Male Fertility

Causes of Male Infertility

There are several common causes for male infertility including:

• Sexually transmitted diseases or other infections.
• Blockages, birth defects or physical damage. Some men are actually born with blockages in parts of the testicle or other abnormalities that prevent sperm from getting into the semen. Physical trauma to the testicles, prostate, and urethra can also result in fertility issues.
• Retrograde ejaculation, a disorder in which semen doesn’t come out of the penis during ejaculation and instead enters the bladder. It can be caused by diabetes, some medications and surgery to the bladder, prostate or urethra.
• Genetic diseases. Rare cases of cystic fibrosis chromosomal disorders can cause infertility.
• Autoimmune disorders where a man’s immune system mistakenly targets and damages sperm cells as foreign viruses.
• Hormonal problems. Certain hormonal imbalances such as those occurring in the pituitary and thyroid glands can cause infertility.
• Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Learn more about the erectile dysfunction treatment options at the Center for Men’s Health at TUCC here.
• Varicoceles. A varicocele is a widening of the veins along the spermatic cord that holds up a man’s testicles. It forms when valves inside the veins along the spermatic cord prevent blood from flowing properly. Up to 40 percent of men with known infertility may have varicoceles.
• Excessive exercise, heat, alcohol, drugs, food and stress as well as exposure to environmental toxins can also impact a man’s fertility.