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Male infertility refers to a sexually mature male's inability to impregnate a fertile female.{{Citation|last1=Leslie|first1=Stephen W.|title=Male Infertility|date=2020|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/|work=StatPearls|place=Treasure Island (FL)|publisher=StatPearls Publishing|pmid=32965929|access-date=2020-11-26|last2=Siref|first2=Larry E.|last3=Khan|first3=Moien AB}} In humans, it accounts for 40–50% of infertility.JOURNAL, Pandruvada, Swati, Royfman, Rachel, Shah, Tariq A., Sindhwani, Puneet, Dupree, James M., Schon, Samantha, Avidor-Reiss, Tomer, Lack of trusted diagnostic tools for undetermined male infertility, Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, February 2021, 38, 2, 265–276, 10.1007/s10815-020-02037-5, 33389378, 7884538, WEB,weblink Men's Health - Male Factor Infertility, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, 2003-04-01, 2007-11-21,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070704064049weblink">weblink 2007-07-04, JOURNAL, Brugh, Victor M, Lipshultz, Larry I, Male factor infertility, Medical Clinics of North America, March 2004, 88, 2, 367–385, 10.1016/S0025-7125(03)00150-0, 15049583, JOURNAL, Hirsh, A., Male subfertility, BMJ, 20 September 2003, 327, 7416, 669–672, 10.1136/bmj.327.7416.669, 14500443, 196399, It affects approximately 7% of all men.JOURNAL, Lotti, F., Maggi, M., Ultrasound of the male genital tract in relation to male reproductive health, Human Reproduction Update, 1 January 2015, 21, 1, 56–83, 10.1093/humupd/dmu042, 25038770, free, 2158/956381, free, Male infertility is commonly due to deficiencies in the semen, and semen quality is used as a surrogate measure of male fecundity.JOURNAL, Cooper, Trevor G., Noonan, Elizabeth, von Eckardstein, Sigrid, Auger, Jacques, Baker, H.W. Gordon, Behre, Hermann M., Haugen, Trine B., Kruger, Thinus, Wang, Christina, Mbizvo, Michael T., Vogelsong, Kirsten M., World Health Organization reference values for human semen characteristics*‡, Human Reproduction Update, 1 January 2010, 16, 3, 231–245, 10.1093/humupd/dmp048, 19934213, free, More recently, advance sperm analyses that examine intracellular sperm components are being developed.JOURNAL, Turner, Katerina A., Rambhatla, Amarnath, Schon, Samantha, Agarwal, Ashok, Krawetz, Stephen A., Dupree, James M., Avidor-Reiss, Tomer, Male Infertility is a Women's Health Issue—Research and Clinical Evaluation of Male Infertility Is Needed, Cells, 16 April 2020, 9, 4, 990, 10.3390/cells9040990, 32316195, 7226946, free,

Age considerations

Sperm motility increases from puberty through one's mid-thirties. Research shows that from the age of 36 onwards, sperm motility decreases from 40% Grade A & B to 31% in one's 50s. The effects of aging on semen quality is summarized below based on a study of 1,219 subjects:JOURNAL, Kumar, M.D., Naina, Singh, M.D., Amit K, Choudhari, M.D., Ajay R, 2017-08-01, Impact of age on semen parameters in male partners of infertile couples in a rural tertiary care center of central India: A cross-sectional study,weblink Int J Reprod Biomed, 15, 8, 497–502, 10.29252/ijrm.15.8.497, 29082368, 5653911, {| class="wikitable sortable"! colspan="1" rowspan="1" |Age group (years)! colspan="1" rowspan="1" |Number of subjects (n)! colspan="1" rowspan="1" |Motility (% Grade A+B)[Min-Max]

21-28	57	47.5 ± 25.4[0-88]

29-35	450	48.1 ± 30.4[0-95]

36-42	532	40.0 ± 27.1[0-83]

43-49	165	33.1 ± 25.1[0-84]

50-60	15	31.3 ± 23.9[0-59]

90% of seminiferous tubules in men in their 20s and 30s contain spermatids, whereas men in their 40s and 50s have spermatids in 50% of their seminiferous tubules, and only 10% of seminiferous tubules from men aged > 80 years contain spermatids.JOURNAL, Isiah D Harris, Carolyn Fronczak, Lauren Roth, Randall B Meacham, 2011, Fertility and the Aging Male, Reviews in Urology, 13, 4, e184–e190, 3253726, 22232567, JOURNAL, Nobuaki Sasano, Sadatoshi Ichijo, 1969, Vascular Patterns of the Human Testis with Special Reference to Its Senile Changes,weblink Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 99, 3, 269–280, 10.1620/tjem.99.269, 5363446, J-STAGE, free, In a random international sample of 11,548 men confirmed to be biological fathers by DNA paternity testing, the oldest father was found to be 66 years old at the birth of his child; the ratio of DNA-confirmed versus DNA-rejected paternity tests around that age is in agreement with the notion of general male infertility above age 65–66.JOURNAL, Forster P, Hohoff C, Dunkelmann B, Schürenkamp M, Pfeiffer H, Neuhuber F, Brinkmann B, 2015, Elevated germline mutation rate in teenage fathers, Proc R Soc B, 282, 1803, 1–6, 10.1098/rspb.2014.2898, 4345458, 25694621, JOURNAL, Forster P, Hohoff C, Dunkelmann B, Schürenkamp M, Pfeiffer H, Neuhuber F, Brinkmann B, 2016, Correction to Elevated germline mutation rate in teenage fathers, Proc R Soc B, 283, 1807, 20161723, 10.1098/rspb.2016.1723, 5013809, 27559069,

Causes

Factors relating to male infertility include:BOOK, Rowe, Patrick J., Comhaire, Frank H., Hargreave, Timothy B., Mahmoud, Ahmed M. A., WHO Manual for the Standardized Investigation and Diagnosis of the Infertile Male, 2000, Cambridge University Press, 978-0-521-77474-1, History-taking, 5–16,weblink

Immune infertility

Antisperm antibodies (ASA) have been considered as infertility cause in around 10–30% of infertile couples.JOURNAL, Restrepo, B., Cardona Maya, W., Anticuerpos antiespermatozoides y su asociación con la fertilidad, Antisperm antibodies and fertility association, es, Actas Urológicas Españolas, October 2013, 37, 9, 571–578, 10.1016/j.acuro.2012.11.003, 23428233, ASA production are directed against surface antigens on sperm, which can interfere with sperm motility and transport through the female reproductive tract, inhibiting capacitation and acrosome reaction, impaired fertilization, influence on the implantation process, and impaired growth and development of the embryo. Risk factors for the formation of antisperm antibodies in men include the breakdown of the blood‑testis barrier, trauma and surgery, orchitis, varicocele, infections, prostatitis, testicular cancer, failure of immunosuppression and unprotected receptive anal or oral sex with men.BOOK,weblink Principles & Practice of Assisted Reproductive Technology (3 Vols), Rao, Kamini, 2013-09-30, JP Medical Ltd, 9789350907368, en,

Genetics

{{See also|Genetics of infertility}}Chromosomal anomalies and genetic mutations account for nearly 10–15% of all male infertility cases.JOURNAL, Ferlin, Alberto, Arredi, Barbara, Foresta, Carlo, Genetic causes of male infertility, Reproductive Toxicology, August 2006, 22, 2, 133–141, 10.1016/j.reprotox.2006.04.016, 16806807,

Mitochondrial DNA

Mature human sperm contains almost no mitochondrial DNA at all. An increased amount of mitochondrial DNA in the sperm cells has shown to have a negative impact on fertility.Sperm Cell Powerhouses Contain Almost No DNASperm mitochondrial DNA measures and semen parameters among men undergoing fertility treatment

Klinefelter syndrome

One of the most commonly known causes of infertility is Klinefelter syndrome, which affects one in 500–1000 newborn males.WEB,weblink Klinefelter syndrome, Reference, Genetics Home, Genetics Home Reference, en, 2018-11-23, Klinefelter syndrome is a chromosomal defect that occurs during gamete formation due to a non-disjunction error during cell division. Resulting in males having smaller testes, reducing the amount of testosterone and sperm production.JOURNAL, Arai, T, Kitahara, S, Horiuchi, S, Sumi, S, Yoshida, K, Relationship of testicular volume to semen profiles and serum hormone concentrations in infertile Japanese males, International Journal of Fertility and Women's Medicine, January 1998, 43, 1, 40–7, 9532468, Males with this syndrome carry an extra X chromosome (XXY), meaning they have 47 chromosomes compared to the normal 46 in each cell. This extra chromosome directly affects sexual development before birth and during puberty. A variation of Klinefelter syndrome is when some cells in an individual have the extra X chromosome but others do not, referred to as mosaic Klinefelter syndrome. The reduction of testosterone in the male body normally results in an overall decrease in the production of viable sperm for these individuals thereby forcing them to turn to fertility treatments to father children.

Y chromosome deletions

Y chromosomal infertility is a direct cause of male infertility due to its effects on sperm production, occurring in approximately one in 2000 males.WEB,weblink Y chromosome infertility, Reference, Genetics Home, Genetics Home Reference, en, 2018-11-23, Usually, affected men show no symptoms, although they may have smaller testes. Men with this condition may exhibit azoospermia (no sperm production), oligozoospermia (small number of sperm production), or they may produce abnormally shaped sperm (teratozoospermia). This case of infertility occurs during the development of gametes in the male. Where a normal healthy male will have both an X and a Y chromosome, affected males have genetic deletions in the Y chromosome. These deletions affect protein production that is vital for spermatogenesis. Studies have shown that this is an inherited trait; if a male is fathered by a man who also exhibited Y chromosome deletions then this trait will be passed down.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} These individuals are thereby "Y-linked". Daughters are not affected and cannot be carriers due to their lack of a Y chromosome.

Other

• Age group 12–49 (Paternal age effect)
• Aneuploidy, an abnormal number of chromosomes
• CentrioleJOURNAL, Avidor-Reiss, Tomer, Khire, Atul, Fishman, Emily L., Jo, Kyoung H., Atypical centrioles during sexual reproduction, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 1 April 2015, 3, 21, 10.3389/fcell.2015.00021, 25883936, 4381714, free,
• Neoplasm, e.g. seminoma
• Idiopathic failure
• Cryptorchidism
• Trauma
• Hydrocele, particularly hydrocele testis
• Hypopituitarism in adults, and hypopituitarism untreated in children (resulting in growth hormone deficiency and proportionate dwarfism.)
• MumpsJOURNAL, Masarani, M, Wazait, H, Dinneen, M, Mumps orchitis, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 1 November 2006, 99, 11, 573–575, 10.1177/014107680609901116, 17082302, 1633545,
• Malaria
• Testicular cancer
• Defects in USP26 in some casesJOURNAL, Zhang, Jie, Qiu, Shu-Dong, Li, Sheng-Bin, Zhou, Dang-Xia, Tian, Hong, Huo, Yong-Wei, Ge, Ling, Zhang, Qiu-Yang, Novel mutations in ubiquitin-specific protease 26 gene might cause spermatogenesis impairment and male infertility, Asian Journal of Andrology, November 2007, 9, 6, 809–814, 10.1111/j.1745-7262.2007.00305.x, 17968467, free,
• Acrosomal defects affecting egg penetration
• Idiopathic oligospermia – unexplained sperm deficiencies account for 30% of male infertility.JOURNAL, Cavallini, Giorgio, Male idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, Asian Journal of Andrology, March 2006, 8, 2, 143–157, 10.1111/j.1745-7262.2006.00123.x, 16491265, free,

Pre-testicular causes

Pre-testicular factors refer to conditions that impede adequate support of the testes and include situations of poor hormonal support and poor general health including:

Varicocele

Varicocele is a condition of swollen testicle veins.{{Citation|last1=Leslie|first1=Stephen W.|title=Varicocele|date=2020|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448113/|work=StatPearls|place=Treasure Island (FL)|publisher=StatPearls Publishing|pmid=28846314|access-date=2020-11-26|last2=Sajjad|first2=Hussain|last3=Siref|first3=Larry E.}}It is present in 15% of normal men and in about 40% of infertile men.It is present in up to 35% of cases of primary infertility and 69–81% of secondary infertility.JOURNAL, Kupis, Łukasz, Artur Dobronski, Piotr, Radziszewski, Piotr, Varicocele as a source of male infertility – current treatment techniques, Central European Journal of Urology, 2015, 68, 3, 365–370, 10.5173/ceju.2015.642, 26568883, 4643713,

• Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism due to various causes
  • Obesity increases the risk of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.JOURNAL, Teerds, K. J., de Rooij, D. G., Keijer, J., Functional relationship between obesity and male reproduction: from humans to animal models, Human Reproduction Update, 1 September 2011, 17, 5, 667–683, 10.1093/humupd/dmr017, 21546379, free, Animal models indicate that obesity causes leptin insensitivity in the hypothalamus, leading to decreased Kiss1 expression, which, in turn, alters the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
• Undiagnosed and untreated coeliac disease (CD). Coeliac men may have reversible infertility. Nevertheless, CD can present with several non-gastrointestinal symptoms that can involve nearly any organ system, even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms. Thus, the diagnosis may be missed, leading to a risk of long-term complications.JOURNAL, Hozyasz, K, Coeliac disease and problems associated with reproduction, Mar 2001, Ginekol Pol, 72, 3, 173–9, 11398587, In men, CD can reduce semen quality and cause immature secondary sex characteristics, hypogonadism and hyperprolactinaemia, which causes impotence and loss of libido.JOURNAL, Sher, KS, Jayanthi, V, Probert, CS, Stewart, CR, Mayberry, JF, Infertility, obstetric and gynaecological problems in coeliac sprue, 1994, Dig Dis, 12, 3, 186–90, 7988065, 10.1159/000171452, The giving of gluten free diet and correction of deficient dietary elements can lead to a return of fertility. It is likely that an effective evaluation for infertility would best include assessment for underlying celiac disease, both in men and women.JOURNAL, Freeman, HJ, Reproductive changes associated with celiac disease, World J Gastroenterol, 16, 46, 5810–4, Dec 2010, 21155001, 3001971, 10.3748/wjg.v16.i46.5810, free,
• Drugs, alcohol
• Strenuous riding (bicycle riding,JOURNAL, Leibovitch, Ilan, Mor, Yoram, The Vicious Cycling: Bicycling Related Urogenital Disorders, European Urology, March 2005, 47, 3, 277–287, 10.1016/j.eururo.2004.10.024, 15716187, horseback riding)
• Medications, including those that affect spermatogenesis such as chemotherapy, fluoxetine, anabolic steroids, cimetidine, spironolactone; those that decrease FSH levels such as phenytoin; those that decrease sperm motility such as sulfasalazine and nitrofurantoin
• Genetic abnormalities such as a Robertsonian translocation

Tobacco smoking

{{See also|Smoking and pregnancy}}There is increasing evidence that the harmful products of tobacco smoking may damage the testiclesJOURNAL, Thompson J, Bannigan J, Cadmium: toxic effects on the reproductive system and the embryo, Reprod Toxicol, 25, 3, 304–15, Apr 2008, 18367374, 10.1016/j.reprotox.2008.02.001, Review, and kill sperm,JOURNAL, Agarwal A, Prabakaran SA, Said TM, Prevention of Oxidative Stress Injury to Sperm, Journal of Andrology, 26, 6, 654–60, 2005, 16291955, 10.2164/jandrol.05016, free, JOURNAL, Robbins WA, Elashoff DA, Xun L, Jia J, Li N, Wu G, Wei F, Effect of lifestyle exposures on sperm aneuploidy, Cytogenetic and Genome Research, 111, 3–4, 371–7, 2005, 16192719, 10.1159/000086914, 22937424, but their effect on male fertility is not clear.JOURNAL, Harlev A, Agarwal A, Gunes SO, Shetty A, du Plessis SS, Smoking and Male Infertility: An Evidence-Based Review, World J Men's Health, 33, 3, 143–60, Dec 2015, 26770934, 4709430, 10.5534/wjmh.2015.33.3.143, Review, Some governments require manufacturers to put warnings on packets. Smoking tobacco increases intake of cadmium, because the tobacco plant absorbs the metal. Cadmium, being chemically similar to zinc, may replace zinc in the DNA polymerase, which plays a critical role in sperm production. Zinc replaced by cadmium in DNA polymerase can be particularly damaging to the testes.BOOK, Emsley J, Nature's building blocks: an A-Z guide to the elements, Oxford University Press, Oxford [Oxfordshire], 2001, 76, 978-0-19-850340-8,weblink

DNA damage

Common inherited variants in genes that encode enzymes employed in DNA mismatch repair are associated with increased risk of sperm DNA damage and male infertility.JOURNAL, Ji G, Long Y, Zhou Y, Huang C, Gu A, Wang X, 2012, Common variants in mismatch repair genes associated with increased risk of sperm DNA damage and male infertility, BMC Med, 10, 1, 49, 10.1186/1741-7015-10-49, 22594646, 3378460, free, As men age there is a consistent decline in semen quality, and this decline appears to be due to DNA damage.JOURNAL, Silva LF, Oliveira JB, Petersen CG, Mauri AL, Massaro FC, Cavagna M, Baruffi RL, Franco JG, 2012, Jr (2012). The effects of male age on sperm analysis by motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME), Reprod Biol Endocrinol, 10, 1, 19, 10.1186/1477-7827-10-19, 22429861, 3317862, free, The damage manifests by DNA fragmentation and by the increased susceptibility to denaturation upon exposure to heat or acid, the features characteristic of apoptosis of somatic cells.JOURNAL, Gorczyca W, Traganos F, Jesionowska H, Darzynkiewicz Z, Presence of DNA strand breaks and increased sensitivity of DNA in situ to denaturation in abnormal human sperm cells: analogy to apoptosis of somatic cells, Experimental Cell Research, 207, 1, 202–5, July 1993, 8391465, 10.1006/excr.1993.1182, These findings suggest that DNA damage is an important factor in male infertility.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Epigenetic

{{See also|DNA methylation}}An increasing amount of recent evidence has been recorded documenting abnormal sperm DNA methylation in association with abnormal semen parameters and male infertility.JOURNAL, Aston, Kenneth I., Uren, Philip J., Jenkins, Timothy G., Horsager, Alan, Cairns, Bradley R., Smith, Andrew D., Carrell, Douglas T., Aberrant sperm DNA methylation predicts male fertility status and embryo quality, Fertility and Sterility, December 2015, 104, 6, 1388–1397.e5, 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.08.019, 26361204, free, JOURNAL, Dada, Rima, Kumar, Manoj, Jesudasan, Rachel, Fernández, Jose Luis, Gosálvez, Jaime, Agarwal, Ashok, Epigenetics and its role in male infertility, Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, March 2012, 29, 3, 213–223, 10.1007/s10815-012-9715-0, 22290605, 3288140, Until recently, scientists have thought that epigenetic markers only affect the individual and are not passed down due to not changing the DNA.JOURNAL, Saey, Tina Hesman, From great grandma to you: Epigenetic changes reach down through the generations, Science News, 6 April 2013, 183, 7, 18–21, 10.1002/scin.5591830718, 23599013, New studies suggest that environmental factors that changed an individual's epigenetic markers can be seen in their grandchildren, one such study demonstrating this through rats and fertility disruptors. Another study bred rats exposed to an endocrine disruptor, observing effects up to generation F5 including decreased sperm motility and decreased sperm count.JOURNAL, Anway, Matthew D., Cupp, Andrea S., Uzumcu, Mehmet, Skinner, Michael K., 2005, Epigenetic Transgenerational Actions of Endocrine Disruptors and Male Fertility, Science, 308, 5727, 1466–1469, 3841510, 10.1126/science.1108190, 15933200, 2005Sci...308.1466A, 236588,weblink These studies suggest that environmental factors that influence fertility can be felt for generations even without changing the DNA.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Post-testicular causes

Post-testicular factors decrease male fertility due to conditions that affect the male genital system after testicular sperm production and include defects of the genital tract as well as problems in ejaculation:{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

• Vas deferens obstruction
• Lack of Vas deferens, often related to genetic markers for cystic fibrosis
• Infection, e.g. prostatitis, male accessory gland infection
• Retrograde ejaculation
• Ejaculatory duct obstruction
• Hypospadias
• Impotence

Diagnostic evaluations

The diagnosis of infertility begins with a medical history and physical exam by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. Typically two separate semen analyses will be required. The provider may order blood tests to look for hormone imbalances, medical conditions, or genetic issues.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Medical history

The history should include prior testicular or penile insults (torsion, cryptorchidism, trauma), infections (mumps orchitis, epididymitis), environmental factors, excessive heat, radiation, medications, and drug use (anabolic steroids, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, alcohol, smoking). Sexual habits, frequency and timing of intercourse, use of lubricants, and each partner's previous fertility experiences are important. Loss of libido and headaches or visual disturbances may indicate a pituitary tumor.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}The past medical or surgical history may reveal thyroid or liver disease (abnormalities of spermatogenesis), diabetic neuropathy (retrograde ejaculation), radical pelvic or retroperitoneal surgery (absent seminal emission secondary to sympathetic nerve injury), or hernia repair (damage to the vas deferens or testicular blood supply).{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}A family history may reveal genetic problems.

Physical examination

Usually, the patient disrobes completely and puts on a gown. The physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner will perform a thorough examination of the penis, scrotum, testicles, I vas deferens, spermatic cords, ejaculatory ducts, urethra, urinary bladder, anus and rectum. An orchidometer can measure testicular volume, which in turn is tightly associated with both sperm and hormonal parameters. A physical exam of the scrotum can reveal a varicocele, but the impact of detecting and surgically correct a varicocele on sperm parameters or overall male fertility is debated.

Sperm sample

Semen sample obtaining

Semen sample obtaining is the first step in spermiogram. The optimal sexual abstinence for semen sample obtaining is of 2–7 days. The first way to obtain the semen sample is through masturbation, and the best place to obtain it is in the same clinic, as this way temperature changes during transport can be avoided, which can be lethal for some spermatozoa.A single semen sample is not determining for disease diagnosis, so two different samples have to be analyzed with an interval between them of seven days to three months, as sperm production is a cyclic process. It is prudent to ask about possible sample loss, as that could mask true results of spermiogram.To obtain the sample, a sterile plastic recipient is put directly inside, always no more than one hour before being studied. Conventional preservatives should not be used, as they have chemical substances as lubricants or spermicides that could damage the sample. If preservatives have to be used, for cases of religious ethics in which masturbation is forbidden, a preservative with holes is used. In case of paraplegia it is possible to use mechanic tools or electroejaculation.The sample should never be obtained through coitus interruptus for several reasons:

• Some part of ejaculation could be lost.
• Bacterial contamination could happen.
• The acid vaginal pH could be deleterious for sperm motility.

Also is very important to label the sample correctly the recipient with patient identification, date, hour, abstinence days, among other data required to be known.{{Further|Semen quality}}The volume of the semen sample (must be more than 1.5 ml), approximate number of total sperm cells, sperm motility/forward progression, and % of sperm with normal morphology are measured. It is possible to have hyperspermia (high volume more than 6 ml) or Hypospermia (low volume less than 0.5 ml). This is the most common type of fertility testing.JOURNAL, Hargreave TB, McGowan B, Harvey J, McParland M, Elton RA, Is a male infertility clinic of any use?, Br. J. Urol., 58, 2, 188–93, April 1986, 3697634, 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1986.tb09024.x, JOURNAL, Hwang K, Walters RC, Lipshultz LI, Contemporary concepts in the evaluation and management of male infertility, Nature Reviews Urology, 8, 2, 86–94, February 2011, 21243017, 10.1038/nrurol.2010.230, 3654691, Semen deficiencies are often labeled as follows:

• Oligospermia or oligozoospermia – decreased number of spermatozoa in semen
• Aspermia – complete lack of semen
• Hypospermia – reduced seminal volume
• Azoospermia – absence of sperm cells in semen
• Teratospermia – increase in sperm with abnormal morphology
• Asthenozoospermia – reduced sperm motility
• Necrozoospermia – all sperm in the ejaculate are dead
• Leucospermia – a high level of white blood cells in semen
• Normozoospermia or normospermia – It is a result of semen analysis that shows normal values of all ejaculate parameters by WHO but still there are chances of being infertile. This is also called as unexplained Infertility{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

There are various combinations of these as well, e.g. Teratoasthenozoospermia, which is reduced sperm morphology and motility.Low sperm counts are often associated with decreased sperm motility and increased abnormal morphology, thus the terms "oligoasthenoteratozoospermia" or "oligospermia" can be used as a catch-all.

Special obtaining

• Psychological inhibition

– Psychotherapy– Intercourses with special preservatives without lubricants or spermicides. In case of religion limitations we should use a SCD, or Seminal Collection Device, such as preservatives with holes.– Drug stimulation– Percutaneous spermatozoa obtaining directly from epididymis, testes, etc.

• Neurological injury

– Vibro-stimulation– Electro-stimulation

• Retrograde ejaculation

This type of ejaculation happens when there is a defect on prostate, so the sample is not ejaculated outside but to the bladder. So, in that case, what we have to do to obtain the sample is:– Intake bicarbonate, about 25 grams, the night before and the morning of the sample obtaining. This will neutralize acidic urine and will turn it alkaline, near semen's pH, so spermatozoa can survive.– Before masturbation we have to urinate to empty the bladder. This must go to the first recipient.– Just after that, the subject has to masturbate and ejaculate, obtaining then a new urine sample with ejaculation that will be stored on the second recipient.– Finally we have to obtain the next urine, 2nd urine, for potential ejaculation fraction, which will be stored in the third recipient. This may contain the most important fraction.

Blood sample

Common hormonal test include determination of FSH and testosterone levels. A blood sample can reveal genetic causes of infertility, e.g. Klinefelter syndrome, a Y chromosome microdeletion, or cystic fibrosis.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Ultrasonography

Scrotal ultrasonography is useful when there is a suspicion of some particular diseases. It may detect signs of testicular dysgenesis, which is often related to an impaired spermatogenesis and to a higher risk of testicular cancer. Scrotum ultrasonography may also detect testicular lesions suggestive of malignancy. A decreased testicular vascularization is characteristic of testicular torsion, whereas hyperemia is often observed in epididymo-orchitis or in some malignant conditions such as lymphoma and leukemia. Doppler ultrasonography useful in assessing venous reflux in case of a varicocele, when palpation is unreliable or in detecting recurrence or persistence after surgery, although the impact of its detection and surgical correction on sperm parameters and overall fertility is debated.Dilation of the head or tail of the epididymis is suggestive of obstruction or inflammation of the male reproductive tract. Such abnormalities are associated with abnormalities in sperm parameters, as are abnormalities in the texture of the epididymis. Scrotal and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) are useful in detecting uni- or bilateral congenital absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD), which may be associated with abnormalities or agenesis of the epididymis, seminal vesicles or kidneys, and indicate the need for testicular sperm extraction. TRUS plays a key role in assessing azoospermia caused by obstruction, and detecting distal CBAVD or anomalies related to obstruction of the ejaculatory duct, such as abnormalities within the duct itself, a median cyst of the prostate (indicating a need for cyst aspiration), or an impairment of the seminal vesicles to become enlarged or emptied.

Hyposmotic test

To check if the plasma membrane of the sperm is working properly or if it is damaged. To do this, the spermatozoa are placed in a hypotonic medium (low in salts), which causes an osmotic imbalance in the cells, causing the medium to enter the interior of the spermatozoon and swell it.If the sperm membrane is damaged, it will not be functional, so fertilization cannot take place. Hence the relevance of this test.WEB,weblink Pruebas de fertilidad en el hombre: ¿cuáles son y en qué consisten?, 9 May 2022,

Sperm FISH

To check if the spermatozoa have a normal set of chromosomes. It provides great information about the seminal quality of the male. It is performed by marking specific chromosomes of the sperm with fluorescent DNA probes.Some situations in which sperm FISH is indicated are the following:-Alterations in the karyotype.-Altered seminogram, especially in cases with low concentration or serious morphology problems.-Man undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.-Couples with recurrent miscarriages of unknown cause.-Implantation failure on repeated occasions after applying assisted reproductive techniques.-Couples who have had a child with some chromosomal alteration.Advanced age.WEB,weblink Pruebas de fertilidad en el hombre: ¿cuáles son y en qué consisten?, 9 May 2022,

Prevention

Some strategies suggested or proposed for avoiding male infertility include the following:

• Avoiding smokingJOURNAL, Gaur DS, Talekar M, Pathak VP, Effect of cigarette smoking on semen quality of infertile men, Singapore Medical Journal, 48, 2, 119–23, 2007, 17304390,weblink as it damages sperm DNA
• Avoiding heavy marijuana and alcohol use.BOOK, Speroff L, Glass RH, Kase NG, Clinical Endocrinology and Infertility, 6th, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 1999, 1085, 978-0-683-30379-7,
• Avoiding excessive heat to the testes.
• Maintaining optimal frequency of coital activity: sperm counts can be depressed by daily coital activity and sperm motility may be depressed by coital activity that takes place too infrequently (abstinence 10–14 days or more).
• Wearing a protective cup and jockstrap to protect the testicles, in any sport such as baseball, football, cricket, lacrosse, hockey, softball, paintball, rodeo, motorcross, wrestling, soccer, karate or other martial arts or any sport where a ball, foot, arm, knee or bat can come into contact with the groin.
• Diet: Healthy diets (i.e. the Mediterranean dietJOURNAL, Salas-Huetos, Albert, Babio, Nancy, Carrell, Douglas T., Bulló, Mònica, Salas-Salvadó, Jordi, Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is positively associated with sperm motility: A cross-sectional analysis, Scientific Reports, December 2019, 9, 1, 3389, 10.1038/s41598-019-39826-7, 30833599, 6399329, 2019NatSR...9.3389S, free, ) rich in such nutrients as omega-3 fatty acids, some antioxidants and vitamins, and low in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and trans-fatty acids (TFAs) are inversely associated with low semen quality parameters. In terms of food groups, fish, shellfish and seafood, poultry, cereals, vegetables and fruits, and low-fat dairy products have been positively related to sperm quality. However, diets rich in processed meat, soy foods, potatoes, full-fat dairy products, coffee, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets have been inversely associated with the quality of semen in some studies. The few studies relating male nutrient or food intake and fecundability also suggest that diets rich in red meat, processed meat, tea and caffeine are associated with a lower rate of fecundability. This association is only controversial in the case of alcohol. The potential biological mechanisms linking diet with sperm function and fertility are largely unknown and require further study.JOURNAL, Salas-Huetos, Albert, Bulló, Mònica, Salas-Salvadó, Jordi, Dietary patterns, foods and nutrients in male fertility parameters and fecundability: a systematic review of observational studies, Human Reproduction Update, 1 July 2017, 23, 4, 371–389, 10.1093/humupd/dmx006, 28333357, free,

Treatment

Treatments vary according to the underlying disease and the degree of the impairment of the male's fertility. Further, in an infertility situation, the fertility of the female needs to be considered.JOURNAL, Agarwal, Ashok, Majzoub, Ahmad, Parekh, Neel, Henkel, Ralf, A Schematic Overview of the Current Status of Male Infertility Practice, The World Journal of Men's Health, 2020, 38, 3, 308–322, 10.5534/wjmh.190068, 31385475, 7308239, Pre-testicular conditions can often be addressed by medical means or interventions.Testicular-based male infertility tends to be resistant to medication. Usual approaches include using the sperm for intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), or IVF with intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI). With IVF-ICSI even with a few sperm pregnancies can be achieved.Obstructive causes of post-testicular infertility can be overcome with either surgery or IVF-ICSI. Ejaculatory factors may be treatable by medication, or by IUI therapy or IVF.Vitamin E helps counter oxidative stress,JOURNAL, Traber, Maret G., Maret G. Traber, Stevens, Jan F., September 2011, Vitamins C and E: Beneficial effects from a mechanistic perspective, Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 51, 5, 1000–1013, 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2011.05.017, 3156342, 21664268, which is associated with sperm DNA damage and reduced sperm motility.JOURNAL, Lombardo, Francesco, Sansone, Andrea, Romanelli, Francesco, Paoli, Donatella, Gandini, Loredana, Lenzi, Andrea, The role of antioxidant therapy in the treatment of male infertility: an overview, Asian Journal of Andrology, September 2011, 13, 5, 690–697, 10.1038/aja.2010.183, 21685925, 3739574, JOURNAL, Barati, Erfaneh, Nikzad, Hossein, Karimian, Mohammad, Oxidative stress and male infertility: current knowledge of pathophysiology and role of antioxidant therapy in disease management, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, January 2020, 77, 1, 93–113, 10.1007/s00018-019-03253-8, 31377843, 199436552, A hormone-antioxidant combination may improve sperm count and motility.JOURNAL, Ghanem H, Shaeer O, El-Segini A, Combination clomiphene citrate and antioxidant therapy for idiopathic male infertility: A randomized controlled trial, Fertility and Sterility, 93, 7, 2232–5, 2010, 19268928, 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.01.117, free, Giving oral antioxidants to men in couples undergoing in vitro fertilisation for male factor or unexplained subfertility may lead to an increase in the live birth rate but overall the risk of adverse effects is unclear.JOURNAL, de Ligny, Wiep, Smits, Roos M., Mackenzie-Proctor, Rebecca, Jordan, Vanessa, Fleischer, Kathrin, de Bruin, Jan Peter, Showell, Marian G., 2022-05-04, Antioxidants for male subfertility, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2022, 5, CD007411, 10.1002/14651858.CD007411.pub5, 1469-493X, 9066298, 35506389,

Hormonal therapy

{{See also|Spermatogenesis#Hormonal control}}Administration of luteinizing hormone (LH) (or human chorionic gonadotropin) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is very effective in the treatment of male infertility due to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.BOOK, Edmund S. Sabanegh Jr., Male Infertility: Problems and Solutions,weblink 20 October 2010, Springer Science & Business Media, 978-1-60761-193-6, 82–83, Although controversial,JOURNAL, Pasqualotto FF, Fonseca GP, Pasqualotto EB, Azoospermia after treatment with clomiphene citrate in patients with oligospermia, Fertility and Sterility, 90, 5, 2014.e11–2, 2008, 18555230, 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.03.036, free, off-label clomiphene citrate, an antiestrogen, may also be effective by elevating gonadotropin levels.Though androgens are absolutely essential for spermatogenesis and therefore male fertility, exogenous testosterone therapy has been found to be ineffective in benefiting men with low sperm count.BOOK, Rodney Rhoades, David R. Bell, Medical Physiology: Principles for Clinical Medicine,weblink 2009, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 978-0-7817-6852-8, 685, This is thought to be because very high local levels of testosterone in the testes (concentrations in the seminiferous tubules are 20- to 100-fold greater than circulating levels)BOOK, Wolf-Bernhard Schill, Frank H. Comhaire, Timothy B. Hargreave, Andrology for the Clinician,weblink 26 August 2006, Springer Science & Business Media, 978-3-540-33713-3, 76–, are required to mediate spermatogenesis, and exogenous testosterone therapy (which is administered systemically) cannot achieve these required high local concentrations (at least not without extremely supraphysiological dosages). Moreover, exogenous androgen therapy can actually impair or abolish male fertility by suppressing gonadotropin secretion from the pituitary gland, as seen in users of androgens/anabolic steroids (who often have partially or completely suppressed sperm production). This is because suppression of gonadotropin levels results in decreased testicular androgen production (causing diminished local concentrations in the testes) and because FSH is independently critical for spermatogenesis.JOURNAL, Liu, Yi-Xun, Control of spermatogenesis in primate and prospect of male contraception, Archives of Andrology, January 2005, 51, 2, 77–92, 10.1080/01485010490485768, 15804862, 25411118, JOURNAL, Cheng, C. Yan, Wong, Elissa W.P., Yan, Helen H.N., Mruk, Dolores D., Regulation of spermatogenesis in the microenvironment of the seminiferous epithelium: New insights and advances, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, February 2010, 315, 1–2, 49–56, 10.1016/j.mce.2009.08.004, 19682538, 3516447, In contrast to FSH, LH has little role in male fertility outside of inducing gonadal testosterone production.JOURNAL, Fody, EP, Walker, EM, Effects of drugs on the male and female reproductive systems, Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science, November 1985, 15, 6, 451–8, 4062226, Estrogen, at some concentration, has been found to be essential for male fertility/spermatogenesis.JOURNAL, O'Donnell, Liza, Robertson, Kirsten M., Jones, Margaret E., Simpson, Evan R., Estrogen and Spermatogenesis, Endocrine Reviews, 1 June 2001, 22, 3, 289–318, 10.1210/edrv.22.3.0431, 11399746, free, JOURNAL, Carreau, Serge, Bouraima-Lelong, H, Delalande, C, Role of estrogens in spermatogenesis, Frontiers in Bioscience, 2012, E4, 1, 1–11, 10.2741/356, 22201851, However, estrogen levels that are too high can impair male fertility by suppressing gonadotropin secretion and thereby diminishing intratesticular androgen levels. As such, clomiphene citrate (an antiestrogen) and aromatase inhibitors such as testolactone or anastrozole have shown effectiveness in benefiting spermatogenesis.Low-dose estrogen and testosterone combination therapy may improve sperm count and motility in some men,JOURNAL, Sah P, Role of low-dose estrogen–testosterone combination therapy in men with oligospermia, Fertility and Sterility, 70, 4, 780–1, 1998, 9797116, 10.1016/S0015-0282(98)00273-8, free, including in men with severe oligospermia.JOURNAL, Sah P, Oligospermia due to partial maturation arrest responds to low dose estrogen-testosterone combination therapy resulting in live-birth: A case report, Asian Journal of Andrology, 4, 4, 307–8, 2002, 12508135,weblink

Research

Researchers at Münster University developed in vitro culture conditions using a three-dimensional agar culture system which induces mouse testicular germ cells to reach the final stages of spermatogenesis, including spermatozoa generation.JOURNAL, Abu Elhija M, Lunenfeld E, Schlatt S, Huleihel M, Differentiation of murine male germ cells to spermatozoa in a soft agar culture system, Asian Journal of Andrology, 14, 2, 285–93, 2011, 22057383, 3735096, 10.1038/aja.2011.112, If reproduced in humans, this could potentially enable infertile men to father children with their own sperm.WEB, James G,weblink Sperm Grown In Laboratory In Fertility Breakthrough, Huffingtonpost.co.uk, 2012-01-03, 2012-08-26, NEWS,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120103013330weblink">weblink dead, 2012-01-03, London, The Daily Telegraph, Scientists grow sperm in laboratory dish, Health News, 2012-01-02, Researchers from Montana State University developed precursors of sperm from skin cells of infertile men.WEB,weblink Researchers made Sperm Cells from Skin of infertile men, 2014-05-08, NEWS, Press Association, New sperm creation method could overcome genetic male infertility – study,weblink 13 September 2017, The Guardian, 17 August 2017, WEB, Dr. Sherman J. Silber, A Modern Approach to Male Infertility,weblink The Infertility Center of St. Louis, 13 September 2017, Sharpe et al. comment on the success of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in women saying, "[t]hus, the woman carries the treatment burden for male infertility, a fairly unique scenario in medical practice. Ironically, ICSI's success has effectively diverted attention from identifying what causes male infertility and focused research onto the female, to optimize the provision of eggs and a receptive endometrium, on which ICSI's success depends."JOURNAL, Barratt, Christopher L.R., De Jonge, Christopher J., Sharpe, Richard M., 'Man Up': the importance and strategy for placing male reproductive health centre stage in the political and research agenda, Human Reproduction (journal), Human Reproduction, 33, 4, 541–545, Oxford University Press, 10.1093/humrep/dey020, 29425298, 5989613, 7 February 2018, NEWS, Knapton, Sarah, IVF to fix male infertility 'infringes human rights of women' argue scientists,weblink The Daily Telegraph, The Telegraph, 6 March 2018, 7 March 2018,

Prevalence

Currently, there are no solid numbers on how many couples worldwide experience infertility, but the World Health Organization estimates between 60 and 80 million couples are affected. The population in different regions have varying amounts of infertility.Starting in the late 20th century, scientists have expressed concerns about the declining semen quality in men. A study was done in 1992 with men who had never experienced infertility showed that the amount of sperm in semen had declined by 1% per year since 1938.JOURNAL, Menkveld, R., Van Zyl, J. A., Kotze, T. J. W., Joubert, G., Possible Changes in Male Fertility Over a 15-Year Period, Archives of Andrology, January 1986, 17, 2, 143–144, 10.3109/01485018608990186, 3827388, free, JOURNAL, Murature, Domingo A., Tang, S. Y., Steinhardt, George, Dougherty, Ralph C., Phthalate esters and semen quality parameters, Biological Mass Spectrometry, August 1987, 14, 8, 473–477, 10.1002/bms.1200140815, 2957007, Further research a few years later also confirmed the decline in sperm count and also seminal volume.JOURNAL, Carlsen, E., Giwercman, A., Keiding, N., Skakkebaek, N. E., Evidence for decreasing quality of semen during past 50 years., BMJ, 12 September 1992, 305, 6854, 609–613, 10.1136/bmj.305.6854.609, 1393072, 1883354, Various studies in Finland, Southern Tunisia, and Argentina also showed a decline in sperm count, motility, morphology, and seminal volume.Males from India had a 30.3% decline in sperm count, 22.9% decline in sperm motility, and a 51% decrease in morphology over a span of a decade. Doctors in India disclosed that the sperm count of a fertile Indian male had decreased by a third over a span of three decades.JOURNAL, Sengupta, Pallav, Challenge of infertility: How protective the yoga therapy is?, Ancient Science of Life, 2012, 32, 1, 61–62, 10.4103/0257-7941.113796, 23929997, 3733210, free, Some factors may include exposure to high temperatures at places such as factories. A 1 degree increase in temperature will reduce 14% of spermatogenesis.NEWS,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161023042800weblink">weblink dead, October 23, 2016, Male and Female Infertility Just Keeps on 'Rising', The New Indian Express, 2018-11-21, Researchers in Calcutta conducted a study between 1981 and 1985 that also showed a decrease in sperm motility and seminal volume, but no change in sperm concentration.JOURNAL, Mukhopadhyay, Dyutiman, Varghese, Alex C., Pal, Manisha, Banerjee, Sudip K., Bhattacharyya, Asok K., Sharma, Rakesh K., Agarwal, Ashok, Semen quality and age-specific changes: a study between two decades on 3,729 male partners of couples with normal sperm count and attending an andrology laboratory for infertility-related problems in an Indian city, Fertility and Sterility, May 2010, 93, 7, 2247–2254, 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.01.135, 19328484, free,

Society and culture

There are a variety of social stigmas that surround male infertility throughout the world. The condition and its effects on both men and women is the topic for example of the novel set in Nigeria entitled, The Secret Lives of Baba Segin's Wives. A lot of research has pointed to the relationship between infertility and emasculation.JOURNAL, Moyo, Stanzia, Indigenous knowledge systems and attitudes towards male infertility in Mhondoro-Ngezi, Zimbabwe, Culture, Health & Sexuality, June 2013, 15, 6, 667–679, 10.1080/13691058.2013.779029, 23550631, 5142492, JOURNAL, Inhorn, Marcia C., Middle Eastern Masculinities in the Age of New Reproductive Technologies: Male Infertility and Stigma in Egypt and Lebanon, Medical Anthropology Quarterly, June 2004, 18, 2, 162–182, 10.1525/maq.2004.18.2.162, 15272802, free, JOURNAL, Serour, G.I., Medical and socio-cultural aspects of infertility in the Middle East, ESHRE Monographs, 1 July 2008, 2008, 1, 34–41, 10.1093/humrep/den143, free, This association has led to infertility being less studied and diagnosed in men over time.JOURNAL, Bajeux, Camille, 2020-11-17, Managing masculinities. Doctors, men, and men's partners facing male infertility in France and French-speaking Switzerland (c. 1890–1970),weblink NORMA, 15, 3–4, 235–250, 10.1080/18902138.2020.1805887, 225234992, 1890-2138, In places like Egypt, Zimbabwe, and Mexico,JOURNAL, Inhorn, Marcia C., Wentzell, Emily A., Embodying emergent masculinities: Men engaging with reproductive and sexual health technologies in the Middle East and Mexico, American Ethnologist, November 2011, 38, 4, 801–815, 10.1111/j.1548-1425.2011.01338.x, erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is considered a determinant of infertility. When stereotypical ideals of manhood are virility and strength, men sharing problems of infertility can face feelings of inadequacy, unworthiness, and have thoughts of suicide.JOURNAL, Smith, James F., Walsh, Thomas J., Shindel, Alan W., Turek, Paul J., Wing, Holly, Pasch, Lauri, Katz, Patricia P., Infertility Outcomes Program Project Group, Sexual, Marital, and Social Impact of a Man's Perceived Infertility Diagnosis, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, September 2009, 6, 9, 2505–2515, 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01383.x, 19619144, 2888139, In many cases, a variety of socio-economic interventions come in play to determine penile activity. For the Shona people, since impotence is linked to infertility, an examination to check on the penile function spans from infancy to post marriage. At infancy, there are daily check-ups by the mothers on the son's erection and urine quality. When the son reaches puberty, they are asked to ejaculate in river banks and for their male elders to examine sperm quality. The traditions last until post-marriage, when the family of the bride take part to check on consummation and the groom's sperm quality.

Crisis

{{excerpt|Male infertility crisis}}

See also

• Female infertility
• Fertility preservation
• Fertility testing
• Infertility
• Male accessory gland infection (MAGI)
• Meiosis
• Oncofertility
• Paternal age effect
• Spermatogenesis
• Sterility
• Vasectomy

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Medical resources| DiseasesDB = 7772N40}}606}}| ICDO = | OMIM = | MedlinePlus = 001191| eMedicineSubj = med| eMedicineTopic = 3535med|1167}}| MeshID = D007248}}{{Male diseases of the pelvis and genitals}}{{Assisted reproductive technology}}{{Authority control}}