Male Infertility – Causes and Prevention

If you and your partner are struggling to have a baby, you’re not alone. In the United States, about 13 out of 100 couples can’t get pregnant with unprotected sex.

There are many causes for infertility in men and women. In over a third of infertility cases, the problem is with the man. This is most often due to problems with his sperm production or with sperm delivery. Fortunately, there are many safe and effective therapies that significantly improve your chances of getting pregnant.

 

What causes male infertility?

Infertility can be caused by problems that affect sperm production or how the sperm travels. There are medical tests that can help work out the cause.

 

But there are some other possible causes of male infertility:
1. Obesity: A BMI above 30 can have an impact on sperm quality, because fat deposits can overload and influence the metabolism of androgens (hormones that play a role in male traits and reproductive activity), especially testosterone.
 
2. Nutrition: Food rich in antioxidants can help to preserve male fertility. Examples of foods with antioxidant properties include: cheese (vitamin A), oranges (vitamin C), sunflower seeds (vitamin E), fish (Omega 3), broccoli (Folic Acid); beans and artichokes also have antioxidant properties.  

3. Age: The assumption that men can reproduce into advanced age is totally untrue. After 35, the reproductive potential of men drops sharply, as DNA in the nucleus fragments. After the age of 40, the likelihood of men fathering a child without genetic mutations declines 11 percent every year. 

4. Overexposure to certain environmental factors, such as pesticides and other chemicals, and radiation. Cigarette smoking, alcohol, marijuana, anabolic steroids, and taking medications to treat bacterial infections, high blood pressure and depression also can affect fertility. Frequent exposure to heat, such as in saunas or hot tubs, can raise body temperature and may affect sperm production.


5. Supplements and steroids: Food supplements should not be used without physician or professional advice regarding impact on health and fertility. Testosterone injections and other steroid preparations can severely harm sperm production. Excess of coffee drinking can also have an influence, particularly if there is an underlying fertility problem. (read more here)

 

 

Although most types of infertility aren’t preventable in men, these strategies may help:
  • Avoid drug and tobacco use and drinking too much alcohol, which may contribute to male infertility.
  • Avoid high temperatures found in hot tubs and hot baths, as they can temporarily affect sperm production and motility.
  • Avoid exposure to industrial or environmental toxins, which can affect sperm production.
  • Limit medications that may impact fertility, both prescription and non-prescription drugs. Talk with your doctor about any medications you take regularly, but don’t stop taking prescription medications without medical advice.

  • Exercise moderately. Regular exercise may improve sperm quality and increase the chances for achieving a pregnancy.

     

How is male infertility treated?

One in eight infertile men have a treatable condition, and after treatment, couples can become pregnant naturally.
In some cases, your doctor will recommend that you and your partner seek assisted reproductive treatment (used to achieve pregnancy), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). These methods don’t cure or treat the cause of infertility, but they can help you and your partner get pregnant, even if your sperm count is very low.

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