What is male infertility?
Male infertility is a medical condition that lowers a man’s chances of conceiving with his partner. The inability to conceive after frequent, unprotected sex is known as infertility. About 15% of couples experience infertility after unprotected sex, with male infertility accounting for 40–50% of these cases.
What are the causes of male infertility?
The most frequent causes of male infertility are either low sperm production, damaged or low-quality sperm (i.e., unable to move properly, making it difficult to swim to the egg), or abnormal sperm (i.e., sperm with an abnormal shape, making it difficult to swim to the egg).
Although the exact cause of sperm damage or depletion is unknown, it is thought to be related to improper temperature regulation, such as testicles that are overheated from wearing tight clothing or from spending extended amounts of time near a heat source, like a laptop.
Other factors that may cause male infertility
Testicular cancer, infection or damage to the testicles, or decreased sperm production following testicular surgery are additional causes of male infertility.
Some men may have trouble ejaculating during intercourse, which makes getting pregnant even more difficult. Low sperm counts are frequently caused by hypogonadism, a condition in which males have abnormally low levels of testosterone.
Numerous conditions and other factors can negatively impact a man’s ability to produce sperm, both in terms of quality and quantity. Recreational drug use, excessive drinking and smoking, obesity, and high levels of stress are among the lifestyle choices that are known to result in low sperm counts or abnormal sperm.
How can infertility in men be avoided?
Since many of the aforementioned causes cannot be prevented, couples who wish to become pregnant may need to look into other options like egg freezing or IVF treatment.
Changing one’s lifestyle will also increase the likelihood of creating healthy sperm. In addition to lowering stress levels wherever feasible, quitting smoking, consuming less alcohol, and maintaining a healthy diet will probably have positive effects.