Male Fertility

Men's Fertility

Male fertility refers to the ability of a man to produce healthy sperm which can lead to pregnancy. Male fertility plays an important role in producing offspring. At Vardhan,  fertility specialists, conduct semen analysis as they examine quality and quantity of sperm cells. While a range of factors could cause male infertility some common ones are as follows:

1. Sperm Abnormalities: Abnormal sperm refers to defects in the size and shape of sperm.  To be more specific, low sperm count, nil sperm count, abnormal sperm morphology or poor sperm motility indicates abnormal sperm. Abnormal sperm can affect male fertility by reducing the chances of fertilization. This happens when sperm may not be able to swim towards the egg or penetrate its outer layer. 
    
2. Hormonal Imbalance: Hormone disorder, such as, excess or deficiency in testosterone  (which is produced by the testicles in males), FSH, LH, thyroid, Prolactin and Insulin resistance (diabetes) can impact sperm production. 
    
3. Genetic Factors: While genetic traits or characteristics are primarily inherited, they may sometimes be inherited or may arise spontaneously.  Genetic mutations can have an impact on sperm production or function. Testicular Issues: Various testicular issues sucha as Varicocele which is a condition resulting from the enlargement of veins within the scrotum (the loose bag of skin that contains the testicles), undescended testicles, testicular injury or infections  can result in difficulty in sperm production. 
    
4. Lifestyle Factors/Choices: Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, drug use, obesity and exposure to environmental toxins can adversely affect sperm quality and fertility. 
    
5. Medical Conditions: Men with diabetes, sexually transmitted infections, autoimmune disorders and those undergoing cancer treatments may have fertility issues. 
    
6. Ejaculation Disorders: Retrograde ejaculation, also known as dry orgasm, happens when sperm does not leave the body (penis) but is pushed back into the bladder where urine is stored. This can cause infertility. 
    
7. Anatomical Issues: Abnormality in the reproductive organs, such as a blockage in the passage, can prevent sperm from being ejaculated. Diagnosis of these causes may include physical examination, semen analysis, hormone tests, genetic testing or radiology investigation.

Treatment options depend on the cause of infertility, and may include lifestyle changes, hormone therapy, surgical interventions or assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF or ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection).