Male factor infertility is any condition in which the man adversely affects the chances of initiating a pregnancy with his female partner. When a couple fail to produce a pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected intercourse with a female partner who is ovulating and has open fallopian tubes, male factor infertility should be suspected. Male infertility has a number causes. They may be classified into three groups: (a) pre-testicular, (b) testicular, and (c) post-testicular. Examples of these include:
Pre-testicular Male Factor Infertility
- endocrine disorders - low levels of testosterone or thyroid hormone
- Inherited or chromosomal disorders, including cystic fibrosis and Klinefelter's syndrome
- anti-sperm antibodies
- Exposure to toxins, such as radiation or industrial chemicals
- Medications and drugs, including psychiatric medications, alcohol, and anabolic steroids used for bodybuilding
- General illnesses, including kidney disease, cirrhosis and malnutrition
Testicular Male Factor Infertility
- deficient sperm production (sometimes related to use of alcohol, tobacco or other illicit drugs)
- injury to the testicle
- undescended testes on one or both sides
- childhood german measles infection, mumps
- and varicose veins around the testicle (varicocele)
Post-testicular Male Factor Infertility
- blockage of the sperm delivery routes e.g vasectomy, failed vasectomy reversal
- Inability to ejaculate into the vagina. This accounts for 4-6% of male infertility. This form of male factor infertility could be due to impotency, premature ejaculation, or the inability to ejaculate.
In the majority of men suffering male infertility, physical and genital examinations reveal no cause of infertility, but in a few cases, it may reveal abnormalities such as poor facial and bodily hair, enlarged breasts, undescended testis, small testes or varicocele.
The use of cell phones may have an adverse effect on semen quality.0801
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Please click on the required question.
- 1 What is infertility?
- 2 How prevalent are infertility problems?
- 3 What are the main causes of infertility?
- 4 What are the objectives of our infertility investigations?
- 5 Have there been any noticeable changes in fertility requirements in recent years?
- 6 What is the effect of our age on fertility?
- 7 I smoke cigarettes. Can this have an effect on my fertility?
- 8 Does my weight influence fertility?
- 8A Obesity! How can I lose weight?
- 9 I have fibroids. Could these reduce my fertility?
- 10 I have been told that my womb has an abnormal shape and that was the way that I was born. Could this reduce my fertility?
- 11 I have endometriosis. Could this reduce my fertility?
- 12 I have been told that I have cervicitis or a cervical ectopy (erosion). Could this impair my fertility?
- 13 My doctor tells me that my womb is retroverted (tilts backwards). Could this reduce my fertility?
- 14 I have had an ectopic pregnancy. Does this affect my future fertility?
- 15 We are worried that we may have a fertility problem. What should we do?
- 16 How will our doctor be able to identify the cause of our infertility?
- 17 How can we tell if I am releasing my eggs (ovulating)?
- 18 Investigations have shown that I have a problem releasing my eggs (anovulation). What could be the cause of this?
- 19 How important are my Fallopian tubes in fertility?
- 20 How can we tell if my Fallopian tubes are functioning?
- 21a What are the causes of male factor infertility?
- 21 How can we assess male fertility?
- 22 What is the purpose of a post-coital test (PCT)?
- 23 We have had our infertility investigations and our problem remains unexplained. How can this be?
- 24 What are our chances of achieving a pregnancy?
- 25 Where can I obtain more information?
- 26 Could we have some recommended infertility support groups?
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This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.
