When to consult a doctor?

Male Fertility

When to consult a doctor?

If a couple is having unprotected sex from the last one year and not being able to conceive, must consult a doctor. Moreover, you can consult a doctor in the following cases

  • If you have a history of testicular, prostate or other sexual problems
  • If you have small testicles or swelling in the scrotum
  • There is a family history with infertility issues
  • You have undergone treatment for cancer

What are the symptoms of infertility in male

The easily detectable sign of male infertility is the inability to conceive a child. However, in a few cases, there could be underlying issues like inherited disorder, hormonal imbalance, or certain conditions that blacks the passage of sperm like dilated veins around the testicles.

Some other signs and symptoms associated with male infertility and call for a visit to the doctor are

  • Sexual dysfunctions like difficulty in ejaculation or maintaining the erection.
  • Expelling only a small volume of fluid during ejaculation
  • Less sex drive
  • Pain and swelling in the testicle
  • Abnormal breast growth
  • Less facial or body hair
  • Hormonal abnormality
  • Lower sperm count

What are the causes of male infertility

Male fertility is a complex process that requires the proper functioning of different male reproductive organs. Some of the major causes of male infertility include the following

  • Abnormal sperm production- Many times, the process of normal sperm production hampers due to undescended testicles or genetic defects. In addition, health issues like diabetes, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, mumps, HIV, or enlarged veins in testes also affect the quality of sperms.
  • Problem with the delivery of sperms- Conditions like premature ejaculation, genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis, and structural issues like a blockage in the testicles hampers the normal delivery of sperms. Besides, some injury or damage in the reproductive organs also contributes to problematic sperm delivery.
  • Environmental factors- Sometimes, overexposure to certain environmental factors like industrial chemicals, pesticides, X-ray radiations, heavy metals, etc. make cause infertility.
  • Damage due to cancer treatment- Certain radiations and chemotherapy can impair the production of sperms and sometimes severely damage it.
  • Unhealthy lifestyle- Excessive use of alcohol, intake of drugs, smoking cigarettes, marijuana, taking anabolic steroids, and certain medications to treat bacterial infections, high blood pressure, and depression also can affect fertility. Similarly, unhealthy diet and junk food that leads to obesity can also impair fertility in several ways. It impacts the sperms directly and also causes hormonal imbalance.
  • Mental issues- Too much stress, emotional traumas, and anxiety can interfere with the production of sperm. It affects the quality and count of sperms that ultimately lead to infertility. Likewise, depression may cause sexual dysfunction as it leads to reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, and delayed or inhibited ejaculation.