How to know if you’re infertile men?
Well, infertility in men can be hard to point out due to the lack of obvious signs. However, data suggests in over one-third of the couples, male infertility issues play a role and is just important to diagnose.
If data is to be believed, up to 15 per cent of couples in the USA are infertile. About 50% of couples who have not been able to conceive a child are suffering due to male infertility issues. Infertility is an inability to make babies even after frequent unprotected sex for more than a year. Such couples should be given a fertility diagnosis and seek medical advice from a health care specialist. A lot of men do not realize they have some kind of infertility issues unless they are checked for a medical condition, or they are unable to make their healthy partner pregnant.
In males, fertility symptoms are difficult to pinpoint. The most common symptom of male infertility is the inability to conceive a child. Usually, symptoms depend on what is causing the problem. A wide range of medical conditions, environment, and lifestyle factors can lead to infertility issues in men.
In some cases, an underlying medical condition such as Varicocele (swelling of veins around testicles), sexually transmitted infections (HIV, or inflammation of testicles), tumours of the male reproductive organ, hormonal imbalances, or celiac disease (a digestive system disorder), etc. Exposure to environmental factors such as x rays, working on laptops for a long time may overheat your testicles. Symptoms in males often go unnoticed until a man tries to make a woman pregnant.
Signs and symptom associated with Male Infertility include:
Swelling or pain in the testicles:
Swelling or pain in the testicles can be easy to detect, and there are several reasons for this, including an underlying condition. However, it is not always necessary that it would indicate infertility. Another condition called varicoceles, an enlargement of the veins in the scrotum lead to low sperm count. Research says 15 per cent of men develop enlarged veins in their scrotum, will not have fertility issues. However, an infertility problem appeared due to varicoceles can easily be corrected by surgery.
Ejaculatory Dysfunction:
Men with some kind of ejaculatory dysfunction often experience premature ejaculation or delayed ejaculation, which leads to infertility. Some men may also experience retrograde ejaculation, which happens when the sperm stream into the bladder instead of out the penile organ. Furthermore, medical conditions such as diabetes and spinal cord injuries can cause you to experience retrograde ejaculation. In some cases, medications can help reverse the condition.
Low Sperm Count:
Infections such as sexually transmitted disease, orchitis, and epididymitis can affect sperm production or could even block the passage of sperm. Issues with sperm count are sometimes related to ejaculatory dysfunctions. In some cases, use of certain medications such as anti-depressants, anti-hypertensive, anti-cancer drugs and arthritis medications can affect both sperm production. Men receiving testosterone replacement therapy who suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia or enlarged prostate may also experience reduced sperm production. Switching to another drug however can reverse the condition and may help improve sperm production. Make sure you speak to your doctor before making any changes in your dosing schedule. Fortunately most of these conditions that cause low sperm count and infertility in men are treatable.
Smell Semen:
Foul smelling semen can a sign of infertility in men. You could be suffering from a bacterial infection if your semen smells fishy or rotten. In some cases, excessive consumption of caffeine and alcohol, and certain foods can affect the smell of your semen. However, limiting these from your diet can reverse the condition. An in case, if the smell remains, you could be suffering from an underlying health problem that could be causing foul-smelling semen.
Unhealthy Lifestyle:
Certain lifestyle choices can harm your overall health, including your reproductive system. Excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, and drug abuse can cause a significant reduction in sperm count. Such lifestyle choices can affect sperm morphology, reduce testosterone levels, and affect other hormones that play a role in sperm production. Research studies have shown that cannabis can reduce sperm count and other associated problems. Besides, obesity has been linked to hormonal fluctuations that lead to infertility issues in men. However, it is possible to reverse the condition by reducing extra weight.
Experts advised to reduce or limit the use of these substances and make a healthy lifestyle choice to maintain a healthy reproductive system.
If you are under 35 and have been trying to make your partner pregnant for more than a year, see your health care professional. A sperm analysis can help determine the overall health of the sperm.