What You Need To Know About Male Infertility

It is understood that infertility is a common issue among couples trying to have kids. A lot of the time, however, the immediate conclusion that most people jump to is that it’s the woman who has fertility issues. While this is a plausible factor to consider, it is important to acknowledge that the male partner may be just as responsible.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, a good 40% of cases of infertility in couples are caused or contributed to equally by the male partner. As the trusted provider of fertility treatment in Davao, we’re here to help make sure male infertility is as addressed as much as female infertility.

Whether it surprises you or not, it is reported that 30% of infertility cases are due to male factor infertility alone, and another 20% has it as a contributing factor. With that, it can be said that almost half of the cases concerning the inability to conceive are due to male factor infertility.

There are a whole lot of different factors that could affect a man’s fertility, particularly, the quality of their sperm. Sperm quality (or its ‘shape’) and motility (its ability to swim) are two crucial factors in achieving healthy conception, and should one of them be affected, the difficulty will most likely be encountered.

Factors such as the man’s diet, lifestyle (if they smoke or drink heavily), their occupation (i.e. working with chemicals or radiation on a daily basis), recent illnesses, inborn physical state of their testes, and any possible previously undergone medical procedures/treatments are key factors that affect a man’s sperm and the sperms’ ability to reach ejaculate.

Age, although it doesn’t matter much until the man reaches his 50s, also affects the quality and motility as well as the amount of sperm produced.

The concern of fertility usually comes from couples who are actively trying to conceive, so if the couple has been tracking the woman’s cycles (given that her periods are regular) and fertility window and attempted conception during these periods to no avail, it could be a sign that evaluation is needed.

Since there is no actual physical manifestation of infertility in males, it makes it rather difficult to tell what could be causing difficulty in successful fertilization. A semen sample could be read as totally normal, but still be unable to do its job due to an underlying medical condition. This is why physical evaluation, including evaluation of the man’s sexual habits, are important. 

Infertility in males may be less talked about, but it’s definitely something couples should discuss with their specialist if they’re concerned about infertility. Aside from checking their individual reproductive health, couples also get to discuss what options are available to help them overcome infertility. 

IVF is a popular option nowadays and of great help to couples struggling with male factor infertility. Consult with specialists from your in vitro fertilization clinic in Davao today and learn your options. 

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