Fertility |
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Causes of Male Infertility
Male infertility can be divided into problems with:
- Ejaculation and erection
- The fine, small reproductive tract ducts
- Sperm production
Problem with sperm production is by far the most common of the three and can be detected during semen analysis. There are many causes of abnormal sperm production including:
- Varicocele
- Genetic problems
- Infections
- Exposures to heat or toxic chemicals
- Drugs and medications
- Hormonal imbalance
Ejaculation Failure (Anejaculation)
Ejaculatory failure is the inability to ejaculate. It has a variety of causes that include pelvic nerve damage from diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis or abdominal-pelvic surgery and spinal cord injury.
It is important to distinguish ejaculatory failure from the inability to achieve an erection, premature ejaculation and retrograde ejaculation (ejaculating into the bladder and not into the penis).
Rectal probe electroejaculation is a commonly performed technique that may enable patients to produce an ejaculate capable of achieving a pregnancy. With rectal probe, the doctor electrically stimulates the pelvic sympathetic nerves to induce a
reflex ejaculation from which semen is collected.
Ejaculatory Duct Obstruction
Ejaculatory duct obstruction is diagnosed in approximately 10 percent of men without sperm in the ejaculate. Usually caused by stones, cysts or scar tissue blocking the prostate ducts, the condition is treated with a simple outpatient procedure that involves removing portions of the ducts. Significant improvements in semen quality occur in 70 percent of patients with are associated with a 20 percent to 30 percent pregnancy rate.
Varicocele
The varicocele is defined as dilated and twisted veins within the scrotum, similar to varicose veins in the legs, and is basically a consequence of upright posture. A varicocele can be found in 42 percent of infertile men and has an unquestioned statistical association with infertility. However, 15 percent of normal, fertile men also
have a varicocele.
An improvement in semen quality can be expected in roughly 67 percent of patients who have varicocele surgery to bind off the twisted vein, with improvement most likely to be an increase in the sperms' ability to move spontaneously rather than sperm quantity. The pregnancy rate following varicocele repair is approximately 40 percent, with pregnancy occurring an average of nine months after surgery.
The varicocele remains the most correctable factor when poor semen quality is discovered, but since it is very common, the operation should be considered only if other infertility risk factors are absent.
More Information:
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or health care provider. We encourage you to discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.
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