The uncovering of problems in infertility requires both participants are examined in parallel procedures so as to give equal treatment for them. This may in the end, reveal where the fault lies. In infertility treatment programs, both participant are vital units for examination from which the parameters of the procedures are largely founded.



Why is this procedure vital? Only because male factors and female factors along with the shared factors have equal standing in infertility.

But let us focus our discussion on male infertility.

The cornerstone of all male infertility cases is laid on the comprehensive examination and detailing of the history of the condition. The latter though may not implicitly deal on infertility or fertility alone, rather on the conditions and diseases that may have probably led to the unwanted towards infertile.

Certain childhood conditions such as mumps, injuries on the genitals, testicular trauma and exposure to adverse environments may contribute largely on the development of the condition.

Advanced puberty may be a good indication of the development of the adrenal:genital syndrome. On the other hand, delayed puberty may be indicative of Klinefelter's syndrome, both of which are contributors to infertility which can develop later in the male's life.

Other details should also be gathered to discover what really have caused the condition. Say for example the exposure of the person towards harmful environmental substances such as radiation, excessive heat and environmental toxins.

Cancer patients are definitely one of those people that stand as possible patients of infertility. As we have earlier noted, too much heat may cause infertility since it exposes the sperms to temperatures they were not accustomed to. Since sperm cells are the vehicle to form fertilization and since they are very sensitive to extreme changes in temperature, they may loose potency and may not serve their primary functions since they will most likely meet premature death inside the testes.

History of medications that the male participant has previously undergone must also be elicited. Some medications like cimetidine and anabolic steroids are potent in diminishing the motility of the sperm cells. Others may in general, affect the male reproductive system itself.

Surgeries may also compromise male infertility. Bladder neck operations for example, create damaging effects on the emission of the sperm cells. If the person is diabetic and have undergone treatments, he may probably developed impotency or poor ejaculation.

Although male infertility may be attributed to a number of conditions, we can still find that some issues are more prevalent than others. Here are some of them, in no particular order:

Blockage of Sperm: the possibility that the passages carrying the sperms towards their destination is high. This may be due to vasectomy, physical anomaly, infection or injury. For a male to be infertile, he must be capable of successfully delivering sperms cells towards the female by means of these passages (e.g. vas deferens). Natural fertilization occurs when nothing impedes the sperm cells from flowing to their proper points.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED): the problem comes when a man is incapacitated for erection. Without this, it would be almost impossible to deliver sperm cells out from the male's body. This condition may be attributed to a number of chronic diseases which include heart problems and hypertension. Too much alcohol in the body may also lead to erectile dysfunction. And to say the obvious, paralysis may largely contribute to ED.

Infections: these may arise from conditions that were recently incurred or those that may have manifested during childhood. Infections may cause low sperm count and sterility.

Failure to Produce Sperm: a condition is also known as azoospermia. Temperature is the leading cause why this condition appears. Since sperm cells are by nature extra sensitive, the slightest heat may cause them to die and eventual cessation of the production of cells may result.

However, other conditions may pop:up such as abnormal cells or lessened sperm movements. Any phenomenon that may raise the normal body heat during a long period of time may affect the condition of the sperm cells. This can be anything from prolonged fever, exposure to too much heat due to chemotherapy, varicocele or the presence of varicose veins in the testes and undescended testes.

Nonetheless, genetic disorders and certain hormonal abnormalities may intrude with the normal and healthy production of sperm cells. Such may include hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, hypogonadism, adrenal gland disorders (the organ responsible for the secretion of testosterone a number of other hormones), and abnormality of the pituitary gland (which controls the release of the testosterone).

While we have discussed the biological reasons for the decrease in the production of sperm cells (and the lack thereof), we must still take into account other conditions that can cause abnormalities in the testes. These may include previous diseases and ailments, excessive use of drugs and exposure to environmental toxins.

More serious cases may be attributed to lack of seminal vesicles, missing or blocked vas deferens, and obstruction in the ejaculatory ducts and serious injuries of the testes.