Causes of Male Infertility

Both men and women may suffer from infertility due to physical reasons. The causes of male infertility are actually easy to understand. Through the process of sperm and egg combination, we can roughly infer the causes of male infertility. The first reason for male infertility is that there is a problem with the quality of sperm. It is impossible to ejaculate semen or the quality of semen is too poor. The second reason is that the sperm cannot or is unable to combine with the egg.

1. Abnormal semen

When there is no sperm or too few sperm and the sperm density in the semen is lower than 0.2×109/ml, the woman's chance of pregnancy decreases, resulting in infertility. This type of infertility can be divided into permanent and temporary. The former is seen in those with congenital testicular development disorders or severe lesions of the testicles and seminal vesicles; the latter is more common in those with excessive sexual intercourse that leads to a temporary failure of spermatogenesis, generally with a decrease in sperm rather than a total absence of sperm. Poor sperm quality, too many inactive or dead sperm in the semen (more than 20%), or very poor sperm motility or more than 30% abnormal sperm, can often cause infertility. Abnormal physical and chemical properties of semen Normal semen quickly coagulates into a gelatinous state after ejaculation, and then completely liquefies within the next 15 to 30 minutes. If the semen does not coagulate after ejaculation, or if it is not completely liquefied, it often indicates that there is a lesion in the seminal vesicle or prostate. Bacterial and viral infections of the reproductive tract can also cause changes in semen composition and lead to infertility.

2. Spermatogenesis disorder

Testicular diseases Testicular tumors, testicular tuberculosis, testicular syphilis, non-specific testicular inflammation, testicular atrophy after trauma or spermatic cord torsion, testicular absence, etc. can all cause spermatogenesis dysfunction and infertility. Chromosomal abnormalities Chromosomal abnormalities can cause poor differentiation of sexual organs such as testicles, resulting in true hermaphroditism and congenital testicular dysgenesis. Autosomal abnormalities can lead to metabolic disorders of gonads and spermatogenic cells. Sperm dysfunction Long-term consumption of cottonseed oil can affect sperm autoimmunity and can also cause sperm dysfunction. Local lesions such as occult varicocele, giant hydrocele and other diseases affect the local external environment of the testicle, or cause infertility due to temperature, pressure and other reasons.

3. Sperm and egg fusion disorder

Sperm obstruction, congenital absence and closure of the vas deferens, surgical vasectomy, chronic inflammation of the sperm tract and surrounding tissues, etc. Retrograde ejaculation, previous surgery or injury to the bladder neck, or scar contraction after surgery, causing urethral deformity, bilateral lumbar sympathetic nerve resection or abdominal perineal surgery for rectal cancer, pudendal nerve damage caused by diabetes, spermatic cord cyst hypertrophy, and severe urethral stenosis. Certain drugs can cause changes in the function of the sympathetic nerves that control the bladder. Abnormalities of external genitalia such as congenital penile deficiency, micropenis, male pseudohermaphroditism, epispadias or hypospadias, acquired vulvar inflammation or injury, scrotal edema, giant testicular hydrocele, etc. For example, impotence is one of the causes of male infertility, because sperm cannot be normally ejaculated into the vagina to meet the egg. Male sexual dysfunctions include impotence, premature ejaculation, and anejaculation.