Causes of male infertility

Causes of male infertility

There are various causes of male infertility, and this list is not exhaustive.

Here are a few examples:

  • low production (oligospermia) or total absence (azoospermia) of spermatozoa in the semen
  • lack of testicular production
  • obstruction of the ducts that allow sperm to be expelled
  • sperm malformation (teratospermia)
  • lack of sperm mobility (asthenospermia)
  • premature ejaculation before vaginal penetration
  • retrograde ejaculation, which sends sperm into the bladder
  • cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy
  • sexually transmitted diseases
  • a man's age is also an important factor, although to a lesser extent than a woman's
  • a genetic disease such as Klinefelter syndrome
  • hypothalamo-pituitary/hypophyseal pathologies
  • urogenital infections 
  • exposure of the testicles to extreme heat