In a typical African society, God forbid you to insinuate a man is infertile, not only is it just highly inconceivable, but it is also disrespectful and ego-crushing for them, but men can be infertile too….
Infertility is not just the inability to conceive after having regular unprotected sex for a year, it is also the biological inability of an individual to contribute to conception.
Statistics show that about 20% of cases of infertility are due to a problem in the man and about 30-40% in both the man and the woman. Judging by the numbers, we all should be able to agree that infertility in males is non-negligible and should be a course of worry
HOW THEN CAN A MAN BE INFERTILE?
A man contributing to conception is a process and it involves the following:
You Have To Produce Sperm
You are probably wondering if this is even possible, but some men do not produce sperm at all; this is referred to as Azoospermia – the complete absence of sperm cells in the semen samples.
You Must Have Enough Sperm in Your Semen
It is possible to produce sperm and still not have enough to contribute to conception. If this happens, you are said to have a low sperm count also called Oligospermia – when your sperm count is less than 15m per ML of semen – this decreases the odds of one of your sperm cells fertilising your partner’s egg.
Your Sperm Must Be Normal And Healthy
The morphology of a man’s sperm can be abnormal and this is called Teratozoospermia; this means that less than 40% of the sperm cells have a normal shape. The cause of this condition is unknown, it has however been linked to lifestyle choices such as smoking and exposure to toxins. Men with Hodgkin’s disease or Crohn’s disease are also predisposed to this condition.
Your testicles must also be functioning properly and your body must produce testosterone and other hormones to trigger and keep producing sperm.
Your Sperm Must Be Able To Move
Your sperm has to be functional and highly motile – the ability to move. If this does not happen, then you have what is called Asthenospermia and this means the progressive motility of your sperm cells is less than 32% and thus may not be able to reach and penetrate your partner’s eggs.
There are several other causes of infertility in men
- Varicocele – This is a swelling in the vein that drains the testicle. It results in reduced quality of sperm produced
- Ejaculation Issues
- Tumours
- Hormonal imbalance
- Chromosome defects
- Erectile dysfunction
- Previous surgeries (especially around the groin)
- Previous injuries to the scrotum
- Certain Medications
- Exposure to heavy metals, industrial chemicals, excessive heatradiation or X-rays etc.
- Alcohol or Tobacco abuse, use of illicit drugs
- Obesity
- Emotional Stress
CAN INFERTILITY IN MEN BE REVERSED?
The first step to getting a solution is seeing a fertility expert so as to get a diagnosis – to determine what exactly is wrong.
There are various treatments for infertility; these include treatment of infections, hormone treatments and medications, surgeries and if the need arises, Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).
Your doctor will ask you various questions to evaluate your symptoms and find the best treatment possible for you.
In rare cases, where infertility cannot be reversed or for men who were born that way, your doctor might suggest you and your partner consider using a sperm donor.