When a couple has difficulty conceiving almost everyone, sadly, even some in the medical profession thinks it’s something to do with the female, but this is not always the case. The funny thing is, testing for male infertility is easy and cheap compared to some of the uncomfortable and sometimes painful procedures women go through to test for infertility.
So why not start with the men and rule out male factor infertility first? The way to encourage this as is to first understand male infertility – its causes, tests for and of course treatment if possible.
Some of the most common forms of male infertility are:
Varicocele
This little known condition is responsible for about 25 percent of infertility cases in men, although about 15-20 percent of men have the condition. Varicocele refers to the presence of varicose veins in the testicles. When these veins become blocked or twisted, they limit blood flow which is important for sperm production. Like with varicose veins in the legs, this interferes with blood flow to the testes and therefore stops or limits sperm production.
This condition is generally corrected by a surgical procedure, which can be done as an outpatient surgery. The varicose vein is cut and tied off and the success rate for pregnancy is extremely high.
Non-production of sperm
Some men do not produce sperm for various reasons. The most common cause is an injury to the reproductive organs. Hormonal problems can also result in non- production of sperm. The treatment used for some illnesses can also reduce or stop the production of sperm. Chemotherapy is one such treatment option that can result in sterility.
Illnesses
Some illnesses are responsible for a man’s inability to impregnate his partner. The most common illnesses that interfere with reproduction in men are diabetes and hypertension. These chronic illnesses can result in ED (erectile dysfunction) which means that sexual intercourse is almost impossible hence getting your partner pregnant will be difficult. ED in some cases depending on cause can be one of the easiest forms of male factor infertility to correct.
Infections
Sexually transmitted diseases not only impact a woman’s ability to conceive but can also result in sterility in men as well. Childhood diseases such as mumps can also result in low sperm count or infertility in men.In addition to these factors, there are other reasons for infertility, but in a small percentage of men there are no known causes that can be identified. Despite this, fatherhood can be achieved in other ways such as adoption.
I have received permission to tell the stories of two men who had one of the infertility issues listed above and who are now proud fathers – naturally.
Stages 
