Male Infertility Symptoms

by | Jul 10, 2015

Infertility

Infertility is a huge problem for couples trying to conceive, and often it is just as likely to be an issue with the man as it is with the woman. Infertility affects millions of men in the United States and can manifest itself through symptoms, or symptoms may be absent while a problem still remains. What are some of the symptoms that can indicate an issue with fertility for men?

Inability to Conceive

If you’re trying to conceive with your partner and have been having over a year of unprotected sex, especially sex that is properly timed around a woman’s ovulation, this can indicate a problem with your fertility or your partner’s. It is likely to be a combination of both. There are several medical tests that you can get done to determine if there is a problem with your sperm including semen analyses and genetic and hormonal tests. You and your doctor will be able to review the results of these tests to determine if there’s a problem and what you can do about it.

Pain in Testicular Area

Pain is never a good thing and is usually your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. If you have swelling or pain in your scrotum, this could be an indication that you’re having issues with fertility. These symptoms may also come from a surgery you’ve had in the past or an infection, including sexually transmitted diseases. If you’re experiencing any type of pain down there, it’s best to get checked out by your doctor, especially if you are trying to conceive.

Sexual Problems

Sexual issues such as trouble ejaculating or painful ejaculation, decreased desire for sex, or problems getting or maintaining an erection such as erectile dysfunction could all potentially indicate a problem with infertility. These symptoms could have causes such as any medications you’re taking, excess heat to the testicular area, testicular cancer, twisting of the testicle, or even hormone-related issues, but they all could still point to a problem with your fertility. Any problems related to your sexual health should be evaluated by your doctor.

Low Sperm Count

A sperm count between twenty to forty million per ejaculate is normal, but less than that and you’ve got a problem with fertility. This could mean that your testes have an issue producing sperm, or it could mean there’s an issue with the transportation of the sperm. Either of these problems will affect your fertility and there could be another issue going on, such as varicocele, an abnormal dilation of the veins in the scrotum. Having a sperm analysis performed by your doctor can determine what your sperm count is, and if it’s low, you can discuss how to get at the root of the problem and what your treatment options are.

Infertility is a challenging issue for many men, but there are things you can do to help increase your fertility. Keeping a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, and exercising can all help your fertility to remain at its best. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, visit your doctor to discuss your fertility.