There are a number of reasons why male infertility happens, and some are more common than you might think. Between couples there can be some difficulties in conceiving on both sides – some of these reasons can be medical and others are due to lifestyle changes. This egg donation clinic has put together some of the top causes of male infertility and when is best to see your doctor.
Direct health issues
Infertility can happen due to a medical condition your partner has or something they’ve recently begun to have medical treatment for. Examples include recent cancer treatment, tumours or an infection that’s affected sperm production. It doesn’t mean that you will become infertile if you suffer from any of these conditions, but it increases your risk, and the medications taken can also be a factor. Chemotherapy and certain medications are known to increase a person’s infertility risk.
Lifestyle issues
Smoking, drugs and alcohol are three of the top factors when it comes to infertility. Alcohol reduces testosterone levels and sperm production, whereas smoking significantly decreases your sperm count. Steroids and hard drugs are also known to interfere with sperm production.
As well as these factors, weight and healthy eating are also a big part of fertility. A happy and healthy body that has a rich diet of nutrients, fruits, vegetables and protein is more likely to conceive than those that eat foods heavy in fats and salt.
Environmental causes
While unlikely in smaller doses, infertility can occur with overexposure to certain materials and toxins. For example, radiation and increased exposure to high levels of radiation can permanently reduce sperm counts; overheating is also a known factor of reducing sperm production.
Finally, industrial chemicals are known to reduce sperm counts, like pesticides, solvents and other harmful chemicals. X-Rays, while incredibly mild, can cause slight reductions in sperm production which go back to normal over time.