For a long time, the causes of infertility and getting pregnant have been considered to be the fault of the woman, even if she has been the one trying to solve the infertility issue. When a woman is not able to get pregnant, she is usually the first one to seek treatment for a cause. For some reason, our culture usually puts these issues more on the shoulders of the women than the men. This then causes women to try and seek out a correction to whatever is wrong. However, when this happens, it can be awhile before the male partner is taken into consideration as a cause of the infertility. It is estimated that male infertility accounts for the inability to conceive in about 50% of the cases.

There are many explanations for male infertility. They can be anything from lifestyle and family history to medical issues or testicular injuries. Some common problems associated with male fertility are hypogonadism and varicocele or azoopermia, which can typically be treated depending on the severity. Studies show males who smoke cigarettes or marijuana or consume large amounts of alcohol tend to have reduced sperm counts and a lower quality of sperm.

Another study suggests that males who have taken certain antidepressant drugs had lower sperm counts as well. There are also other studies that have linked obesity with reduced or lower sperm counts. Issues with family history can also cause infertility. Yet another family related cause may be the use of certain medicines or drugs by the effected male’s mother during her pregnancy with him. Some studies point towards environmental exposures, such as radiation exposure or excessive heat, as playing a role in reproductive health.

If corrections are needed, then the good news is that there are many surgical procedures and medications available to help with complications of infertility and trying to conceive. The male partner will usually be examined by a specialist and/or a urologist as well. The doctor will want to test the quality of the man’s sperm to determine the sperm count and the rate of mobility. If there is some sort of a blockage, then that has a good chance of it being treated and fixed. In the case where sperm is not abundant in the semen, the doctor can actually go into the tubes and retrieve sperm through a medical procedure. There are other causes as well, but most can be solved with the use of fertility drugs.

The male factor in the infertility issue is something that has come to the forefront in medical technology and awareness. No longer are women the ones who are thought of as being the reason why she can’t get pregnant. Infertility and men are invading the consciousness of society and medical science and the good news about this is that it is helping couples to live happier, as well as opening up more options for treatment. When the men and women take on infertility issues together, they have a greater chance to correct any problems and move on to having a happy and healthy pregnancy.