Possible reasons for male infertility.
Absence of live sperm
This can arise due to structural problems such as blocked or twisted seminal tubes or no tubes at all. The endocrine system may not be working properly to stimulate the production of sperm. An injury or birth defect may also be the cause.
Low sperm count
It is generally considered that a man has a low sperm count if he has less than 20 million sperm in a millilitre of semen. There have been a number of reports that male sperm counts have declined over the past few decades.It is generally considered that a man has a low sperm count if he has less than 20 million sperm in a millilitre of semen. There have been a number of reports that male sperm counts have declined over the past few decades.
- Reasons for low sperm count include:
- nutritional imbalances including deficiencies in Vitamin E, zinc, Vitamin B12
- chemicals in the home and workplace
- high stress occupations
- exposure to chemicals and vibrations in the workplace
- high levels of toxic metals such as cadmium or lead
- overheating of testicles caused by wearing tight and frictional clothing
- overheating caused by frequent hot baths. Males are advised to avoid hot baths, as sperm require cool temperatures to survive. This is why sperm are stored in testes that hang outside the body.
- medical conditions including circulatory problems around the testicles
- Drugs, both medical and recreational. Long-term use of tobacco and alcohol can also affect fertility.
- infections
- excessive exercise
- hormonal imbalances
Unhealthy sperm
The health of sperm will influence performance.
- The sperm may have poor mobility and fail to reach the egg
- If there is a zinc deficiency, the sperm may fail to penetrate the egg
- Smoking, alcohol, chlamydia infection, social drugs and some medicinal drugs may also affect sperm function.
Healthy Sperm
Antibodies
Sometimes the man has antibodies in his own sperm that may prevent the sperm from being released at all.
Physical problems
These could include injury to the male sex organs, damage to the testes, or in more rare cases an absence of vas deferens or testes.