Medical causes of male Infertility

 "It is a smile of  a baby that makes life worth living." But what if a couple struggles for years and years without any conception? Well if you are facing the problem then you are not alone. About 12.5% couples in the US are infertile. Isn't that a huge percentage? Lets first define infertility.

"Infertility is not being able to get pregnant despite having frequent, unprotected sex a year."

Infertility may result from an issue either with your partner, with you or a combination of factors that prevents pregnancy. It is fortunate that many of the issues are preventable and treatable as well.

Below or some of the medical issues that can cause infertility in males.

1. Low sperm count and quality: Multiple factors can cause this

• Genetic Disorders
• Exposure to high temperature like in hot tubes or bakery
• Undescended testes
• Diabetes Mellitus 
• Infections ( Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Mumps , HIV)
• Varicocele

2. Impaired sperm delivery:  Sometimes sperm count and quality everything is fine but the problem is with the proper delivery of the sperm to the female genital tract. Few of the causes are listed below

• Injury or damage to genital organs
• Genetic disorders such as Cystic Fibrosis in which the mucus is much thicker for the sperm to move
• Structural problems such as stricture or any other blockage in the testicles or urethra
• Premature ejaculation
• Retrograde ejaculation 

3. Exposure to toxic substances: Few substances may look like it has nothing to do with fertility but actually they do! Few such substances are

• Cigarette smoking
• Pesticides
• Anabolic steroids
• Alcohol
• Marijuana
• Some Medicine (antibiotics , antihypertensive antidepressants)

4. Radiations and chemotherapy: Exposure to radiations like X-rays during routine life or cancer therapy as well as chemotherapy adversely affects fertility.

                                                         When to see the doctor?

One should consult a qualified doctor if he has

• low sperm count or quality (as per semen analysis)
• Any testicular or prostate problem
• Any history of cancer therapy
• Small testicles, scrotal swelling, absent unilateral testicle or any other obvious deformity
• Family history of infertility

Hurry up time is everything!!