What causes male factor infertility?

The main causes of male infertility can be divided into the following categories:

Sperm disorders

Problems with the production and maturation of sperm are the most common causes of male infertility. Sperm may be immature, abnormally shaped, or unable to move properly. Alternatively, normal sperm may be produced in abnormally low numbers (oligospermia) or seemingly not at all (azoospermia). This problem may be caused by many different conditions including the following:

• infectious diseases or inflammatory conditions such as the mumps virus
• endocrine or hormonal disorders such as Kallman's syndrome or a pituitary problem
• immunological disorders in which some men produce antibodies to their own sperm
• environmental and lifestyle factors
• genetic diseases (most are associated with sperm abnormalities, either directly or indirectly):

- cystic fibrosis

- Noonan syndrome

- myotonic dystrophy

- hemochromatosis

- sex reversal syndrome

It is important to understand that men who have genetic problems which cause infertility, such as a deletion in the Y chromosome, can pass this problem to their sons, who in turn could experience infertility, if they elect to use their own sperm in achieving a pregnancy.

Anatomical abnormalities

Obstructions of the genital tract can cause infertility by partially or totally blocking the flow of seminal fluid.

• immotile cilia syndrome - mitochondrial deletions - mitochondria are structures in the cell responsible for energy production. There are actually a set of genes in the mitochondria, separate from the normal chromosome set contained in the nucleus. Liver disease, renal disease or treatment for seizure disorders.
• other factors - other factors may arise from the defective delivery of sperm into the female genital tract, which could be caused by impotence or premature ejaculation.