Causes of Male Infertility
There are many potential causes of male infertility. Factors contributing to male infertility can be placed into three groups: pre-testicular, testicular, and post-testicular.
Pre-Testicular Causes
A pre-testicular cause means that there may be a hormonal imbalance in your body due to abnormalities in either the hypothalamus and/or pituitary gland. Both organs are located in the brain and control the hormones that maintain both sperm and testosterone production.
Pre-testicular causes may include:
- Age
- Emotional stress
- Obesity
- Poor nutrition
- Certain medications (narcotics)
- Low testosterone (Hypogonadism)
Testicular Causes
A testicular cause means there is a congenital (born with) or acquired reason for the testicles to not produce adequate numbers or normally functioning sperm.
Testicular factors may include:
- Age
- Trauma to the testes
- Varicocele or Hydrocele
- Impaired shape of sperm
- Low sperm concentration or azoospermia (no sperm in the ejaculate)
- Testicular cancer
- Low testosterone (Hypogonadism)
- Mumps or Malaria
- Infection and fever
- Abnormal chromosomes
- Undescended testicle
- Exposure to pesticides and chemicals
- Overheating the testicles
- Strenuous bicycle riding or horseback riding
- Cancer and cancer treatment
- Genetic abnormalities
Post-Testicular Causes
A post-testicular cause means there is a blockage or problem with the tract that the sperm have to travel from the testis to the tip of the penis.
Post-testicular causes may include:
- Previous vasectomy (link to7.0)
- Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
- Blockage of the ejaculatory duct or epididymis
- Hernia surgery
- Obstructed or missing vas deferens (Cystic fibrosis)
- Aspermia (no ejaculate)
- Retrograde ejaculation
- Hypospadias (malpositioned penile opening)