Male Infertility

Approximately 15 percent of couples are infertile. This means they aren't able to conceive a child even though they've had frequent, unprotected sexual intercourse for a year or longer. In about half of these couples, male infertility plays a role. Male infertility is commonly due to deficiencies in the Sperm, and semen quality is used as a surrogate measure of male fecundity.

Causes of Male Infertility

Physical

• Varicocele (dilated veins in the scrotum)
• Infectious disease of the urogenital tract; benign prostatic hypertrophy (enlargement)
• Undecsended testis/testes
• Congenital abnormalities
• Overheating of the testicles
• Injuries
• Bad hygiene and low exercise regimen
• Stress, anxiety, and exhaustion

Functional

• Inadequate sperm production by the testes
  • Poor sperm motility
  • Endocrine(glandular) diseases affecting the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, adrenals and the testes (e.g. low DHEA and low testosterone levels)

Environmental and Nutritional

• Excessive estrogen
• Environmental toxins
• Malnutrition, especially protein deficiency
• Food that decrease sperm quality

How to Eliminate the Male Infertility Causes?

Physical

• Varicocelectomy (removal / ligation of varicocele) will overtime decrease the pressure and heat to the testicles and improve sperm quality
• Infectious diseases should be diagnosed and treated appropriately in order to prevent damages to the reproductive organs
• Undecsended testes can be operated and the testicle replaced in the scrotum which may improve sperm quality over time
• Decrease heat by wearing loose, cotton boxer shorts. Sleep without underwear so that your testicles stay cooler. Avoid hot baths and saunas.
• Wear a jockstrap or protective cup when you play sports.
• According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, regular exercise (five times a week for at least 45 minutes) and a healthy diet can reduce male infertility and enhance fertility by keeping body weight at normal levels and relieving stress and anxiety.
• Take a vacation, relax, and let your body find its regular rhythm and come back to its normal functioning.

Functional

• Inadequate sperm production or motility may be due to one or the other factors discussed here.
• Endocrine system issues should be assessed by an specialist.

Environmental and Nutritional

• Avoid foods that contain excess estrogen (soy and other by products) or hormones (non-natural, hormone treated meat and produce)
• Avoid plastic containers for food storage, plastic bottles, wraps and utensils
• Use only non-bleached products
• Avoid chlorinated tap water
• Avoid pesticides and herbicides; eat organic food as much as possible
• Avoid synthetic deodorants and cosmetics
• Avoid animal products with a high fat content that contain hormones
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
• Avoid fried, charcoal-broiled or barbecued forms of cooking
• Eat a healthy diet and take supplements for improved fertility

In the same way that wrong diet and supplements can ruin your fertility and cause male infertility, the right diet and supplementation may help to dramatically improve your fertility and recover from male infertility. In general, diets rich on fruit and vegetables, healthy natural protein sources such as meat, chicken, and fish, low on nasty fats, carbonated sodas, and refined sugar products are good for your overall health. Avoiding smoking, coffee, cola, and alcohol is also important for male fertility.If you are planning to become a father, a diet consisting of plenty of whole grains, starchy food, some protein (lean meat, chicken, and fish), some low-fat dairy products, and plenty of fruit and vegetables are the right choice for you to help you avoid male infertility.