Male infertility is a multifaceted issue that may be traced to several conditions. Surprisingly, male infertility is also a commonly known factor that may lead to issues between couples wanting to conceive.
The possible causes of male infertility can be traced to physical or environmental origins, following a clinical point of view. It is understood that male infertility is a factor in 30%–50% of marital infertility cases throughout the world. To fully facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility, it is important to identify characteristics or conditions that may contribute to this ailment.
However, in this article, we will discuss five causes of male infertility that occur most frequently.
1. Sperm disorders:
Many times, this is the leading cause of male infertility. Some male infertility factors include low sperm concentration (oligospermia), slow-moving sperm (asthenospermia), and teratozoospermia, abnormal and strange-shaped sperms. Lower sperm density means a lower likelihood of being able to penetrate the egg. These include low sperm production, which can compromise fertility as the number of sperm available to fertilise an egg is inversely proportional to the number of sperm produced.
Some of the causes of low sperm count include hormonal problems, genetic or transmitted issues, infections or health problems such as diabetes and kidney diseases, obesity, tobacco smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and some form of drug and drug abuse. Also, poor motility means sperm are incapable of swimming up to the egg.
Another cause can arise by way of the consequences of abnormal sperm morphology. This means that a sperm cell is not in the normal or correct shape for the sperm to penetrate the egg. Sperm motility refers to how freely the sperm will move and the likelihood of being able to swim up through the female reproductive system to get to the egg.
Another factor is the low motility of sperm, referred to as asthenozoospermia, which means that conceived sperm may not be able to swim adequately to the egg for fertilisation. There are other causes, like hormonal imbalances, congenital abnormalities, infections, obesity, and exposure to heat, that also affect sperm mobility.
Sperm morphology refers to the size, shape, and structure of sperm cells.
Abnormal sperm morphology, also known as teratozoospermia, occurs when a high percentage of the sperm in a semen sample have abnormal shapes or sizes, making it difficult for them to fertilise an egg. Various factors can lead to abnormal sperm morphology, including genetic factors, hormonal imbalances, infections, exposure to toxins, and certain medications.
2. Hormonal Imbalance:
Gonadotropins also have an impact on the testes because hormonal irregularities can impede sperm manufacturing. The hormones involved in sperm production include testosterone and Leydig cell hormones, luteinizing hormones, and follicle hormones, among others.
Male infertility can be caused by diseases or conditions that affect sperm production, for instance, hypogonadism, a condition in which the testes can not produce adequate amounts of testosterone. Some other hormonal factors, like thyroid or pituitary gland dysfunction, can also play a negative role in sperm production.
Erectile dysfunction is a fairly widespread disorder that might interfere with effective sexual performance, and, potentially, with a male’s ability to sustain an erection that would suffice for intercourse. Sexual dysfunction as a component of ED can disarm the male ability to complete intercourse and deliver sperm into the fertilisation site within the female reproductive system, which can lessen the chances of conception. Some of the possible factors or issues that may lead to erectile dysfunction include other medical conditions affecting the body or a man’s nervous system, hormonal issues, stress, anxiety, or depression, among other factors.
3. Reproductive System Infections:
Some diseases contribute to the depletion of fertility inside the male reproductive system; such as STIs or inflammations of the prostate or epididymis. Infections of the reproductive system can lead to blockages in the tracts, erectile dysfunction, a low sperm count, and poor-quality sperm.
The common diseases that have been shown to affect male infertility are chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and prostatitis. These infections cause some complications that leads to infertility; therefore, it is crucial to diagnose and treat them appropriately. In more detail, varicocele refers to a pathological condition that causes the veins that drain the testicle to enlarge. Spermatogenic asthenozoospermia affects about 5% of all men and is one of the main reasons for male infertility.
Sperm morphology refers to the size, shape, and structure of sperm cells. Abnormal sperm morphology, also known as teratozoospermia, occurs when a high percentage of the sperm in a semen sample have abnormal shapes or sizes, making it difficult for them to fertilise an egg.
Various factors can lead to abnormal sperm morphology, including genetic factors, hormonal imbalances, infections, exposure to toxins, and certain medications. It is a condition in which the veins on the cord that drain blood from the testes become enlarged and may harmfully raise the temperature in the scrotum, which seriously impairs sperm production. It is possible to carry out a surgical repair for varicocele, and this can help improve sperm count as well as the fertility of the individual.
The male reproductive tract can be blocked or narrowed, thereby hindering the expulsion of sperm during ejaculation; a condition leading to male infertility. Obstruction could happen anywhere along the longitudinally running vas deferens, the structured epididymis, or in other regions of the male genitourinary system. Structural barriers can arise due to pathological processes such as inflammation or infection, traumatic tissue injury, anatomical malformations at birth, or postoperative changes. In certain situations, blockages are removable, and If the part that is blocked needs to be removed to clean it then there is a chance that fertility may be regained.
4. Genetic Factors:
Genetic factors may also play a role in the occurrence of ‘infertility’ which is a common problem in men. These include end-over disorders like Klinefelter syndrome, deficiencies involving the Y chromosome, and chromosome aberrations that have an impact on sperm or sperm quality. Malformations, sterility, and reduced sperm ejaculation are some of the ways gene disorders can affect sperm. In some cases, there may be a need to test for these causes, and this will require the process of genetic testing.
5. Lifestyle Factors:
Other factors from lifestyle can also affect male fertility. Stress due to smoking, drinking alcohol, taking bad drugs, and foods full of too much fat and cholesterol all have negative effects on sperm. Lastly, certain lifestyle factors can also cause male infertility, for instance, being exposed to toxins, pesticides, or radiation. However, factors such as stress, poor diets, and inactivity are other areas that can have adverse impacts on fertility.
Lifestyle changes like eating plenty of healthy food, taking a lot of exercise, and refraining from various ‘offensive’ products, for example, cigarettes, alcohol, etc., can go a long way in solving the problem of low male fertility.
Overweight and obesity have been associated with male infertility, mainly because obesity affects hormonal regulation, semiology, and physiology.
Obesity can cause endocrine dysfunction, inflammation, and poor sperm quality because, quite often, fats interfere with hormone synthesis. Weight loss through compliant dietary intervention and access to exercise has also been proven to positively influence fertility in obese males.
Some of the potential consequences of practicing continual stress on male fertility may include the alteration of hormone levels and the production of sperm. If a man is stressed, and his stress levels are high, there’s a big risk of low sperm production and poor quality sperm, thus making it hard to conceive. Fertility may also be enhanced through stress reduction through some relaxation methods, exercises, and seeking help.
Chemical agents in the environment, which include pesticide residues, heavy metals, industrial chemicals, and radiation, have been proven to hinder sperm quality, disrupt sperm production, and decrease fertility in men. Avoiding the mentioned toxins and adopting a healthy lifestyle, plus ensuring precautions in work-related places, also go a long way in preserving male fertility.
Conclusion
It is possible to enhance our understanding of how medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, and autoimmune diseases influence fertility among men because they can alter hormone levels, sperm quality, or the functionality of the male reproductive system. By ensuring that people with these underlying medical ailments receive the right treatment or use the right medicines, their fertility prospects are likely to improve.
Male infertility may have various causes, including physical problems like abnormalities within the sperm or hormonal changes due to external factors and inherited conditions. Couples facing infertility should consult their physicians so that they can be classified according to their problem and get the required medical intervention. Possible management measures for the problem as a part of male infertility may involve dietary changes, hormone replacement, surgical procedures, or artificial insemination. Thus, if these factors are fixed and the right lifestyle changes are proclaimed, then men can increase their chances of conception and improve their fertility potential.
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