Before, infertility was defined as a couple’s inability to achieve pregnancy after one year of unprotected intercourse. But new guidelines by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, as discussed at a recent World Health Organization expert meeting, advises women and men over 35 years to seek fertility evaluation if they fail to conceive after six months of trying.
Key Points
An estimated 15 per cent of couples fail this criterion and are considered infertile. The interesting thing is that 35 per cent of the factors responsible for infertility are due to female factors, 30 per cent for male, 20 per cent for both sexes while 15 per cent is due to unexplainable factors.
Male infertility is usually caused by problems that affect either sperm production in the testes or sperm transport. Conditions in men that affect fertility are still generally under-diagnosed and under treated due to lack of information and ignorance.
Low sperm count (oligospermia) is a leading cause of infertility or sub-fertility issues among men. While it requires only one sperm to fertilize the ovum, the odds of conception are such that it takes millions of sperm per milliliter of semen to actually achieve the goal of fertilization.
A “normal” sperm count is about 20 million or more per milliliter of semen. Over 60 per cent of the sperm in each sample should exhibit normal morphology and indicate typical motility – the forward-swimming movement.
Oligospermia – or low sperm count is indicated in simple tests that reveal the concentration of sperm in a given sample quantity. In general, scientists and fertility doctors are noticing a drop in sperm count and motility, which makes it harder for couples to make babies. Other factors attributed to this include the following:
Drug use
Anabolic steroids taken to stimulate muscle strength and growth can cause the testicles to shrink and sperm production to decrease. Use of cocaine or marijuana might reduce the number and quality of your sperm as well.
Drinking alcohol can lower testosterone levels and cause decreased sperm production.
Occupation
Certain occupations might be linked to a risk of infertility, including welding or those associated with prolonged sitting, such as truck driving. However, the data to support these associations are inconsistent.
Poor lifestyle
Men who smoke might have a lower sperm count than those who don’t smoke.
Obesity can impair fertility in several ways, including directly impacting sperm and by causing hormone changes.
Plastics
Bis-phenol, BPA, a substance in plastics found in many household products, can lower sperm count and motility. A 2008 study in the journal Fertility and Sterility, showed that men with high concentrations of BPA in their urine also had low sperm counts. Food packaging is a major source of BPA which can seep into foods.
Pesticides
Scientists have also noted that farmers are exposed to pesticides that tend to lower their sperm count. The chemicals runoff gets into tap water and can disrupt hormonal processes.
Tumors
Cancers and non-malignant tumors can affect the male reproductive organs directly. Surgery, radiation or chemotherapy used to treat tumors can also affect male fertility.
Undescended testicles
During fetal development, one or both testicles sometimes fail to descend from the abdomen into the sac that normally contains them (scrotum).
Chromosome defects
Inherited disorders such as Klinefelter’s syndrome — in which a male is born with two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome instead of one X and one Y — cause abnormal development of the male reproductive organs. Other genetic syndromes associated with infertility include cystic fibrosis, Kallmann’s syndrome and Kartagener’s syndrome.
Celiac disease
A digestive disorder caused by sensitivity to gluten, celiac disease can also cause male infertility. Fertility may improve after adopting a gluten-free diet.
Certain medications
Testosterone replacement therapy, long-term anabolic steroid use, cancer medications (chemotherapy), certain anti-fungal and antibiotic medications, some ulcer medications and other medications can impair sperm production and decrease male fertility.
Prior surgeries
Certain surgeries such as vasectomy, inguinal hernia repairs, scrotal or testicular surgeries, prostate surgeries, and large abdominal surgeries performed for testicular and rectal cancers might prevent you from having sperm in your ejaculate. In most cases, surgery can be performed to either reverse these blockages or to retrieve sperm directly from the epididymis and testicles.
Environmental causes
Sperm production or function can be affected by overexposure to certain environmental elements, including:
Industrial chemicals: Extended exposure to benzenes, toluene, xylene, herbicides, pesticides, organic solvents, painting materials and lead might contribute to low sperm count.
Radiation or X-rays: Exposure to radiation can reduce sperm production. It can take several years for sperm production to return to normal. With high doses of radiation, sperm production can be permanently reduced. It is being reported that keeping mobile phones in the pocket near the upper thigh is extremely dangerous to sperm cell production and morphology.
Overheating the testicles: Elevated temperatures impair sperm production and function. Although studies are limited and are inconclusive, frequent use of saunas or hot tubs might temporarily impair sperm count.
Sitting for long periods: wearing tight clothing or working on a laptop computer for long stretches of time also might increase the temperature in your scrotum and slightly reduce sperm production.
