What is infertility?

Infertility is defined as the inability to achieve conception after 1 year of regular intercourse without using contraception. When the cause is due to a male medical condition, infertility is called male infertility.

What are the causes of male infertility?

The most common endocrinopathies are:

• Kallmann syndrome
• Prader Willi and Laurence-Moon-Bield syndromes
• Pituitary adenoma
• Hypothalamic-Pituitary diseases
• Klinefelter’s syndrome
• Cryptorchidism
• Disorders of androgen action
• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism
• Obesity
• Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
• Addison’s disease
• Cushing’s syndrome
• Testicular cancer
• Medicines
• Alcohol abuse, Tobacco smoking
• Opioids, Marijuana
• Environmental Toxins
• Systemic disease

How is male infertility diagnosed?

Male infertility is diagnosed through history, physical examination, hormonal tests, semen analysis and imaging studies.

How is male infertility treated?

The treatment of male infertility depends on the cause. Treatment of the underlying disease that causes male infertility may result in improved fertility. Induction and stimulation of spermatogenesis is done by gonadotropins, while the use of assisted reproduction may be effective in men who may have small pockets of sperm on histological examination.