What Can Cause Male Infertility?

In the case of most couples, when there’s trouble conceiving, it’s common to point the finger at female infertility. The reality of the matter is that male infertility is actually just as common, affecting 40 to 50% of infertility cases and 7% of all men.

At Gulf Coast Urology, our doctors are dedicated to covering all of your urological needs and that includes treating male infertility. Though we know it’s a difficult topic to talk about, we also understand that it’s important to address it.

How infertility is diagnosed in men

Infertility is diagnosed only after a couple has regularly had unprotected sex for at least a year without getting pregnant. We then test your sperm to see if there’s an issue with your sperm.

And, sperm quality isn’t the only factor in male fertility. While high-quality sperm is necessary for conception, we also look at sperm count and your overall health as well. So, we would perform a sperm analysis and a general physical to assess your whole-body health.

Factors that contribute to male infertility

There are several factors that can contribute to male infertility including hormone levels, testicle health, and even certain medications. Being overweight or obese, smoking, and drinking alcohol can all also impair your fertility.

Age, too, is a contributing factor to male infertility. Just like women who go through menopause, men also gradually lose their sperm count as they age. In fact, men over the age of 40 are 30% less likely to conceive within a year of trying than the same men who are younger than 30.

There are also other health conditions that are common with age like erectile dysfunction, certain cancers, and other health conditions that are more common in older men.

Signs of male infertility

If you’re a male who is under 35 and is trying to conceive with no luck, then you may want to get your fertility checked. Some signs of male infertility include:

• Changes in hair growth
• Changes in sexual desire
• Pain, lumping, or swelling in your testicles
• Issues with erections and ejaculation
• Small, firm testicles

When you do come in to see us, you’ll want to give us a complete rundown of your medical history as well as a list of all of the medications that you take, including over-the-counter vitamins and supplements.

We’ll also want to know how often you have unprotected sex and the number of times that you’ve been trying, as well as the date of your last attempt at getting pregnant. The more honest you are with us, the easier it will be to treat the cause of your infertility. For more information, call us or make an appointment right on our website today.