Male Infertility

This article will mostly be not me. It is some excerpts I found that I felt would be important information about infertility my readers should be informed on – and may help alleviate some stress and concern of any couples that may be struggling to have a child.

“Infertility is generally defined as the inability to conceive a baby after 12 months of unprotected sex. Infertility affects about 15 percent of all couples.

~ Mosher and Pratt, 1991

Infertility is attributable about equally to problems in males and females; each sex independently accounts for about 40 percent of cases.

…20 percent of infertile couples are diagnosed as having idiopathic infertility…this means that doctors simply don’t know what’s wrong.

Male infertility often results from sluggish sperm or a low sperm count. Chemical pollutants might play a major role in male infertility.

Other possible causes of low sperm counts include injury to the testicles or scrotum, infections such as mumps in adulthood, testicular varicose veins..., undescended testes (testes descend normally at the eighth month in the womb), endocrine disorders, drugs and even some prescription medications.

Here are some chemical and environmental factors affecting male infertility

Risk Factors                                                             Effects

Lead, used in making storage batteries and paints	Fewer sperm, sperm that move more  slowly than normal, and more abnormally shaped sperm.
Ionizing radiation, found in nuclear plants and medical facilities, and nonionizing radiation in high-voltage switchyards and communication facilities.	Possible damage to sperm cells and lowered fertility.
Anesthetic gases	Unexposed female partners may  have higher than normal number of  miscarriages.
Pesticides like kepone and carbon disulfide used in the manufacture of viscose rayon and a fumigant.	Possible loss of sex drive, impotence abnormal sperm, lowered sperm count.
Heat stress, found in foundries, smelters, bakeries, and farm work.	Lowered sperm counts and sterility
Estrogen, used in the manufacture of oral contraceptives.	Possible loss of sex drive, abnormal sperm, lowered sperm counts.
Methylene chloride, used as a solvent in paint and strippers.	Possible very low sperm counts and shrunken testicles.
Ethylene dibromide, used as an ingredient in leaded gasoline and as fumigant of tropical fruit for export.	Possible lower sperm count and workers.

Source: based on Kenen, 1993: 40-41” [i]

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[i] Benokraitis, Nijole V., Marriages and Families, 5^th ed. (2005,302 – 305)