Male Infertility – How Common Is It and What are the Options?
Male fertility generally relies on the quantity and quality of sperm. If the number of sperm a man ejaculates is low or if the sperm are of a poor quality it will be difficult, and sometimes impossible, to cause a pregnancy.
What is Male Infertility?
Male infertility is diagnosed when, after testing both partners, reproductive problems have been found in the male.
How Common is Male Infertility?
Infertility is a widespread problem. For about one in five infertile couples the problem lies solely in the male partner.
Male Infertility May Effect 1 in 20 Men
It is estimated that 1 in 20 men has some kind of fertility problem with low numbers of sperm in his ejaculate.
What are the Signs of Male Infertility?
In most cases, there are no obvious signs of infertility. Intercourse, erections and ejaculation will usually happen without difficulty. The quantity and appearance of the ejaculated semen generally appears normal to the naked eye.
Medical tests are needed to find out if a man is infertile.
Male infertility is usually caused by problems that affect either sperm production or sperm transport. Through medical testing, the doctor may be able to find the cause of the problem.
Sperm Production
About two-thirds of infertile men have a problem with making sperm in the testes. Either low numbers of sperm are made and/or the sperm that are made do not work properly.
Sperm Transport
Sperm transport problems are found in about one in every five infertile men, including men who have had a vasectomy but now wish to have more children. Blockages (often referred to as obstructions) in the tubes leading sperm away from the testes to the penis can cause a complete lack of sperm in the ejaculated semen.
Other Causes of Infertility
Other less common causes of infertility include: sexual problems that affect whether semen is able to enter the woman’s vagina for fertilization to take place (one in 100 infertile couples); low levels of hormones made in the pituitary gland that act on the testes (one in 100 infertile men); and sperm antibodies (found in one in 16 infertile men). In most men sperm antibodies will not affect the chance of a pregnancy but in some men sperm antibodies reduce fertility.
Prevent Male Infertility
Some things to watch out for:
- Endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Prenatal endocrine disruption because of chemical exposure is one major reason scientists believe male infertility is on the rise. EDCs, are all around us. They include things like phthalates, triclosan (yes, it’s the stuff in your anti-bacterial gel!) and BPAs. These substances interfere with our endocrine system, which regulates all of our body’s hormones.
- Smoking. Another reason to stop smoking. There are more than 4,000 toxins in tobacco smoke, which combine to harm male fertility. One small study found that European men who had prenatal exposure to smoking had a 20 percent lower sperm density than those without. Exposure to second-hand smoke may play a role, too.
- Exposure to pesticides. In the last 40 years, we’ve been exposed to a variety of pesticides that haven’t always been around, like Monsanto Roundup. All of these pesticides are affecting male infertility, and we’re not always sure exactly how, because enough research hasn’t yet been done. Remnants of pesticides can stay on our foods long after the pesticide has been sprayed. There’s also pesticide drift, where the chemicals travel even to foods that haven’t been sprayed with pesticides.
- Stress. Did you know that it also plays a role in a man’s fertility? Men who are stressed tend to have lower sperm concentrations during ejaculation and reduced sperm quality, which makes it more difficult for a sperm to fertilize an egg. This holds true even once other health issues are accounted for.
- Obesity. Obesity has been on the rise in the past few decades, and it’s playing a role in male infertility. While we’ve known for some time that an obese woman may have difficulty conceiving, an obese male partner plays a role, too. It seems that obesity affects the sperm’s ability to fertilize an egg.This is likely due to impaired semen quality. Obesity comes with its own set of other health issues, too, which can affect male infertility, like hormonal changes and sexual dysfunction.
Solutions
There are many solutions out there, depending on the cause. For example, surgery might be required. Or, medication can also help treat issues like hormone imbalances, though you might want to try natural methods first. Finally, if nothing seems to work, technology like IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is an option some couples may like to explore.
In general, though, making lifestyle adjustments can have a really positive impact on improving male infertility.
How you can protect your sperm
- Avoid EDCs While men obviously do not carry babies, if a couple is trying to get pregnant, they should both be avoiding EDCs. The easiest ways to do this are by avoiding plastic, especially when heated, removing BPAs from your life (check your canned goods!) and using safe household cleaners. You read more about eliminating EDCs here. While it’s unlikely that you’re going to eliminate all the chemicals from your life, when it comes to these chemicals, every little bit you can avoid really helps.
- Quit smoking! Do this whether or not you’re trying to get pregnant! Smoking harms pretty much every single part of your body. Please. Quit. (16) Smokefree.gov has some great resources to help you on your journey.
- Limit exposure to pesticides Like EDCs, it’s unlikely you can avoid pesticides completely, but you can reduce your exposure. A great first step is to avoid buying conventional produce that’s on the Dirty Dozen list. While I recommend organic whenever possible, if you’re watching your wallet, these are the fruits and veggies you absolutely want to buy organic.
- Scale back on stress If you find yourself constantly wound up, it’s time to put the brakes on stress. These 8 natural stress relievers can really help. Exercise and yoga, acupuncture, meditation and more have been proven to help reduce stress. Not only will this help fertility, but it’ll help improve your overall health and well-being, too.
- Improve your diet When it comes to losing weight, diet is crucial. And, surprise, surprise, the same foods that are excellent at treating obesity naturally can also help with male infertility symptoms. A good healing diet is loaded with wild-caught fish, vitamins C and E and fruits and veggies. Combined, these foods help reduce inflammation, promote sperm count and keep hormones regular. On the other hand, the same things that can pack on the pounds affect fertility as well. This includes high-fat processed meats (yes, like hot dogs), refined sugar and grains. If you’re trying to conceive, you’ll want to avoid alcohol, caffeine and drugs, including marijuana.
Don’t Get Discouraged, Go to a Specialist
It’s easy to get discouraged if you’re having trouble conceiving. If you suspect male infertility might be a problem, your best bet is to see a specialist to rule out other causes. A professional will go through your medical history and lifestyle to offer treatment options. Most couples will end up conceiving in about a year, but there are other options available to you as well if that isn’t a possibility.
Final Thoughts
• A recent study found that sperm counts from men in North America, Australia, Europe and New Zealand have dropped by more than 50 percent in the last 40 years.
• The study’s authors believe environmental and lifestyle factors, both prenatal and as adults, are to blame.
• These include endocrine-disrupting chemicals, smoking, pesticides, stress and obesity.
• Making adjustments to your lifestyle can help boost male fertility without medication.
• Seeing a doctor can also help you figure out if male infertility is a problem and what your options are.