and before men's age advances further.