Causes of Male Infertility

Abstract

Infertility is a global health problem and is defined as an inability to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular unpro-tected sexual intercourse. The global incidence of infertility is approximately 8–12%, and half of these patients seek medical help for the condition. The use of assisted reproduction technology (ART) has been increasingly used worldwide, and advances in ART have enabled many couples to overcome infertility. Infertility can be related to female infertility, male infertility, a combination of the two or unexplained factors. Male infertility constitutes nearly half of all instances of infertility and affects approximately 7% of the male population. The initial evaluation of male infertility includes obtaining a detailed medical history, a physical examination, an endocrine assessment and semen analysis. Male infertility can be due to hormonal imbalances, genetic problems, physical causes, environmental lifestyle factors or psychological or behavioural factors. Also, advanced male age may affect the quality of sperm, which can lead to male infertility. In conclusion, the causes of male infertility are multifarious. The evaluation and management of male infertility during infertility treatment are of the utmost importance for couples.