Silvia Azaña, embryologist at inviTRA, tells us in this video the main causes of infertility in men:
As for male infertility, there are different potential factors that can produce it. We can talk about pre-testicular factors, testicular factors, post-testicular factors, and sperm factors.
The pre-testicular factor is due to hormonal alterations. An inadequate hormonal control in the male can cause serious alterations in testicular development, also in the seminiferous tubules, in spermatogenesis (the process of sperm production), and in the male reproductive system. To properly detect a hormonal cause of male infertility, a specific hormonal blood test would need to be performed.
The testicular factor relates to any issue within the testicles, whether it is congenital or acquired. The congenital defects are usually due to a genetic abnormality, such as Kleinfelter syndrome. The acquired defects can actually be due to various medications, drugs, severe infections and various traumas, conditions like varicocele, orchitis...
The post-testicular factor is caused by changes or issues in the seminal ducts. The seminal pathways are the ducts that sperm must travel through to exit to the outside once they are produced in the testicles. The epidmus, the deferent ducts and the urethra. In this case, infertility may be due to infections, blockages or serious physical injuries that prevent sperm from being released during the process of ejaculation.
Finally, the sperm factor, which is the most common cause of male infertility. It is actually caused by problems with the sperm cells. The most common alterations concerning the sperm cells are the following: Oligospermia, low quantity of sperm cells. Asthenospermia, low level of movement in the sperm. Teratospermia, an elevated quantity of sperm cells with an abnormal shape. Necrospermia, an elevated quantity of dead sperm cells. Azoospermia, a complete absence of sperm cells in the ejaculate. In order to evaluate a sperm problem, a semen analysis (which is known as seminogram) must be performed.
