Infertility is often assumed to be a "women's issue," but male-factor infertility contributes to nearly half of all cases. Understanding the causes is the first step toward effective treatment.
Common Causes
- Low sperm count or poor sperm motility
- Abnormal sperm shape (morphology)
- Varicocele — enlarged veins in the scrotum
- Hormonal imbalances
- Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol, and excessive heat exposure
Treatment Options
Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may include lifestyle changes, medication, surgical correction, or assisted reproductive techniques such as ICSI, where a single healthy sperm is injected directly into an egg. In cases of very low sperm counts, procedures like Micro-TESE can retrieve viable sperm directly from testicular tissue.
A simple semen analysis is often the first step — don't hesitate to get tested alongside your partner.
