Causes of Male Infertility

The inability of a couple to conceive a child may be due to infertility problems. Both men and women may suffer from infertility and contrary to the common myth, male infertility is almost just as common as female infertility (about 40% of the cases of biological inability to contribute to conception are due to male infertility factors).

Male infertility may be caused by a number of different factors, including low sperm count (or total lack of sperm cells), "abnormal" sperm, or ejaculation problems.

To start with, fertility depends a great deal on your general health. Leading a healthy lifestyle is very important for having healthy sperm. There are too many things that can threaten your male fertility. Excessive use of alcohol, nicotine or illegal drugs (such as marijuana and cocaine) can drastically decrease your sperm count or the overall health of your sperm cells. An unbalanced diet causing deficiency in vitamin C and zinc can also contribute to male infertility.

There are some diseases and infections that can really harm your reproductive system and cause infertility. Such diseases are mumps in adulthood, tuberculosis, fevers, and etc. Sexually transmitted diseases are not exceptions to this rule. For example, as Chlamydia or gonorrhea can seriously damage the spermatic ducts. Infections, such as orchitis, epididymitis, and prostatitis, also represent a danger to your fertility.

It is not a secret that many medications damage one thing while mending another. In fact, some are believed to cause male fertility. The list of such medications is headed by some cancer-treating agents (for example chemotherapy) and followed by antidiarrhoeal drugs and drugs treating ulcerative colitis (i.e., Sulfasalazine), antifungal drugs (for example Ketoconazole), and some antibiotics (nitrofurans and macrolides).

Anabolic steroids also cause infertility, as well as testicular shrinkage. Another cause for male infertility is the testosterone deficiency.

Injury to the testes, as well as varicocele and blockage or structural abnormality in the vasa deferentia, can also lead to male infertility.