Male infertility
WHO data for male fertility suggest a standard ejaculate sample of 1.4ml will contain around 39 million sperm, of which 4% of sperm will be considered to have a normal appearance, 54% will be live, around 42% will be motile and 30% will show progressive motility. Around 20% of the sperm will be immotile.13,14,15
For men, likely causes of fertility problems include:8
- low sperm production;
- poor sperm quality;
- sperm with reduced motility;
- ejaculation problems including obstruction.
Abnormal sperm production produce sperm (spermatogenic failure) can be congenital, with an absence of testicles (anorchia), an abnormal development of the testes or undescended testes (cryptorchidism). The body can develop antibodies to sperm, while calcium microcrystal deposits throughout the testes (testicular microcalcification) is associated with reduced fertility.5
Genetic issues include such as Y-chromosome deletions and Kinefelter’s syndrome (with XXY karyotype), and sterility. Androgen insensitivity syndrome or testicular feminisation can result from androgens being unable to cause their normal virilising effects.5
Acquired conditions reducing sperm production include trauma, injury, surgery, X-rays, mumps, testicular cancers, liver disease and kidney failure. Chlamydia in men can spread into the testes and the epididymis (the tubes carrying the sperm from the testes) resulting in the painful inflammation of epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis, and if untreated potentially reducing the man’s fertility.5,12
Heat is another factor reducing fertility.5