Many people have found difficulty in achieving pregnancy. Typically, the first reaction is to think that something is wrong with the female, but all too often there is a problem with the male. Most couples are not considered "infertile" until pregnancy has been attempted for at least one year to no avail. As much as 40% of infertility is male infertility-related. It is extremely important that both individuals see a doctor and have tests performed to determine what the contributing factors resulting in infertility might be. With men, there can be a wide variety of causes of infertility that can range from injuries to hormonal disorders to congenital disorders.

Varicoceles

One of the leading causes of male infertility are varicoceles. Basically, varicoceles are similar to varicose veins, except that they do not occur in the legs but in the scrotum. The veins become dilated due to a lack of proper drainage of blood from them. The extra blood pools in the scrotum, which, in turn, has a negative impact upon sperm production. Varicoceles are the most common reversible impetus of male infertility; they can be corrected surgically on an outpatient basis.

Ductual System Issues

This is usually when the ducts that would carry the sperm through the penis are missing or blocked. The ductal system, called the vas deferens, can be a congenital condition or there may be another cause. If the individual has both sides of the vas deferens blocked, it is called a bilateral blockage. This blockage can be in two different locations. It can be in the tubular structure that drains the testicles (called the epididymis), or in the vas deferens itself. Causes of blockage vary but could be due to a hernia or even scar tissue from an infection in the past. The ducts must be unblocked or repaired for the sperm to flow normally and cause pregnancy through the conventional method of insemination. If repair is not possible, it is still possible to have a normal pregnancy through harvesting the sperm and then using the sperm along with advanced reproductive techniques to achieve pregnancy.

Seminal Fluid Abnormalities

Seminal fluid, more commonly known as semen, can have abnormalities that can cause difficulties in achieving pregnancy. If it is too thick, it might not be able to move through a female's reproductive tract well enough to end in pregnancy. If this is the problem, a process called intrauterine insemination (IUI) can be used to achieve pregnancy.

Ejaculation and Erection

A small number of couples, around 5%, experience infertility due to issues arising from or related to sexual intercourse. It could be due to poor duration of erection, premature ejaculation, reverse or retrograde ejaculation, excessive masturbation, poor timing for fertility in intercourse, or lack of ejaculation. Many times, it is simply due to the infrequency of intercourse. Studies have shown that 5 out of 6 of those who have sex 4 times a week will become pregnant over a six month period, whereas only 1 out of 6 of those who have sex 1 time a week will become pregnant in the same time period.

There are any number of problems that can cause male infertility. If you are having problems, speak to your doctor and let him or her know your concerns. Your doctor will be able to help you in the next steps to achieving your goal of becoming pregnant.