What is male infertility?

Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system. It makes a person unable to have children. It can affect a man, a woman, or both. Male infertility means that a man has a problem with his reproductive system. It means you cannot start a pregnancy with your female partner.

Problems with either of these may mean you have infertility. Below are some of the main causes of male infertility.

Who is at risk for male infertility?

You may be more likely to have male infertility if you have had:

1) Past inflammation of the prostate or past genital infections

2) Injury to or twisting (torsion) of the testicles

3) Early or late puberty

4) Exposure of the genitals to high temperatures

5) Hernia repair

6) Undescended testicles

You may also be at risk if you take certain prescription medicines. These include medicines for ulcers, psoriasis, depression, and high blood pressure.

How is male infertility diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will review your health history and do a physical exam. Other tests for male infertility may include:

1) Sperm count (semen analysis). At least 2 semen samples are taken on separate days. Your provider will check the semen and sperm for many things. These include how much semen you make, how uniform it is, and how acidic it is. He or she will also look at how many sperm you make, how well they move, and what shape they are.

2) Blood tests. Your provider may use blood tests to check hormone levels and rule out other problems.

3) Other tests. Your provider does these tests to find the cause of sperm defects or health problems of the male reproductive system. For instance, imaging tests like an ultrasound may be used to look at your testicles, blood vessels, and structures inside the scrotum.

4) Testicular biopsy. If semen analysis shows that you have only a few sperm or no sperm, your provider may remove a small piece of tissue (biopsy) from each testicle. The sample will be checked under a microscope.