Three questions for men facing infertility from risk factors to treatments

16 July 2023 , 16:32

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Infertility is a common issue in the US (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Infertility is a common issue in the US - but what are the factors which can add to your risk of a low sperm count?

Approximately one in every six American couples struggles with conception, according a specialist — and men are just as likely to be a part of the issue as women.

Dr Jane Frederick, the medical director at HRC Fertility and an affiliate of Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California, said that around 10% of American men trying to conceive may be suffering from infertility.

Conception is a team effort, Dr Frederick said, and both partners can be equally at risk for infertility.

"The best way to find out if you have a problem is to go seek out a specialist," she told The Mirror.

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And women should make sure they bring their male partners, too.

For men, a specialist will likely diagnose issues by performing a sperm analysis, which shows their sperm count, their sperm motility and their sperm morphology — the number of sperm, how they move and what shape and size they are, respectively.

Dr Jane Frederick recommended that women bring their male partners in when seeing specialists about fertility (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

What are the risk factors for male infertility?

Men may be at higher risk for infertility because of a multitude of factors.

Obesity is at the forefront of conditions that can result in diffulties conceiving.

"When you're obese, your testosterone levels go down, and that can affect the production of your sperm," Dr Frederick said. "Looking at the BMI or the weight of the male patient is very important."

Being overweight or smoking and drinking too much can lead to infertility in men (Sunday Mirror)

Other factors include:

• The medications the men might be taking
• A history of surgery on the testicles
• Varicose (or dilated) veins in the testicles
• A history of undescended testicles
• Prior trauma to the testicles
• Hormonal disorders affecting the pituitary glands
• Cancer treatments requiring chemotherapy

There are also several lifestyle choices men can make that would lower their fertility. Those include:

• Bathing in hot tubs
• Smoking
• Drinking a lot of alcohol
• Smoking marijuana
• Vaping
• Exposure to toxic chemicals or radiation at work
• Undergoing hormonal treatments like steroids

“A lot of my patients were bodybuilders in the past, and they were exposed to steroids," Dr Frederick said. "Long-term steroid use has been noted to be a cause in male infertility down the road.”

“It’s good to be aware of whatever substance you’re trying to ingest," she added. "What are your risks of infertility based on that substance?”

She said all the other lifestyle choices can lead to low sperm counts.

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Taking a closer look at daily habits and lifestyle routines is necessary, she said, as is changing any that are unhealthy.

When should men see a specialist?

In general, both men and women should seek out a specialist if they've been trying to conceive for at least one year and the woman is under the age of 35, Dr Frederick said.

"If, after one year, there is no pregnancy, then the couple should come to an office, seek out a specialist and get tested," she said.

The amount of time Dr Frederick recommends attempting to conceive before seeking out a specialist depends on the age of the woman (Getty Images)

"The age of the female partner is critical in the success for conception," she continued.

For couples including women between 35 and 40, she recommends trying for six months. And for women over 40, she recommends seeing someone immediately.

What treatments are available for infertile men?

“The good thing is that, because of the technology we have, 90% of all infertile males have the potential to conceive their own genetic child," Dr Frederick said.

Ways they can do so include using artificial insemination, where the sperm is placed into the cervix artificially to induce pregnancy.

There is also in vitro fertilization, which involves insemination in a lab setting. That method is used when there are low sperm counts but the sperm also can't swim.

Dr Frederick noted a trend in young male cancer patients, who have opted to freeze their sperm before undergoing chemotherapy. That allows them to have their own children down the road, she said, once they're cancer free.

"There is hope out there," she emphasised. "Don't give up if you're having problems trying to conceive."

Jeremiah Hassel