About one out of every three cases of infertility is due to the man alone, and we're somehow involved in infertility about half the time. A diagnosis of male infertility can be one of the hardest challenges. ...

Symptoms

The important sign of male infertility is the inability to conceive a child. In some cases,an underlying problem such as an inherited disorder, a hormonal imbalance, dilated veins around the testicle or a condition that blocks the passage of sperm causes signs and symptoms.

Although most men with male infertility do not notice symptoms other than the inability to conceive a child, signs and symptoms associated with male infertility include:

• Problems with sexual function — for example, difficulty with ejaculation or small volumes of fluid ejaculated, reduced sexual desire, or difficulty maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction)
• Pain, swelling or a lump in the testicle area
• Recurrent respiratory infections
• Inability to smell
• Abnormal breast growth (gynecomastia)
• Decreased facial or body hair or other signs of a chromosomal or hormonal abnormality
• A lower than normal sperm count (fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen or a total sperm count of less than 39 million per ejaculate)

Causes

Any of the following can cause a man to have a low sperm count or abnormal sperm:

• Varicocele — an abnormal collection of bulging veins above the testicle; they’re the most common cause of correctable male infertility, accounting for 38% of cases
• Undescended testicle
• Infections in the testicle (orchitis), the prostate (prostatitis), or elsewhere in the body that causes a fever
• Chemotherapy for cancer
• Medicines such as anabolic steroids or anti-seizure medicines
• Genetic abnormalities
• Hormone problems

More about Treatment

About one out of every three cases of infertility is due to the man alone, and we're somehow involved in infertility about half the time.

A diagnosis of male infertility can be one of the hardest challenges.

Sperm are made in the testicles. They're then stored inside the epididymis, which lies on top of each testicle. Sperm are nourished by semen, which is made by glands along the way. When the magic moment arrives, about 150 million sperm are ejaculated in a half-teaspoon of semen through the penis.

This whole process hinges on there being proper levels of testosterone and other hormones as well as correct signaling from the nervous system.

Women ovulate and send an egg down into the uterus once a month. This happens about 14 days after menstruation. Sex any time in the five days before ovulation can create a pregnancy. Sex any other time, even the next day after ovulation, will not result in conception.

FAQ

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