Infertility (Male)

Symptoms of Male Infertility

The symptoms of male infertility really depend on the cause of infertility in each person. 

It’s not always easy to diagnose infertility if you’re not actively trying to get pregnant. If you have been diagnosed with certain risk factors of infertility, your doctor may recommend getting your sperm count tested — though this doesn’t always happen. 

If you have problems with sexual function (reduced sexual desire, difficulty maintaining an erection, premature ejaculation, difficulty ejaculating, or only a small amount of ejaculate present after sex), you may want to be tested for infertility as well.

The most common symptoms of male infertility include:

• Decreased body hair 

• History of cancer

• Loss of sense of smell or hearing

• Low sperm count

• Lumps/lesions/growths

• Pain or swelling in testicles or groin

• Respiratory infections

Causes of Male Infertility

• Immature sperm

• Abnormally shaped sperm

• Sperm that cannot swim

• Not enough sperm

• Hormonal imbalances

• Blocked sperm

Male Infertility Risk Factors/Preventing Male Infertility

• Birth defects

• Cancers

• Erectile dysfunction

• Genetic disorders

• Heavy alcohol use

• Heavy cannabis use

• Hernia surgery

• High-temperature exposure

• Hormone/pituitary gland imbalances

• Immune disruptions

• Infections

• Inflammatory conditions

• Kidney disease

• Liver disease

• Mumps

• Premature ejaculation

• Scar tissue

• Sexually transmitted diseases

• Some medications

• Steroid use

• Testicle injury

• Tobacco use

• Toxin exposure

• Twisted scrotum veins

• Undescended testicles

Health Conditions

There is a long list of health conditions that may lead to male infertility (and really, every male is different). But there are some conditions that are completely preventable and easily treated. 

If infertility runs in your family (genetics are often a common cause), you may want to take extra cautions to ensure your sperm count stays as high as possible. You may also want to consider freezing your sperm and getting your sperm count tested (see below) if you think you may want to have biological children in the future.

Cancers

Testicular-and-scrotal-related cancers are often one of the main causes of male infertility (or rather, the treatments for such cancers are to blame). 

If you are diagnosed with testicular cancer and penile cancer. Both types of cancers are very rare. Yet, if developed, most doctors recommend a combination of radiation therapy with chemotherapy. 

Your doctor will probably discuss options to freeze your sperm before getting these treatments (though getting these treatments doesn’t mean you’ll become infertile). 

STDs

Some STDs may also lead to infertility — especially if these diseases are left untreated. The most common STD in the United States is chlamydia. This disease also happens to be one of the most common to lead to infertility in both men and women (though it’s less common for men to suffer from infertility as the result of untreated chlamydia). Studies show that chlamydia may lead to genetic fragmentation in the sperm. 

Another STD that may lead to infertility is gonorrhea, though becoming sterile as the result of this disease is also highly unlikely.

The bottom line? If you think you may want to have biological children in the future, use condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and get screened regularly to catch diseases before they do major damage.  

Smoking

Cigarette smoking and nicotine use damages sperm count and may lead to male infertility. Studies show that men should quit smoking if they want to increase their ability to father children. 

Alcohol

Like many other stimulants, alcohol can also have a negative effect on the male (and female) reproductive system. 

Studies show that men who drink heavily have reduced testosterone levels and increased levels of estrogen. All of this can lower sperm production and even shrink the testes. These men can become infertile or impotent.

If you plan on having biological children (now or in the future), you’ll want to stop drinking. If you think you may have an alcohol addiction, you may want to get professional help via a treatment program, therapy, or a support group. One that we highly recommend is, Wisdo. Wisdo is an online support group that connects you with people that have been through it and can help you navigate what you're dealing with or experiencing.

Drug Use

Drug use may also lead to male infertility. If you’re having difficulty conceiving, you’ll want to cease all recreational drug use. If you believe you’re addicted or dependent on a drug, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 to get help.

Steroids

Anabolic steroids are also known to affect fertility and testosterone levels. If you’re on steroids for non-medical reasons, you may want to stop taking them for several years before trying to conceive. If you’re on steroids for medical reasons, talk to your doctor about alternatives. 

Toxin Exposure

Studies show that exposure to certain toxins and some environmental factors may also play a role in male infertility. Some toxins create estrogenic effects in the male body (increase the production of estrogen) and can affect the concentration and motility of sperm. 

Unfortunately, researchers don’t quite understand the link between toxins and male fertility. One of the known toxins that may lead to infertility is lead. 

Bisphenol A (BPA), heavy metals, and pollutants are the big three hormonal disruptors in men. Pesticides are also known to play a major role in male infertility.

If you’re concerned about your sperm counts or motility, you may want to consider steering clear of these toxins. If you believe you’ve been exposed to the above toxins, you may want to get your sperm counts checked. There are a few at-home-tests available through companies like Dadi, Legacy, and Yo.

Diet/Exercise

Obesity also plays a large part in infertile men. Obese men are far more likely to become infertile than men whose weight is in a healthy range. 

If you’re concerned about your weight and want to have children, you may want to consider changing up your diet and increasing physical exertion.

Doctors recommend exercising for at least 30 minutes a day and eating a healthy variety of fruits and veggies. Some researchers believe that pesticides may also play a huge role in male infertility, so consider switching to organic produce if you’re planning on having biological children. 

Liver/Kidney Disease

If you’ve suffered from liver or kidney disease, you have a higher risk of becoming infertile. Talk to your doctor about possible treatment options. 

Testicular Injury

Blunt force trauma and heat exposure to the testes and groin area may also cause infertility. If you have a high-risk job (stunt man, marine, carpenter, etc.), you may want to consider storing your sperm for future use.  

Genetic Disorders

The most common genetic disorders related to male infertility are sensorineural deafness, Kallmann syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome,  Noonan syndrome, and chromosomal translocations.

Two of the most common of these disorders are sensorineural deafness and Kallmann syndrome. 

Sensorineural deafness is caused by inner ear abnormalities and results in partial or complete hearing loss. Many men that suffer from this disorder often cannot have biological children. 

Kallmann syndrome is characterized by the inability of a male to start or complete puberty and results in a loss of smell. 

Other genetic disorders may include Klinefelter syndrome (a male that is born with XXY chromosomes instead of XY chromosomes), cystic fibrosis gene mutation (difficulty regulating bodily fluids), and Y chromosome microdeletions of genes (loss of genetic material in relation to sperm count).

Some men’s bodies create anti-semen antibodies that may also lead to infertility. 

Ejaculation Disorders

Ejaculation disorders are also often to blame for male infertility. These disorders may include the inability to ejaculate, premature ejaculation, and retrograde ejaculation.

The inability to ejaculate simply means that the sperm cannot exit the body (or reach the egg for fertilization). This may happen with or without orgasm. 

Retrograde ejaculation is when the semen enters the bladder instead of exiting the body. This condition is caused when the muscles don’t contract properly during orgasm and are often caused by other conditions, such as diabetes or MS. It can be treated with medication and isn’t harmful (other than causing infertility). 

Premature ejaculation is one of the most common ejaculation disorders that’s caused by a wide variety of factors, ranging from mental to biological. While this disorder doesn’t cause infertility, it can lead to a lower chance of egg fertilization.

Diagnosing Male Infertility

Diagnosing infertility is relatively simple. You may simply need a semen analysis, a biopsy, or a blood test. Semen analysis is the easiest test and can be done in a clinic or at home. For a biopsy or blood test, you’ll need to visit a doctor of urology.

Treating Male Infertility

If you’re suffering from infertility, you’re not alone. There are myriad treatments for this condition that range from surgery to hormone treatments to artificial insemination. 

Surgery

One of the most common ways to treat infertility is through surgery. This treatment can address the physical causes of vas deferens blockages, including scar tissue and varicocele. A urologist can also reverse vasectomies through surgery. 

Men that suffer from varicocele may receive a transurethral ejaculatory duct resection to address issues between the testicles and urethra. 

Another common surgery is microsurgical testicular sperm extraction, which extracts the sperm for artificial insemination.

Hormone Treatments

Since one of the leading causes of male infertility is hormonal imbalances, many men opt for hormone treatments. Treatments may include testosterone replacement (luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone) to increase levels of the hormone and sperm counts.

While these treatments are both safe and effective (and don’t require surgery), they often take months or over a year to work. This is why many men start such treatments up to a year before they want to start trying for a baby. 

Artificial Insemination/ICSI

Two other common infertility treatments are artificial insemination and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Both of these treatments don’t necessarily treat infertility itself — instead, they create a safe space for the sperm to fertilize the egg outside of sexual intercourse.

Artificial insemination (AI) simply creates a clear path for the sperm to reach the egg. A doctor will inject sperm into the partner’s uterus or at the cervix entrance. 

Similarly, ICSI simply takes one egg and injects a single sperm into it, allowing the fertilization process to take place outside of the body. After the egg is fertilized, the doctor will inject the fertilized egg into the woman’s uterus.  

IVF/GIFT

Reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and GIFT are both similar to AI and ICSI. Yet, this is where a doctor injects both the sperm and the egg into the fallopian tube for fertilization. 

With IVF, the doctor simply mixes a high-quality sperm sample with one or more eggs before inserting the ‘mixture’ into the fallopian tubes. With GIFT, it’s a similar process that allows the eggs to fertilize right in the fallopian tubes instead of outside the body.

Sperm Storage

Sperm storage is one of the most popular treatment options for male infertility and low sperm counts. It can be used in conjunction with many of the above treatment options. Store healthy sperm for future use (including ​assisted reproductive technology, donation, or surrogate assisted pregnancies).

These companies are also ideal for men that want to have a baby with a male partner or simply without a female partner. 

Sperm storage companies like Dadi include a semen analysis with the first year of storage. Discover data points regarding your sperm production, including motility, number of sperm, shape, and size, and morphology. 

Save your sperm for future use, or use it immediately with artificial insemination, IVF, or other techniques.

At-home sperm collection companies (also, Dadi) allow you to provide a sample from the comfort of your own home. Safely and securely mail your sample to the lab and get an analysis report within 48 hours. 

At-home sperm collection is ideal for anyone that doesn’t want to be exposed to ​COVID, lives far from a testing facility, or wants to reduce the costs of sperm collection and testing.

Though not talked about as often as female infertility, male infertility is very common. If you are worried you’re infertile, visit your doctor or take a home fertility test to discover options for conception.