You can only definitively know if a man is infertile through medical testing, primarily a semen analysis, but potential signs include trouble conceiving after a year (or 6 months if partner over 35), low semen volume, sexual function issues (ED, low libido), testicular pain/lumps, or signs of hormonal imbalance like reduced body hair, notes Mayo Clinic, Better Health Channel, Cleveland Clinic, and Repromed Fertility Specialists,. A doctor will conduct a physical exam, medical history review, and may order blood tests, ultrasounds, or other specialized tests, as infertility often has no obvious symptoms, say Mayo Clinic, Healthy Male,.
Below are some of the most common signs of infertility in men and what they may indicate.
The simplest test you can do to assess male fertility is a semen analysis or a sperm test. A semen analysis test when done right will give you more than adequate information on your sperm count, sperm motility, shape and semen volume. However, sometimes, you may not be in a situation where you want to do a sperm test.
Sometimes, male infertility can be associated with a low production of testosterone from the testicles. In this case, symptoms such as tiredness, impotence, depression, weight gain and apathy may occur.
Signs of Unhealthy Sperm
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A complete lack of sperm occurs in about 10% to 15% of men who are infertile. A hormone imbalance or blockage of sperm movement can cause a lack of sperm. In some cases of infertility, a man produces less sperm than normal. The most common cause of this condition is varicocele, an enlarged vein in the testicle.
The main symptom of infertility is the inability to get pregnant. A menstrual cycle that's too long (35 days or more), too short (less than 21 days), irregular or absent can mean that you're not ovulating. There might be no other signs or symptoms.
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The 7468 samples that had abnormal characteristics showed a similar pattern. For these samples, sperm concentration was found to be highest when the sample was collected between 5:00am and 7:30am. Sperm movement was best in samples produced between 8:31am and 10:00am.
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Male Fertility Facts
Medical therapies can be very effective for men with certain causes of infertility, such as hormonal abnormalities. For men with low testosterone, a number of medications, such as clomiphene citrate, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and anastrozole, can help to boost the body's natural production of testosterone.
Health, lifestyle and other causes
Signs and symptoms you may notice include:
A woman's peak reproductive years are between the late teens and late 20s. By age 30, fertility (the ability to get pregnant) starts to decline. This decline happens faster once you reach your mid-30s. By 45, fertility has declined so much that getting pregnant naturally is unlikely.
Give yourself an extra fertility boost by upping your intake of these foods:
You may be more likely to have male infertility if you have had: Past inflammation of the prostate or past genital infections. Injury to or twisting (torsion) of the testicles. Early or late puberty.
Sperm can be misshaped based on the size of the head, having an extra head, and having no head or tail. Other sperm defects include bent tail, coiled-tail, stump-tail and not having the tail attached at the correct location.
While a man with zero sperm count cannot achieve pregnancy through natural conception, there are still advanced reproductive technologies and treatments that can offer alternative paths to fatherhood, depending on the underlying cause of the condition.
Things you can do if you have a low sperm count
Infertility can feel alienating for a couple and for each individual partner. In reality, it affects many couples—about one in six couple in the United States. And it's not just a woman's issue. On average, 15% of men experience infertility.
Drinking orange or grapefruit juice that contains 100 percent fruit juice can provide the same benefits as consuming these fruits directly. For those who do not prefer drinking juice, adding fresh lemon juice to their water can also be an effective way to increase sperm count.