Male Infertility


	Male Infertility

Male Infertility

Infertility in the male can stem from a number of physical and physiological problems, many of which can be treated. A man may be infertile because he does not have enough sperm; because the sperm are not active enough; because the passage or vas deferens are blocked; or because of problems with ejaculation. A number of factors can cause or contribute to male infertility:

Male Reproductive Anatomy

Male Reproductive Physiology

Common Causes of Male Infertility

	Sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia
	Fevers and infections, such as mumps occurring after puberty
	Surgery of the reproductive tract, such as that for undescended testes, hernia repair, disorders of the prostate gland, or cancer
	Damage to the vas deferens
	Varicose vein in the scrotum (varicocele)
	Use of certain drugs, such as those for depression or high blood pressure
	Exposure of the testes to high temperatures, such as those that result from the wearing of tight, unventilated clothing; excessive use of hot tubs; or conditions in the workplace
	Use of tobacco, marijuana, or alcohol
	Medical Conditions, such as diabetes
	Genetic or hormonal problems
	Injury to the testes, such as that resulting from physical trauma or exposure to radiation

Normal Male Reproductive Anatomy

    The testes are paired organs located within the scrotum, which is a multi-layered muscular structure that protects the testes and assists in temperature regulation. The testes have two very important functions, and each of them is essential for normal male fertility:
                                   1) Production of testosterone
                                   2) Production of sperm

The testes are normally 4 to 5 cm long, and they are each encased by a firm, fibrous capsule called the tunica albuginea. Within this capsule, the seminiferous tubules are found. These tubules are very small structures containing Sertoli cells (support and nurturing cells for the sperm) and the germinal epithelium, the precursor cells that mature into spermatozoa. Along the course of normal seminiferous tubules, one finds sperm present at various stages of development, from the immature spermatogonium to the mature spermatozoon. Surrounding the seminiferous tubules are the interstitial cells that produce testosterone, essential for spermatogenesis.

Normal Male Reproductive Physiology

Common Causes of Male Infertility

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