Generally speaking, infertility in men is related to issues with the following:
- effective production of sperm
- sperm count, or the number of sperm
- shape of the sperm
- movement of the sperm, which includes both the wiggling motion of the sperm themselves and the transport of the sperm through the tubes of the male reproductive system
There are a variety of risk factors, medical conditions, and medications that can also affect fertility.
Risk factors
Risk factors associated with infertility in men include, but aren’t limited to:
- older age
- smoking cigarettes
- heavy use of alcohol
- being overweight or obese
- exposure to toxins, such as pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals
Medical conditions
Some examples of medical conditions that can cause male infertility include:
- retrograde ejaculation
- varicocele, or the swelling of the veins around the testicles
- testicles that haven’t descended into the scrotum
- having antibodies that attack your sperm and destroy them
- a hormonal imbalance, such as low testosterone production
Medications and drugs
Various medications and drugs can also affect male fertility, such as:
- chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which are used for cancer
- sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, Azulfidine EN-Tabs), which is used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or ulcerative colitis (UC)
- calcium channel blockers, which are used for high blood pressure
- tricyclic antidepressants
- anabolic steroids, which are used for improved athletic performance or hormonal issues such as delayed puberty
- recreational drugs such as marijuana and cocaine
The bottom line
Any of these things, or even a combination of them, could lead to infertility in men.
Source: Healthline
