Male Infertility and Its Causes
Raising Awareness about Male Infertility and Its Causes…
There are several factors that can cause male infertility and its causes are often misunderstood.
This problem affects both genders and can take a severe toll on a person’s emotional and mental well-being.
The fact that there are so many variables involved makes it much more difficult to treat and raise awareness for this problem. Unlike AIDS, which can be avoided by taking the specific, correct precautions, the causes of infertility vary from individual to individual.
One cause of infertility is chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Since chemotherapy damages the insides of a man’s testicles, it can result in him having a low sperm count. This cause of infertility is quite well-known.
However, there are several other causes that many people are unaware about. Raising awareness of these causes will shed light on how the problem can occur and what preventive measures can be taken to lower one’s chances of becoming infertile.
When a man has a low sperm count, the chances of his sperm reaching the egg are much lower and as a result, it reduces the chances of him successfully impregnating the woman. Some common causes of low sperm count are infections from sexually transmitted diseases, thyroid problems, tumors, undescended testicles, hormone imbalances, etc.
Another cause of infertility is alcohol abuse. This affects both men and women and it’s an insidious cause because most people are unaware of the negative effects of alcohol on their reproductive system. Over time, alcohol can take a severe toll on one’s health and cause infertility. Consume alcohol infrequently and in moderation during those times when you do decide to imbibe some.
The sperm should be healthy too. If the sperm die before even reaching the egg, it will lower the chances of conception. Combine this with a low sperm count and the chances get even slimmer. The sperm count should fall within an acceptable range too.
If it’s too high, problems can occur too. When the sperm count is exceedingly high, it weakens the sperm. You can think of it as overcrowding.
The problem is compounded by the slightly acidic nature of a woman’s vagina. The sperm will need to be at just the right pH balance to survive the journey to the egg. They will need to move at a rapid rate towards the egg. Sperm motility is used to describe the sperm to navigate their way towards the egg. If there are motility problems, the sperm will not reach the egg.
The sperm will also need to be formed correctly. Sperm cells are comprised of three parts that are usually referred to as the head, the middle and the tail. If the head or tail or both are incorrectly formed, the sperm will lose their way, become misdirected and never reach the egg.
Abnormally shaped sperm will impede or halt fertilization of the egg. In some cases, the man may have a blockage that prevents the sperm from completing their onjective. This problem can be remedied with a few minor procedures that should be done by a doctor. Once the blockage is cleared, there will be no obstacles to hamper the sperm from reaching the egg.
Varicocele is another cause of infertility that is not only a mouthful to pronounce but is also relatively unknown to most people. They are similar to large, lumpy varicose veins that appear on one’s legs. The major difference here is that when varicocele occurs, the swelling of the vein occurs in the scrotum. It causes pain and may result in testicular atrophy. Surgery is the best way to treat this condition.
In some cases, despite the doctor’s best efforts, he or she may not be able to pinpoint the exact cause of a person’s infertility. This is not common but it does happen.
The best way to find out what is causing your infertility will be to be open with your doctor and provide as much information as you can about your lifestyle, job and health background. This will enable the doctor to do a proper diagnosis and determine the cause of the infertility.
