Infertility in men, what are the causes and characteristics

Infertility does not only occur in women but also in men. Infertility or fertility problems in fertility are caused by various factors. For more details, here are male infertility you need to know.

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The main cause of infertility in men

The main cause of infertility in men

Infertility or infertility is actually a problem that can be experienced by both women and men.

Fertility problems that arise in men indicate a problem in the reproductive system.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, while undergoing a pregnancy program, infertility or male fertility problems are the cause of difficulty getting pregnant for more than a third of couples.

There are various factors such as illness, chronic health problems, and other factors.

Here are some common causes of infertility or health problems in men, such as:

1. Problems with sperm

To successfully fertilize an egg, a man must produce healthy sperm cells.

Sperm cells are classified as healthy if they can swim properly and have an ideal size.

Unfortunately, many men have characteristics of unhealthy sperm, such as:

• Low sperm count.
• Sperm cell deformities.
• Lack of sperm cell agility.

Generally, problems that arise in sperm are the cause of male infertility.

The following are some of the sperm problems or abnormalities that may occur, including:

Azoospermia

Azoospermia is a condition in which the sperm count is very low in semen.

In fact, it may be that none of the sperm cells are successfully produced. This causes men to be infertile and unable to have children.

Oligospermia

Slightly different from previous causes of male infertility or fertility problems, oligospermia is a condition when a man cannot produce a normal sperm count.

This means that in the semen that is produced, there are still sperm cells, but in very small amounts.

Abnormal sperm shape

Normally, sperm is shaped like a tadpole. The head of the sperm is oval and has a long tail.

However, if there is an unusual shape, the sperm cell will be considered abnormal. For example, the size of the head is too large or the tail is forked.

Sperm motility problems

Not only the number and size of sperm that may be the cause of male infertility.

Apparently, the motility of the sperm also has the potential to cause this condition.

2. Impotent

Impotence or erectile dysfunction is the inability of a man to have an erection.

Although this can happen to men at any age, this condition is still considered abnormal.

If a man is impotent, it is very likely that he will not be able to have children.

Therefore it can be infertility or fertility problems in men.

3. Ejaculation problems

There are several types of ejaculation problems that may occur in men. This ejaculation problem can be a cause of infertility or fertility problems in men, such as:

Retrograde ejaculation

This ejaculation problem occurs when semen enters the bladder. In fact, semen should come out of the penis during the orgasm process.

During retrograde ejaculation, even though you have reached climax during intercourse, you may only pass a small amount of semen, or even none at all.

Actually, this ejaculation problem is not that dangerous. It's just that, it has the potential to be a cause of infertility or fertility problems in men.

Premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is one of the ejaculations that occur earlier than the time it should be.

This means that when a man engages in sexual activity, he ejaculates even though he has not reached the climax.

This condition may be a little annoying, considering that sexual activity becomes less enjoyable and can have an impact on the relationship between you and your partner.

4. Testicular problems

Problems that have a particular impact on the testicles can also be a contributing factor to male infertility.

Here are some testicular problems that may cause fertility problems in men:

Varicocele

Varicocele is a swelling or enlargement of the veins on one side or both sides of the testicles (scrotum). The condition is similar to varicose veins on the legs.

Claimed not to affect your daily activities, but may cause infertility or fertility problems in men.

Trauma to the testicles

One of the conditions that may occur in the testicles is trauma. Usually, trauma occurs when the testicle is intentionally injured until the testicle is injured.

The reason is, the testicles do not have muscles or bones to protect them. This makes the testicles more susceptible to punches, kicks, or other actions.

If the testicles are traumatized, the substances in them can be damaged too. Then, you will feel pain, have bruises, or swell the testicles.

Testicular torsion

Another problem that may occur in the testicles and can be a cause of infertility or male fertility problems is testicular torsion.

The testes are located in the scrotum and are protected by a structure called the spermatic cord.

Sometimes, the spermatic cord is twisted around the testicle, preventing blood flow to the testicle.

This condition is characterized by pain that is sudden, but feels quite severe. In fact, this pain can also cause the testicles to enlarge and swell.

5. Prostatectomy

Did you know that prostatectomy, a treatment for prostate cancer, can be one of the causes of male infertility?

The reason is, when undergoing a prostatectomy, both the prostate gland and the seminal vesicles will be removed.

In fact, both help semen carry sperm cells to the urethra and out of the penis during ejaculation.

So, after surgery you may lose so much semen that ejaculation is almost impossible.

6. Diabetes

Diabetes also has the potential to cause infertility or fertility problems in men.

The problem is, diabetes can cause several conditions in the reproductive system.

For example, it can cause erectile dysfunction by affecting low testosterone levels.

Due to the decreased testosterone hormone, male sex drive also decreases.

Not to mention the decreased ability to ejaculate due to diabetes which has an impact on the nerves that can control ejaculation.

Another factor that causes infertility in men

It was explained a little above if the cause of infertility or fertility problems in men is not only due to disease.

In fact, the habits that you do daily can increase the risk of infertility and the causes of low sperm, such as:

1. Be in hot temperatures

Did you know that too hot temperatures can damage sperm production? Yes, this can be one of the causes of a low sperm count, even male infertility.

This is because the ideal temperature for sperm formation is several degrees lower than body temperature.

Therefore you must take care and pay attention to testicular health.

Avoid activities or habits such as soaking in hot water, holding the laptop without a special pad, using pants that are too tight, or sitting too long.

2. Alcohol and caffeine

Any alcoholic drink can lower testosterone levels which can be the cause of decreased sperm quality.

Alcohol can also make sexual desire decreased and cause impotence.

Then, caffeine consumed in excess can also cause the sperm count to be lower than usual.

This also becomes a factor in infertility or fertility problems in men.

3. Smoking

Similar to the effects of alcohol, the toxic substances from cigarettes can cause various problems with the quality of semen.

Then, smoking is also likely to disrupt the hormonal balance that leads to male infertility.

4. Obesity

Men who are overweight are nearly twice as likely to have lower sperm counts and poorer sperm movement.

The reason is, excess fat in the body can convert testosterone into estrogen.

The excess estrogen hormone can cause decreased sperm count as well as result in infertility or fertility problems in men.

The characteristics of an infertile man

The main characteristics or signs of an infertile man are the sperm cells produced have difficulty fertilizing the egg in the partner's uterus.

Infertility or fertility problems in men will make it difficult for women to get pregnant. However, there are other characteristics, such as the following:

1. Swelling in the testicular area

Another sign of an infertile man is swelling of the testicles.

In fact, there are many health reasons for your testicles to swell.

However, many of these health conditions lead to male fertility problems.

2. Difficulty maintaining an erection

Have you ever had difficulty maintaining an erection? If so, you may be suspicious.

The reason is, these conditions include infertility or fertility problems in men that you are not aware of.

Usually this problem is closely related to decreased levels of reproductive hormones in the male body.

3. Small testes

Did you know that the size of the testicles may be a sign of male fertility problems? Yes, the testes are the place or container of sperm in a man's body.

Therefore, when the size is small, it may be a sign of impaired fertility. Especially if the testicles of this size are also hard.

4. Changes in sex drive

Generally, men who have healthy reproductive hormones tend to be fertile.

Conversely, if the hormones are not good enough, it is likely that the man will also lose his sex drive. This is one of the characteristics of male infertility.

Meanwhile, according to an article published in the Mayo Clinic, there are several other characteristics of infertile men that are important to know, such as:

• Recurrent respiratory tract infections.
• Inability to smell.
• Abnormal breast growth (gynecomastia).
• Decreased amount of facial hair or body hair, or other sign of hormonal or chromosomal abnormalities.

Does frequent masturbation cause male infertility?

Masturbation is manual stimulation of the genitals until you reach orgasm and ejaculate. Ejaculation will decrease the amount of sperm available in the testes.

Even though low sperm count decreases your and your partner's chances of getting pregnant through sexual intercourse, it doesn't mean that male infertility will occur.

The body will continue to replenish its sperm needs naturally. The quality of semen is most rich in sperm after two to three days of not ejaculating.

It is highly unlikely that frequent masturbation will have a direct effect on the ability to fertilize a partner.