We have known about women not being able to bear a child because of a medical condition known as infertility. Infertility doesn't only affect women but men as well. Most of the time when couples fail to bear a child it is the woman that is always suspected of being infertile. However, the best way to deal with it is to have the couple undergo some tests.

In cases when the woman passed the evaluation for infertility it is usually the man that is suspected of such a condition. The real causes of male infertility can be multi-factorial. Some men are infertile by birth while some ended up infertile due to some other causes.

1. Risk Factors and Causes

The reasons why some men are infertile are very varied. Some of the risk factors and causes are the following:

Hormonal Imbalance

Some hormones that are needed in order to produce a healthy sperm are missing or inadequate which results to a poorly developed sperm.

Congenital Malformation

This happens when any part of the male reproductive system is not properly formed examples of which are:

• Hypospadias or epispadias

This is the case where the urinary opening is misplaced.

• Undescended Testicles

This is a condition where the testes fail to descend to the scrotum exposing them to high internal temperatures which results to poor sperm production.

• Varicocele

This happens when a vein in the scrotum is swollen preventing the normal cooling process inside the sac which in turn tends to a decrease in the number of sperm cells in the semen.

• Blocked Vas Deferens

The vas deferens is the tube that leads from the testes and out to the penis. This is where the sperm cells passes during ejaculation. In cases where this area is blocked, the sperm cells cannot go out and are stucked inside.

Lifestyle

We all know how men tend to slack on the way they live life and we are greatly aware about their tendencies to smoke and drink beyond normal proportions. Some of the activities these men do can somehow affect their fertility and examples of which are the following:

• Emotional Stress

Who says men aren't emotional? Men can be emotional too. The difference is that they prefer to keep it to themselves. Subjecting him to extreme emotional stress can affect some of the hormones needed to properly produce sperm.

• Excessive drinking and illicit drugs

Drugs and alcohol when combined can be lethal. Alcohol can greatly affect a man's fertility especially when taken in huge volumes. While some drugs can cause the testicles to reduce in size or decrease the number of sperms, others cause them to become sluggish.

• Exposure to increased temperatures

Increased temperatures can greatly affect your sperm count. Ways of exposing the testicles to high temperatures are frequent sauna baths, hot tubs and wearing of tight clothing such as cycling shorts.

2. Evaluation or Tests

It is hard to determine whether a man is capable of producing an offspring or not so in order to keep things in a clear perspective there are certain tests that will evaluate a man's capacity to reproduce.

Semen analysis

This is the most important test a male has to undergo. In this type of test a semen sample is obtained and then analyzed for various characteristics. Some of these characteristics include the sperm cell's shape, motility and number. The lab technicians will also test the semen for other abnormalities.

Family History and Physical Exam

Before any test, the physician might ask a complete medical history from the male partner which includes family history as well. With a detailed history, the physician might be able to trace the root of the problem because genes also play a role in male infertility.

If the man is subjected to a physical exam the doctor will usually examine him for any congenital anomalies especially in his reproductive system like the testicles and the penis. Any malformations in these parts may contribute to the condition at hand.

3. Treatments

The method of treating male infertility will actually depend on the cause. In the case of congenital malformations a surgical procedure to correct it is the usual solution. When hormonal imbalance is involved, then he will be most likely subjected to a hormone therapy session. For problems in relation to intercourse such as erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation these problems are usually dealt with counseling and medications.

Male infertility can be temporary or permanent but either way the best way to deal with this condition is to consult a physician. Health professionals can help you in dealing with the condition plus they will also be able to answer your questions.