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About Male Infertility

by Louie Doverspike

Overview

Male infertility can come in a number of forms. It can negatively impact couples looking to have children, and it may even deter an emotionally gratifying sex life. While certain types of male infertility will not inhibit sex, others may. Discussing fertility issues with your doctor could result in a simple solution. For example, erectile dysfunction is easily treated with well known drugs such as Viagra. However, other common male infertility issues--such as premature ejaculation--have no easy treatment. Understanding the variety of male infertility issues can be the first step in receiving treatment.
Diagnosis

Diagnosing male infertility depends on the type of infertility occurring. There are two basic types of male infertility problems, ejaculatory disorders and sperm disorders, both of which are described in further detail below. Men suffering from ejaculatory disorders often have obvious symptoms, such as an inability to achieve an erection, that would lead to the sufferer seeking medical attention. In cases of erectile dysfunction, the main diagnostic necessity is determining whether the issues is physiological or psychological, which can usually be determined by analyzing recent sexual history and determining under what conditions, if any, under which erections are achievable. Often male infertility is a function of hormonal deficiency, which can be identified by a simple blood test to check testosterone levels.

Types of Ejaculatory Disorders

There are a number of ejaculatory disorders that can severely inhibit male fertility. Erectile dysfunction is the most common form of ejaculatory disorder. Erectile dysfunction is the inability of the penis to achieve or maintain erection, due to a dysfunction of the penis' hydraulic system which pumps the penis stiff with blood. A rarer ejaculation disorder is reverse ejaculation, in which the sperm is forced into the bladder, rather than being ejected. The sperm is then release later during urination. Reverse ejaculation can be a side effect of certain drugs. While not severe, seek a doctor's advise if reverse ejaculation occurs.
Types of Sperm Disorders

Some men have ejaculate with sperm, but are infertile due to issues with the sperm itself. Immotile sperm are sperm that fail to "swim." Immotile sperm can be caused by cetain drugs and has also been recently linked, albeit tentatively, to marijuana use. Azoospermia is the complete lack of sperm in the ejaculate. This can be due to a number of causes. The two primary avenues by which azoospermia occurs is either a problem with the testes, in which no sperm is being produced, or a blockage, in which case sperm is being produced but not ejaculated. Unlike azoospermia, men suffering from oligozoospermatism produce and ejaculate sperm, just in insufficient amounts.
Causes

There are a number of reasons for reduced fertility. Drinking, smoking and sickness are the most common causes. However everything from briefs to riding bicycles to warm laptop batteries have been linked to various levels of oligozoospermatism. Other factors include genetic predispositions, such as in cases where Klinefelter Syndrome or Y chromosomal mutations impairs fertility. Disease is another factor that affects male fertility. Mumps is known to occasionally cause testicular damage, while cancerous tumors can block the urethra or impair the testicles ability to produce sperm.
Treatment

Treatment of male infertility is as variable as infertility's diverse causes. Testing for venereal disease is a good blanket method of catching potentially damaging issues early. Many sperm disorders, including immotile sperm and oligozoospermatism, can be treated with hormone therapy that has the potential to boost sperm health and number. Finally, surgical techniques can combat a number of physiological fertility issues, such as blockages.