What Causes Male Infertility?
Many are the Myths About Factors Responsible for Male Fertility
Sep 10, 2009
A recent study carried out in the UK by Bunting and Bolvin revealed some startling facts about the knowledge that young people in the community have about the factors that can impact on human fertility.
As a result of their study, these researchers concluded that young people are aware of many of the negative lifestyle factors that can reduce fertility - but they falsely believed in some fertility myths such as the benefits of certain healthy habits. For example, those surveyed wrongly believed that abstaining from certain things - for example, not drinking wine or not urinating after having sex - could increase the chances of pregnancy.
Despite popular opinion that failure to conceive is usually due to female (gynaecological) problems, in about one in five infertile couples the infertility is due to problems relating to the male partner.
While there are some causes of male infertility that cannot be prevented (like poor sperm production) there are several things that a man can do to protect his fertility.
Infections Affecting Male Fertility
Infections, particularly sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia and gonorrhoea, can result in obstruction to the Vasa deferentia (the tubes that carry sperms from the testes to the seminal vesicles). Although surgery can be done to remove such an obstruction and rejoin these tubes, such surgery is not always successful.
Mumps is a viral infection that can affect males at any age - but it is more serious in its consequences if it affects males after the age of puberty. The mumps virus can permanently damage the cells that produce sperms by infecting these cells. Mild infection with mumps can also stop sperm production, although this is only for a period of half to one year.
Similarly, urine infection can spread from the bladder into the epidydimis and testes (a condition referred to as Epidydimo-orchitis) and in rare instances even cause permanent damage to these organs.
Medicnes Affecting Male Infertility
Prescribed drugs like some antidepressants, sedatives and the anti-inflammatory drug Salazopyrin that is often used to treat auto-immune diseases, are known to cause long term fertility problems in some men. Illegal drugs like anabolic steroids can actually shrink a man's testes and stop sperm production - as can illicit drugs like marijuana and heroin which reduce a man's level of testosterone and lower his sex drive.
Lifestyle and Workplace Effects on Fertility
Smoking affects male fertility, with heavy smokers known to produce up to 20 per cent fewer sperms than non-smokers. Smoking can also increase the quantity of abnormal sperms because the genetic material (DNA) in sperms is damaged by some of the chemicals contained in tobacco smoke.
Obese men have been shown to be less fertile and have lower sperm counts, possibly due to changes in hormone levels.
Heat is known to damage sperm production - so tight fitting underwear as well as very hot baths and spas should be avoided. Exposure to toxic chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals and radiation can affect the quantity and quality of sperms produced by a man.
Males, whether they are young or old, need to know how to protect their fertility and preserve their capacity to father children when they and their partners so desire.
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