Have you been trying to have a baby but to no avail even after a year of frequent unprotected sex, you're still not able to get your fertile partner pregnant? One of the most depressing, if not embarrassing issues among males is the incapability to procreate. This will degrade the machismo of being a male among dominant group of population. Male infertility can come from disease, trauma, or a blockage that prevents the production of healthy sperm. This may be the cause of your infertility. Male infertility may be influenced by certain lifestyle choices, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or being overweight. Depending on the precise cause, male infertility symptoms can vary. The inability to conceive is sometimes the first indication that a reproductive problem may exist.

However, there are signs present whether the cause of male infertility is a surgical or medical problem, or a hormone imbalance. These consist of:

• Aching or swelling around the scrotum or testicles
• Sexual maladaptation (such as difficulty getting and maintaining an erection, low libido, or not ejaculating)
• Cloudy urine following intercourse
• Lack of sense of smell
• Lessening of body or facial hair

The delicate process of conception can be hampered by a variety of circumstances, including illness, injury, and even certain lifestyle decisions. While some factors that contribute to male infertility can be reversed, others cannot. Male infertility can have a variety of causes, including genetic abnormalities, chromosomal difficulties, items that can be acquired and get worse over a man's lifetime, such as testicular tumors, varicose veins, hormonal imbalances, or lifestyle-related issues.

Here are some of the main causes of male infertility:

• Varicoceles – A varicocele is an enlargement of the veins that nourish the testes, and it is the main cause of male infertility.
• Specific Medications – Some medicines may make it more difficult for you to create healthy sperm or may have an adverse effect on sexual performance.
• Kallmann Syndrome – Kallmann Syndrome is a rare illness that postpones puberty and, in some cases, prevents it altogether. An diminished sense of smell is a significant feature of Kallmann Syndrome. Although it can affect both sexes, guys are more likely to experience it.
• Low Testosterone Levels – Sperm production is regulated by the male sex hormone testosterone. Low testosterone levels can decrease sperm production and harm sexual performance.
• Age-Related Sperm Motility – Male fertility does decrease with age, despite the fact that they can theoretically become pregnant at any age after puberty.
• Environmental toxins: Sperm counts and quality are both dropping internationally.
• Retrograde ejaculation is a condition in which some or all of the semen expelled during an orgasm enters the bladder rather than exiting through the urethra and the tip of the penis.
• COVID-19: There is no proof that vaccines against COVID-19 can affect either a woman's or a man's ability to conceive. But researchers are looking at whether the virus itself might cause male infertility.
• Exposure to High Temperatures: According to a 2018 study, male bakers who work in a hot atmosphere are more likely to have infertility. This provides more proof that anything that increases the testicles' temperature can lower the sperm's quality.
• Illness, Infection, and Injury – These three factors can all have an impact on a person's capacity to create healthy sperm.
• Stress - Research indicates that psychological stress in men is linked to both lower sperm counts and poorer sperm quality.
• A few STDs—Chlamydia, one of the most prevalent STDs in the US, has been proven to lower male fertility when left untreated.
• Immunologic Infertility – Immunologic infertility can affect both sexes equally.
• Risk- The risk of male infertility can be increased by certain lifestyle factors. These include tobacco use, alcohol and drug abuse, marijuana use, smoking, and obesity.

The planned course of therapy is determined by the severity of the condition, the partner's reproductive status, and how comfortable the couple is together. Your fertility physician may advise intrauterine insemination in cases of mild to moderate male infertility (IUI). In vitro fertilization (IVF) will probably be advised if IUI is unsuccessful. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) along with IVF treatment may be recommended for mild to severe cases of male infertility. ICSI is a very successful method for treating male infertility because the embryologist chooses just one sperm and injects it into the center of an egg rather than placing the sperm near the eggs in the petri dish.

The road to parenthood can be difficult for some couples. Whether one spouse is having trouble getting pregnant or both, it's crucial to overcome any obstacles as a couple. A fertility expert can provide additional advice and walk you through your options if a year of frequent, unprotected intercourse hasn't resulted in conception. The good news is that male infertility is frequently treatable or curable by altering one's lifestyle. Getting in touch with a healthcare professional who can guide you through the next steps is the first step in conquering male infertility.

ZS DMO II Karla P. Calapardo, RND

Reference:

https://www.verywellfamily.com/what-is-male-infertility-5212728