Male fertility problems: top five facts
For those who still think of fertility as a woman’s issue, think again: a third of all infertility cases are due to problems with the man.
There are many potential causes for male infertility and many factors behind the causes. Let Love Matters help you straighten out the facts.
It’s all about the sperm
In terms of numbers, a man’s role in fertilisation is monumental. Some 200-300 million sperm are released each time a man ejaculates, though only around 40 usually make it close to the egg. Most sperms are unsuccessful because of the hostile acidity of the vagina or because they swim down the wrong tube. Now, just one lone sperm is needed for conception. Because of the immense effort necessary to reach and penetrate the egg, if a man has a fertility problem, it usually means he has a sperm problem. This can include a low sperm count, low semen volume, low sperm movement or abnormally shaped sperm.
What else causes infertility?
Besides sperm and semen problems, these are other common causes of infertility: inflamed testes, problems with the sperm-delivering tubes, genetic disorders, environmental toxins, radiation, hormonal problems, diabetes, obesity, STDs, stress. Additionally, other sexual health issues like an erection problem or retrograde ejaculation can hamper a man’s fertility before the game even gets started. There are also a number of general medical disorders – such as a high fever, high blood pressure, and cancer – that may reduce fertility. If you and your partner find yourselves unable to conceive after having tried for over a year, visit your doctor to find out the cause.
Healthy lifestyle = increased fertility
There are loads of complicated procedures that cure men of their fertility problems, but before it comes to that, it’s better to make some basic lifestyle changes to increase your odds of successfully conceiving. Basically, having a healthy lifestyle is the best you can do to increase your fertility. As a first step, you should stop drinking, stub out that cigarette butt and stop indulging in marijuana. These activities have been linked to low sperm counts and abnormally-developed sperm. You should also keep in shape – not too overweight and not too underweight, because both can lead to problems. Besides that, keep your body stocked up with plenty of vitamins with a healthy diet.
How age affects fertility
Although the quality and quantity of a man’s sperm usually begins to go down after he turns 40, men in their 90’s still manage to have children! The problem is mostly because of damage caused by the free radicals that are produced as a result of metabolism. They play a significant role in ageing and tissue damage. The good news? Such free radical damage can be reduced by how you live. Habits that will increase the number of free radicals in your system include smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs and eating processed food. Remember: A healthy lifestyle = increased fertility.
Modern ways of living affect fertility
Heat from a laptop on the lap can raise the temperature of the scrotum enough to damage sperm. And if your modern diet has led you into obesity, you can assume the quality and quantity of your sperm has decreased in relation to the size of your belly. If you’re trying to conceive, hot tubs and saunas are a bad idea. The immense heat of these luxuries can kill sperm inside your testicles or disable them when it comes to swimming. However, the damage only affects sperm that’s currently in the testes, so once conception is successful you can return to your normal routine without worrying about long-term harm. But one of the biggest enemies of sperm is stress. Stress can lead to impotence, erectile dysfunction and even shut down the glands that develop and regulate your reproductive system. If life in the modern age has left us too stressed out to produce healthy sperm, it may be time to reconsider the way we live!
Do you have any more interesting facts about male fertility? Share them with us by leaving a comment on our discussion board or via Facebook.
Tell us what you think
Recent Comments (42)
do masterbation cause
do masterbation cause infertility also
No masturbation does not
No masturbation does not cause infertility. Read more here https://lovematters.co.ke/news/does-masturbation-cause-infertility .
Thanks for your advice bt I…
Thanks for your advice bt I wanted to ask you one question-why is it that my testicles pain? Does it mean that am infertile?
Hi peter, pain in the…
Hi peter, pain in the testicles is not normal and could be a sign of a larger issue. Kindly see a medical professional for a comprehensive diagnosis and advice on the way forward.
can swallowing sperm after
can swallowing sperm after musterbation cause low volume of semens
Hi Nick , no that can not
Hi Nick , no that can not make the semen reduce in volume.
You mean it’s possible to…
You mean it’s possible to swallow your own sperms!!
Yes it is Joseph.
Yes it is Joseph.
which medicine can i use to
which medicine can i use to increase my semens volume
You do not need medicine.
You do not need medicine. What makes you think your semen volume is low?
does over playing sex reduce
does over playing sex reduce the formation sperm.
New sperms are always being
New sperms are always being created whether one is having sex or not.
Can a man suffering from…
Can a man suffering from sertoli cell only syndrome be able to father a kid by any chance, please give me more information about the condition if possible
Hi Joan, this condition can…
Hi Joan, this condition can make reproduction for a man challenging even impossible. However a man with this condition may be able to get their partner pregnant with assisted reproductive technology. It is important for partners to discuss their options with a specialist.
Which drug one can take to…
Which drug one can take to increase his sperm mobility?
Hi Adan, what the reason for…
Hi Adan, what the reason for the need of drugs to increase sperm mobility? It is important to consult a specialist who will carry out tests and advice accordingly.
Can a heat from a charcoal…
Can a heat from a charcoal jiko affect man fertility or using it more often?
Hi Bonie, do you mean direct…
Hi Bonie, do you mean direct heat? Heat in what way?
What cause penis to shrink…
What cause penis to shrink before having sex with awoman
Hello Anonymous, thank you…
Hello Anonymous, thank you for reaching out to us and asking a great question. There could be a variety of reasons from lack of attraction to the woman to feeling shy, or having performance anxiety before actually having sex. Why do you ask?
Does Aman who has one kid be…
Does Aman who has one kid be infertile?
Hello Erias, thank you for…
Hello Erias, thank you for reaching out to us. It is highly unlikely that a person who already has one child is infertile. However, a lot of things could have happened in between having that child and the present. If you feel that your fertility may have been compromised, you could go for a semen analysis to determine for sure.
How can someone increase…
How can someone increase spams volume
Hi Toshi, do you mean sperm…
Hi Toshi, do you mean sperm or semen? Also, why do you want to increase volume? Have you gone for tests and been told it is low?
Hellow.
I underwent a…
Hellow.
I underwent a seminalysis test and a was told I have low sperm count and with low mobility what can I do to improve on that?
Hello Sam, what did the…
Hello Sam, what did the doctor advise?
Am addict of murstubation…
Am addict of murstubation can it reduce quality and quantity in the future because I had someone we did nookie and she didn’t manage to get my pregnancy why did lead to this daktari
Hi Kim, thank you for…
Hi Kim, thank you for reaching out to us. Although there are a lot of myths around masturbation there is no scientific evidence to substantiate these claims. If you are absolutely sure you want to stop, you should know that it will not be easy. This is because sex leads to the release of endorphins which is better known as the pleasure hormone. Second, masturbation has now become part of your arousal template which is the total amount of thoughts, activities, stimuli, smells etc. that arouse a person sexually.
To stop masturbating, you will need to identify the things that lead you to masturbate like seeing something, or just boredom. Also, when you get the urge to masturbate occupy yourself with another activity.
Please note that it could take you 21 days to 6 months to work on this and it might not work. If you are really committed, try and find a counselor or a therapist to help you through. Good luck!
Is their any way you can…
Is their any way you can boost your sperms to firtile
Hello Moustapha, thank you…
Hello Moustapha, thank you for reaching out to us. If a person’s infertility has been determined by a medical professional then they should get direction on the way forward from said medical professional.
What can one do if he is…
What can one do if he is infertile
Hello Manu, unless the…
Hello Manu, unless the person has been to the doctor and had tests done to ascertain they are sterile then they should not make assumptions.
what can i do to make…
what can i do to make erection stronger and last for long and maybe increase my sperm count
Hi Geffa, This is a very…
Hi Geffa, This is a very good question and a very common one as well. So, do not worry, you are not alone. There are some remedies that could help you last a little longer. However, if you have premature ejaculation, you should go see a doctor.
One option is the stop-start method used to treat premature ejaculation but can also help a person last longer. This technique calls for the man to have sex or masturbate until you almost cum and then stop. When you’re about to climax, stop and squeeze right below the head of your penis. Apply firm pressure on the tube running underneath your penis. This will push blood out of the penis and momentarily decreases sexual tension, calming your ejaculatory response. This should be repeated many times.
Another remedy is to engage in sex styles that do not stimulate the underside of the penis like spooning and reverse cowgirl. You could also masturbate before having sex.
In regards to sperm count, have you had tests to ascertain that it is low?
Av 4 kids I want to tried my…
Av 4 kids I want to tried my lastborn number four is six yrs as we talk what could be the problem
Hello Joseph, I do not…
Hello Joseph, I do not understand what you mean. Could you please explain?
What kills sperms and what’s…
What kills sperms and what’s the normal volume of sperms to make a pregnancy
Hi Dennis, thank you for…
Hi Dennis, thank you for your question. There are compounds that are known to kill sperm called spermicides. Normally an ejaculation is around 1 teaspoon and it is enough to lead to pregnancy.
Someone on treatment using…
Someone on treatment using thyroxine to treat hypothyroid can have low sperm count and semen even if TSH is at normal level, please advice
Hi Fred, thank you for…
Hi Fred, thank you for getting in touch and asking a great question. Since this is quite a specific question with regard to your immune system and maintenance of general homeostasis, the best thing we can advise is that you consult a medical professional to get a proper diagnosis and treatment regarding the same. Have a wonderful weekend ahead and stay safe.
Can pain after releasing…
Can pain after releasing mean am infertile
Hi Vicky, thank you for…
Hi Vicky, thank you for reaching out to us. A painful ejaculation could be a sign of a larger problem. Kindly see a medical practioner as soon as you can for a proper diagnosis and advice on the way forward.