Male infertility means that male is unable to make fertile women conceive even after multiple tries. Male Factor infertility is less sperm concentration or motility in the semen. This happens in half of the infertile male and seven percent of the total males.

Male factor infertility also describes men with normal sperm production but conditions that prevent sperm transport to the vagina during intercourse (e.g. reproductive tract obstruction or ejaculatory dysfunction). Male infertility is ordinarily due to deficiencies in the semen.

Male Infertility in India

Fertility doctors have reported that over 12–18 million couples in India are diagnosed with infertility every year. In their medical research, they have reported that sperm count of an average male today is 20 million per ml in semen, compared to 60 million per ml three decades back. Males who are exposed to high temperatures in their workplace like welders, blast furnace workers, dryers and cement & steel industries are more likely to get infertile. This is due to excessive environmental heat which increases the temperature of the scrotum, harming sperm production.

Proven measures to increase sperm mortality.

Male Infertility is getting more common these days, and the main reason is their lifestyle. The following is the list which will provide some simple and scientifically supported measures for increasing your sperm quality. 

  • Eat right - Leave meat and stock up on vegetables, it is difficult to understand the exact impacts of overall food intake, but a diet including lean meats, vegetables, legumes, and grains seems to improve sperm motility.

  • Maintain the right weight- As in women, so for men, obesity and overweight might burst your bubble of having a child.

  • Reduce stress- Stress is one of the major causes of infertility as it leads to a release of such hormones which decreases sperm concentration. The stress you are feeling because of infertility is, in turn, making your infertility worse.

  • Get active- Although the link between physical fitness and sperm quality has not been proven, being physically active will prevent obesity, which is certainly linked. Exercise also helps to relieve stress, so it's worth getting sweaty. Cycling for just 5 hours per week could do the trick.

  • Smoking- It's bad for your lungs as well as sperms. Smoking has proven to increase the chances of misshapen sperm and decrease their motility. 

  • Alcohol - Bad for your liver and now sperms too. The simple reason is that alcohol causes heat in our body. If the consumption is about 3-4 pegs every day then for sure testosterone production will decrease and in a year it can result in infertility along with other health complications.

  • Temperature - Keep your pubic region as much cool as possible, so avoid hot tubs, tight underwear, tight pants, etc. Hot temperatures can affect sperm production too.

  • Keep moving- Be it weight lifting, running, swimming, basketball or any sports activity that requires you to move around, do it. Get sweaty for a couple of times each week.

  • Relax - Frustration, unsatisfaction, fatigue and impaired immune compliments stress. Other than that rest and relax are required for better functioning of all body parts. In these modern times, a massage is a good option. Once a week for an hour or two, or five to seven hours in a month is good for relaxation. Otherwise, meditation and yoga can also do wonders. 

Treatments for Male Factor Infertility

There is a range of Assisted Reproductive Technologies with treatment options currently available for male factor infertility. These treatments may include:

  • Artificial insemination- As the sperm count is usually lowered in male infertility, so chances of a sperm reaching an egg is reduced. In this procedure involves the sperm is placed at the cervix or into the partner's uterus (bypassing cervix) so sperm can have direct access to the fallopian tubes.
  • IVF, GIFT and other related techniques- In vitro fertilization (IVF) and gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT) have been used for the treatment of male infertility. Even these two like insemination lets sperm reach an egg with ease.
  • Microsurgical fertilization (Like intracytoplasmic sperm injection)- Like IVF both egg and sperm are fertilized outside of the female's body but in it, a single sperm and cell are used and they are fertilized under the microscope.

Conclusion: Infertility ruins your dream of having a family and if certain harmful lifestyle practices are gone unnoticed then it will lead to regret only. Diagnosis and immediate treatment are crucial for a better outcome. To know more about the fertility problem, 'fertility doctors' might ask several questions regarding the family history, as well as several tests to find out what may be causing your infertility.