Male Infertility

Men's health should always be considered in situations of suspected infertility.

Potential causes of male infertility and damage to sperm include:

• Environmental factors e.g. radiation, pesticides and fertilisers
• Viral illness in the previous months
• A history of cryptorchidism (failure of the testicles to descend into the scrotum)
• Surgery e.g. prior history of vasectomy
• Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury are common in the environment and can have a direct effect on sperm cell structure and reduced sperm counts.

Studies confirm that there has been a significant decline in human sperm count and an increase in the rate of testicular cancer. It is estimated that the average number of sperm per ejaculation has dropped by a significant 50% in the last 50 to 60 years. In nearly 30% of all infertility cases, the cause is attributed to the male.

In the past 10 years there has been interest in the effects of environmental toxins and the dramatic reduction in fertility of animals exposed to substances such as fertilisers, pesticides, exogenous estrogens and heavy metals, which may negatively impact spermatogenesis.

Many factors affect the quality of sperm produced by a man at any given time. These factors include issues such as unusual stress, fever, certain medications, environmental factors or any injury to the testicles. Men will be asked for a complete reproductive history as well as any conditions or known toxic exposure which may affect sperm quality.

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