Male Infertility – Is Your Partner’s Health the Problem?

Approximately 1 out of every 7 couples experience infertility – meaning that they haven’t been able to conceive a child even after having frequent, unprotected sex for a year or longer. And in up to half of these couples, male infertility is partially or fully responsible for the couple’s inability to become pregnant.

Male infertility can be caused by a wide variety of medical and lifestyle issues, including low sperm production, abnormal sperm function, sperm blockages that prevent delivery, illnesses, testicular injury, chronic health conditions, environmental factors, and more.

The inability to become pregnant is stressful and frustrating, and can put a strain on a relationship – regardless of which partner is infertile. Fortunately, there are a number of natural treatments are available to improve both female and male fertility. But the first step is identifying which partner is the one who cannot contribute to conception.

How Do I Know if My Partner is Infertile?

When a woman can’t conceive, there may be no obvious symptoms indicating whether she or her partner is infertile. However, in some cases, problems with a man’s sexual function can be a sign or “clue” that he is one who is the infertile partner.

The following may all be indications that the potential father should be medically examined for infertility:

• difficulty ejaculating
• small volumes of fluid ejaculated,
• reduced sexual desire,
• difficulty maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction)
• a history of testicle or prostate problems or injury
• groin, testicle, penis or scrotum surgery
• pain, swelling or a lump in the testicle area
• recurrent respiratory infections
• an inability to smell (strange but true!)
• increased male breast growth (gynecomastia)
• decreased facial or body hair

Any of these symptoms can be a “clue” that a man may be suffering from an underlying medical problem such as: decreased sperm count, an inherited disorder, a hormonal imbalance, dilated veins around the testicle, a condition that blocks the passage of sperm, or other medical issues that compromise fertility.

Medical Causes of Male Infertility

Male fertility is a complex issue. To get a female partner pregnant, the male must produce healthy sperm and the sperm has to be carried into the semen. There also needs to be enough sperm in the semen. If the number of sperm in the semen (sperm count) is low, it decreases the likelihood of fertilizing an egg.

The sperm themselves must also be functional and able to move. If the movement (motility) or function of the sperm is abnormal, the sperm may not be able to reach or penetrate your partner’s egg.

There are a number of medical conditions that can prevent one or more of these crucial steps from occurring – thereby preventing insemination. Medical issues that can result in male fertility include:

• Undescended testicles.  Decreased fertility is more likely in men who have 1 or both undescended testicles.
• Hormone imbalances. This includes hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands issues, as well as low testosterone (male hypogonadism).
• Tubule defects. Blockage of the tubes that carry sperm, due to surgery, infections, trauma, abnormal development, or cystic fibrosis and other similar inherited conditions.
• Infection or Inflammation. This can interfere with sperm production, sperm health and/or can cause scarring that blocks the passage of sperm.
• Ejaculation issues. Retrograde ejaculation occurs when semen enters the bladder during orgasm instead of exiting through the penis. Causes include diabetes, spinal injuries, medications, and surgery of the bladder, prostate or urethra.
• Medications. Anabolic steroid use, cancer medications (chemotherapy), certain ulcer and arthritis drugs, and several other medications can impair sperm production.
• Prior surgeries. Vasectomy, scrotal or testicular surgery, prostate surgery, surgery for testicular and rectal cancers, and others can prevent a man from having sufficient sperm in their ejaculate to result in pregnancy.
• Varicocele. Swelling of the veins that drain the testicle.
• Antibodies that attack sperm. The body mistakenly identifies sperm as harmful invaders and attempts to destroy them.
• Tumors. Cancers and nonmalignant tumors can affect the male reproductive organs directly, as well as impact hormone production necessary for male fertility.
• Chromosome defects. Inherited disorders such as Klinefelter’s syndrome (two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome – instead of one X and one Y), cystic fibrosis, Kallmann syndrome, and other genetic conditions can cause infertility.
• Celiac disease. This digestive disorder caused by sensitivity to the gluten protein in wheat may contribute to male infertility.

Environmental & Lifestyle Causes of Male Infertility

Overexposure to certain environmental toxins, chemicals and even heat can reduce sperm production or sperm function. This includes exposure to certain industrial chemicals, heavy metals, x-rays or radiation, pesticides, herbicides, organic solvents, and painting materials.

Overheating the testicles can also impair a man’s sperm production and function. For example, tight clothing, sitting for long periods of time, saunas, hot tubs, etc. may increase the temperature in the scrotum enough to slightly reduce sperm production.

Drug use (especially anabolic steroids) can cause the testicles to shrink and sperm production to decrease. Cocaine or marijuana use may also reduce the number and quality of a man’s sperm.

Excessive alcohol use can lead to lower testosterone levels, erectile dysfunction, decrease sperm production, and liver disease that may lead to fertility problems. Similarly, men who smoke typically have a lower sperm count than do those who don’t smoke. And obesity can impair fertility by directly impacting the sperm, as well as by causing hormone changes that reduce male fertility.

Treating Male Infertility

The first step in identifying male infertility is a semen analysis to measure the three major factors of sperm health: the number of sperm, the shape of the sperm, and the movement or “swimming” of the sperm (“sperm motility”). A man’s sperm count is considered normal if his ejaculate contains at least 20 million sperm per millimeter, and if the total number of sperm is at least 250-300 million.

Doctors typically conduct two or three separate sperm analyses, conducted at least seven days apart, and over the course of a few months. This is because sperm counts vary on a daily basis.

If there is a problem with the male partner’s sperm the next step is determining the underlying cause of the problem – from the long list above – which can take some detective work! Once the source of the sperm problems is identified, Dr. Harper can then recommend a course of treatment, including lifestyle changes, that may improve the man’s sperm health, sperm count and sperm motility.

Top Austin Female & Male Infertility Doctor

Male infertility issues are more common – and more complex – than most people realize. But the great news is that with proper medical assistance and lifestyle changes most couples can achieve their dream of building a family – often without resorting to extreme and expensive measures such as IVF!

Ruthie Harper MD, specializes in using integrative, holistic and natural fertility treatments to help couples get pregnant. Dr. Harper assists couples conceive naturally by balancing their bodies through wellness, lifestyle, mindfulness, stress reduction, and hormone rebalancing.

If you have tried to become pregnant without success, Dr. Harper opens her practice doors to you with compassion, and more than twenty years of natural fertility experience. Discover your personal path to total health, wellness and balance. Through the science of personalized integrative medicine she can help you and your partner become pregnant and achieve your dream of growing your family.

Male Infertility Doctor – Austin, TX: 512.343.9355