The Categories of Male Infertility
The Causes of Male Infertility
When couples are having difficulty conceiving, often the medical workup looking into causes starts with the female. But approximately 20% of all couples that are trying to conceive have difficulty only because of male factors, and another 30% of the time both male and female factors play a role. So, 50% of couples have difficulty conceiving either in part or completely due to an issue with male subfertility!
What’s more alarming is that even though frequently the male side gets relegated to a secondary role when it comes to fertility, and therefore not tested or tested late in the process, issues with male fertility can be either corrected completely or improved on. This leads to the female getting put through extensive – or possible even unnecessary – testing and treatment.
Furthermore, issues with male fertility can be one of the few early chances to address health issues that can compound as one ages. It is a window of opportunity that, if taken, can lead to healthier lives later in life.
The workup for male infertility usually starts after a couple has been trying to conceive unsuccessfully for 6 months to a year, but if there are known issues that may prevent fertility the workup may start prior.
What is the cause?
Male infertility encompasses a wide variety of potential issues. There are genetic, hormonal, environmental, and anatomic issues that can be contribute to suboptimal sperm counts.
The above is not an exhaustive list. However, there are many reasons for hope if there is an issue with a man’s sperm count. Many of the above conditions can be corrected. Furthermore, even if not corrected completely, in the majority of cases a man’s sperm count can be improved, which can lead to improved outcomes.