Male infertility: causes
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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[The main causes of male infertility:
- Varikotsele.
- Infectious and inflammatory diseases of male genital organs.
- Patozoospermia of unknown cause.
- Isolated disorders of seminal fluid.
- Immunological infertility.
- Congenital malformations (cryptorchidism, monarchism, hypospadias, epispadias, etc.).
- Systemic diseases (tuberculosis, cirrhosis of the liver, chronic renal failure, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, infectious parotitis complicated by orchitis, diseases of the nervous system, etc.).
- Surgical interventions for inguinal hernia, hydrocele, urethral stricture, bladder surgery, sympathectomy, etc.
- Some types of therapeutic treatment: radiation, hormonal and chemotherapy, the use of tranquilizers and antihypertensive drugs, sulfonamides, nitrofuran derivatives, drugs.
- Sexual disorders.
- Violations of ejaculation.
- Obstructive azoospermia.
- Necrosis osmosis.
- Endocrine forms of infertility:
- hypergonadotropic hypogonadism (primary);
- hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (secondary);
- normogonadotropic hypogonadism;
- hyperprolactinemia;
- testosterone-deficient conditions.
Additional causes of male infertility:
- Habitual intoxication: alcohol abuse and smoking.
- Occupational hazards: contact with organic and inorganic substances, exposure to ionizing radiation.
- Thermal factor: work under conditions of high and low temperatures, prolonged febrile state with an increase in body temperature over 38 C.
- Injury of scrotum organs.
- Psychological infertility (conflict situations in interpersonal relationships).
- Alment factor.
There may be a temporary decline in fertility after operations with prolonged anesthesia, as well as after scrotal injuries, if they are accompanied by tissue damage, hematoma of the scrotum, hemospermia, or hematuria. Serious injury of the testicles can cause damage in the hematotestick barrier and lead to the formation of antisperm antibodies, as well as with obturation of the vas deferens.
The chronic effects of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury) and other substances (pesticides, herbicides, etc.) are also the causes of male infertility. The effect of alcohol on infertility in men is not noted by all specialists. It is proved that cigarette smoking causes the development of pathoospermia.