Male Infertility Causes | Male Infertility | Forum

Known causes of male infertility can be described as:

• Hormonal problems
  Sometimes the pituitary gland at the base of the brain does not send the right messages to ‘drive’ (stimulate) the testes.  This can cause low testosterone levels, which means that sperm are not produced.  Hormonal causes are uncommon, and affect less than one in 100 infertile men.
• Sperm production problems
  The most common cause of male infertility is due to a problem in the sperm production process in the testes.  Low numbers of sperm are made and/or the sperm that are made do not work properly.  About two thirds of infertile men have sperm production problems.
• Blockage of sperm transport
  Blockages (obstructions) in the tubes leading sperm away from the testes to the penis can cause a complete lack of sperm in the ejaculated semen.  This is the second most common cause of male infertility and affects about three in every 20 infertile men including men with the common problem of a prior vasectomy.
• Sexual problems
  Difficulties with sexual intercourse, such as erection or ejaculation problems, can also prevent couples from becoming pregnant.  Sexual problems are not a common cause of infertility and affect less than one in 100 infertile men.
• Sperm antibodies
  In some men, sperm antibodies can develop which can reduce sperm movement and block egg binding during the fertilisation process.  About one in every 16 infertile men has sperm antibodies.