Male Infertility
Male infertility does not mean that the man is unable to impregnate his female partner, it simply means that he has a decreased likelihood of doing so.
Many couples struggle to conceive. Statistically, about 13-15% of all couples will have fertility problems. Infertility can be caused by either partner or even by both of them. If the male partner is the source of these issues, then this is known as a case of male infertility. Dr. Ashley Tapscott is a board-certified urologist, fellowship-trained in men’s sexual health with extensive experience diagnosing and treating patients for male infertility.
Schedule An Appointment
Male infertility does not mean that the man is unable to impregnate his female partner, it simply means that he has a decreased likelihood of doing so. Discussing this likelihood with a trained physician such as Dr. Ashley Tapscott is crucial to finding a suitable solution that may allow you and your partner to conceive a child.
What Causes Male Infertility
Conception is a lengthy process that requires a lot of unique events to occur in perfect order at exactly the right time. This leaves room for lots of potential problems along the way.
What Irregularities in Sperm Cause Fertility Issues?
Typically, if a man is having fertility issues it can be linked back to how healthy his sperm are. Examples of abnormalities in sperm include:
- Sperm that is oddly shaped
- Sperm that is produced in small quantities
- Sperm that is unable to develop fully
- Slow sperm, or sperm that does not travel in the correct direction
- An inability to produce any sperm at all
There are several possible sources to abnormal or defective sperm. Some medications used to treat common illnesses like high blood pressure, depression, infections, arthritis, digestive diseases, or cancer can alter the sperm’s functionality.
Low hormone levels are another potential cause of male infertility since a lack of crucial male hormones can lead to low sperm count or poor sperm growth.
There have also been cases wherein the antibodies in a man’s body mistakenly attack the sperm. It is not clear as to what causes the antibodies to perceive the sperm as a threat, but immunological infertility is typically seen in those recovering from a surgery, injury, or type of infection.
What If the Sperm Are Healthy?
Even with great sperm, some men can still experience problems in conceiving a child such as having a blockage within the reproductive tract that may have been caused by a congenital or acquired defect.
Swollen veins in the scrotum called varicoceles are also thought to worsen a man’s fertility functions. These varicoceles supply the scrotum with excess blood, which overheats the scrotum and kills many of the sperm living inside.
Men who experience retrograde ejaculation are unable to get their sperm to the woman’s egg because instead of exiting through the urethra, the sperm is directed back into the man’s bladder. Retrograde ejaculation is caused by issues of the nervous system and is characterized by a “dry” ejaculation.
What Should I Expect From A Fertility Test?
In order to appropriately treat a case of male fertility, Dr. Tapscott will first need to diagnose the source of the problem.
This process will typically begin by checking the patient’s sperm to see if it is indeed healthy or not. If the exact cause is still unclear after this initial investigation then further tests will need to be conducted to determine what is preventing the sperm from reaching or properly fertilizing the partner’s egg.
To find out what the best treatment is for you, schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Tapscott:
Schedule An Appointment
