According to the Mayo Clinic, almost 15 percent of couples are suffering from infertility. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/male-infertility/DS01038 A couple is categorized as infertile when they fail to conceive a child in spite of having regular, unprotected sexual intercourse for a period of one year or more (or six months if over the age of 35).http://www.babycenter.com/0_common-causes-of-fertility-problems-in-men_1228908.bc?page=1 The primary causes of male infertility are: immobile sperm, reduced production of sperm and blockages that stop proper deliver of sperm. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/male-infertility/DS01038

To produce healthy sperm, at least one of the testicles of a man must function well and the man’s body must produce testosterone and other hormones for sufficient sperm production.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/male-infertility/DS01038/DSECTION=causes Most commonly, an infertile man either produces no sperm cells (azoospermia) or few sperm cells (oligospermia).http://www.americanpregnancy.org/infertility/whatisinfertility.html There are tests that can determine sperm concentration and fertilizing potential, as well as tests that search for anti-sperm antibodies the body might be producing which affect fertility.http://medicine.yale.edu/obgyn/yfc/services/male.aspx

Generally, male infertility is thought to stem from the amount of healthy, normally shaped sperm a man has as well as their ability to move towards the egg. http://www.reproductivefacts.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/Resources/Patient_Resources/Fact_Sheets_and_Info_Booklets/SpermShape.pdf While age is not a predictor of male fertility, men can have a decrease in fertility due to tubes that carry the sperm becoming less elastic (called sclerosis) and many of the sexual functions including sperm production, erectile function and testosterone production may slowly decline as they age. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/004017.htm Hormonal imbalances like a lack of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone or luteinizing hormone also routinely cause male infertility. http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_causes_of_male_infertility_000067_4.htm Another common problem for men is called Varicocele, or enlarged veins in the scrotum that cause an increase of temperature in the testes that affects sperm production. http://www.babycenter.com/0_common-causes-of-fertility-problems-in-men_1228908.bc In some cases, genetic abnormalities like DNA fragmentation and chromosomal defects affect male fertility. http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_causes_of_male_infertility_000067_4.htm

Couples generally do fertility testing together, and can start with home screening kits which are available for men and women.http://www.americanpregnancy.org/infertility/whatisinfertility.html First the physician will ask both partners for a history of information that could affect fertility including information about sexual intercourse, childhood diseases, medications and family history of reproductive issues. http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_causes_of_male_infertility_000067_4.htm A physical examination helps check on the health of the scrotum, testes, penis and prostate gland for abnormalities, swelling, cysts and other problems that could affect fertility. http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_causes_of_male_infertility_000067_4.htm

After initial physical examinations, a urologist will collect semen from the male partner and analyze the sperm for the number of sperm (called the sperm count) and the movement of the sperm (called the sperm motility). http://www.reproductivefacts.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/Resources/Patient_Resources/Fact_Sheets_and_Info_Booklets/SpermShape.pdf The sperm is also analyzed for low levels of inhibin B which may point to blockages in the testes as well as low levels of alpha-glucosidase which could indicate a blockage in the epidymis and white blood cells which could point to an infection. http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_causes_of_male_infertility_000067_4.htm A blood test might also be used to help diagnose hormonal imbalances. http://www.reproductivefacts.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/Resources/Patient_Resources/Fact_Sheets_and_Info_Booklets/Testing_Male-Fact.pdf

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