Infertility in Men: Brief Version

What is infertility?

Infertility is when a couple has had sex without using birth control for 1 year and no pregnancy has happened. It can be caused by problems in a man's or a woman's body.

What is the cause of infertility in men?

Most often, a man is not able to get a woman pregnant because his body does not make enough sperm or the sperm are not normal. Problems with sperm can happen for many reasons. For example:

• You may have a genetic disorder.
• You may have a medical problem.
• You may have problems with your hormones.
• You may have had an infection that caused your testicle tubes to be scarred.

You may have other problems that affect how many sperm you have.

• You may have been around toxic chemicals or radiation.
• You may take long hot baths or use a hot tub often.
• You may use street drugs or tobacco, or drink too much alcohol.
• You may have had a severe injury to the testicles.
• You may wear tight underwear.
• You may have sex too often (every day).
• You may have had mumps as a teen or young adult.

Your sperm may not be formed right. They may not be able to swim the right way or may not live long. This may happen because:

• Veins in your scrotum are swollen (called varicocele).
• Your testicles may not have grown the right way.

Sometimes the problem may be getting the sperm into your partner's vagina:

• You may ejaculate too soon.
• Your semen may go back into your bladder.
• You may not keep an erection.

Some diseases (such as diabetes), some medicines, or lubricants used during sex may cause fertility problems. Also, men become less fertile as they get older.

How can I find out what is wrong?

You and your partner will have thorough exams. You both will be asked questions about:

• Your sexual history and whether there have been pregnancies before.
• Your medical history.
• Your use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
• How often you have sex.
• Any surgery on your sex organs.

You may also have these tests:

• A test of your semen. This checks how many sperm you have and how healthy they are.
• Blood tests. These tests check for infections, other diseases, and hormone levels.
• An exam of fluid from your penis to check for infections.
• Ultrasound scans to look at the insides of the parts of your body where sperm are.

How is it treated?

If your healthcare provider finds a problem that makes it hard for you to get a woman pregnant, he or she will give you treatment for the problem.

You may need to do one or more of the following:

• You may need to keep your sperm cool. Don't take long, hot showers. Stay away from hot tubs and saunas.
• Wear boxer shorts rather than jockey shorts.
• Stop using lubricants during sex.
• Do not have sex every day.
• You may need to take hormones.
• You may need to take drugs to help you make more sperm.
• You may need to take antibiotics to clear up an infection.
• You may need treatment to help with ejaculation problems.
• You may need surgery to treat a problem with the testicles or a blockage in the tubes that carry sperm.
• You may have to stop smoking or stop using alcohol or drugs.

You have some other choices for treatment:

• If your sperm count is low, you can collect sperm at different times. Then your sperm can be placed in your partner's body when one of her eggs leaves the ovary.
• You can use sperm given by another man. If you choose to use sperm given by another man, only use sperm banks that screen for sexually transmitted diseases and other medical illnesses in the man and his family.
• Your sperm and your partner's egg can be put together in the lab. Then the growing egg can be put in your partner's body. This procedure can cost a lot though, and it does not always work.

You should know that all this can be hard for you and your partner. It can help to get counseling.

How can I help prevent infertility?

There are many things you can do to lower your chances of being infertile.

• Use latex or polyurethane condoms when you have sex. This helps prevent the diseases that people get from having sex. These diseases often cause problems later on.
• Have sex only with your partner.
• Do not drink alcohol.
• Do not use street drugs.
• Do not smoke.
• Stay away from chemicals that can hurt you, like weed killers and pesticides.
• Avoid exposure to radiation.
• Stay out of hot tubs.
• Wear boxer shorts instead of jockey shorts.