Infertility in Men - Signs and Symptoms

Statistically, a couple's failure to achieve conception is equally as likely to result from a problem with the man as with the woman.

Over the last several decades, concern has risen about the impact of industrialization on reproductive health. This concern stems largely from reports showing that semen quality of men in Europe and the United States has decreased over the latter half of the 20th century. The environmental toxins most often cited as potential contributors to infertility can be organized into physical, chemical, occupational and lifestyle factors. Hyperthermia (increased temperature), radiation and electromagnetic fields, for example, are several physical factors that have been linked to infertility in men. Cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, marijuana and cocaine use as well as caffeine intake may contribute to chemical causes of infertility. Occupational hazards such as some pesticides, industrial toxins like dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and exposure to heavy metals also may be linked to infertility. Finally, stress, nutrition and other lifestyle factors also can play a role.

Any fertility treatment may be expected to have an effect on semen quality roughly three months after it is started, as this is the length of time required for a single cycle of spermatogenesis, or sperm production. If neither surgical nor medical therapy is appropriate, assisted reproductive technologies are possible.

In choosing a treatment plan, consideration should be given to each couple's long-term goals and financial constraints and the results of the female partner's evaluation in addition to male factor findings.