Male Infertility: Dispelling the Myths and Embracing the Facts
Infertility is a deeply personal and often challenging journey for couples. For many years, conversations around infertility focused mainly on women, which has led to persistent misconceptions about male infertility.
As medical science has advanced, it is now clear that men contribute equally to a couple’s fertility potential. Understanding the facts about male infertility and correcting common myths is essential to reduce stigma, encourage open discussion, and promote timely diagnosis and treatment.
Raising awareness about male reproductive health helps both partners feel supported, seek proper evaluation, and access the right care at the right time.
Top Myths and Facts About Male Infertility
Myth 1: Only women are responsible for infertility
Fact: This is one of the most widespread and harmful myths. Male infertility contributes to nearly 40–50% of all infertility cases, either as the sole cause or as part of a combined factor, which means fertility is always a shared responsibility and both partners should be evaluated.
Myth 2: If a man can ejaculate, then he is fertile
Fact: Ejaculation alone does not guarantee fertility. Key semen parameters such as sperm count, motility (movement), and morphology (shape and structure) determine the ability to fertilise an egg. A man may have normal ejaculation but still have low count, poor motility, or abnormal sperm forms that impair fertility.
Myth 3: Lifestyle doesn’t affect sperm health
Fact: Lifestyle has a strong influence on sperm quality. Smoking, excessive alcohol use, recreational drugs, obesity, chronic stress, poor diet, and prolonged heat exposure can all reduce sperm production, damage sperm DNA, and negatively affect overall male fertility potential.
Myth 4: Age doesn’t affect male fertility
Fact: Although women experience a sharper decline in fertility with age, male fertility also decreases over time. Older men are more likely to have reduced sperm count and motility, higher rates of DNA fragmentation, and an increased risk of certain complications in pregnancy and offspring.
Myth 5: Infertility means you’re not masculine
Fact: Male infertility is a medical condition, not a measure of masculinity, virility, or sexual performance. Linking fertility to manhood can create unnecessary shame, silence, and delay in seeking expert help, even though many causes of male infertility are treatable or manageable.
What Causes Male Infertility?
Male infertility can arise from a range of medical, genetic, hormonal, and lifestyle-related factors, and often more than one issue is involved. Understanding the real causes helps guide the right investigations and treatments.
- Low sperm count (oligospermia): Fewer sperm than the normal reference range, which reduces the chance that enough sperm reach and fertilise the egg.
- Hormonal imbalance: Abnormal levels of hormones such as testosterone, FSH, and LH can interfere with normal sperm production and maturation.
- Varicocele: Enlarged veins within the scrotum that can raise testicular temperature and impair sperm production and quality.
- Testicular dysfunction: Problems directly affecting the testes, including undescended testes, trauma, infections, or certain genetic conditions, which compromise sperm production.
- Genetic factors: Chromosomal abnormalities (for example, Klinefelter syndrome) or specific gene mutations that disrupt normal development and function of sperm.
- Infections: Past or current infections of the reproductive tract, such as epididymitis or orchitis, which can damage sperm-producing tissue or block sperm transport.
Modern Treatments for Male Infertility
Advances in reproductive medicine now offer multiple effective options to manage and often overcome male infertility, depending on the underlying cause.
- Medicines: Used to treat infections or correct specific hormonal problems that negatively affect sperm production or function.
- Hormonal therapy: Tailored hormone treatments prescribed when imbalances in testosterone or other reproductive hormones are identified, supporting improved sperm production.
- Surgical sperm retrieval (TESE, PESA, MESA, etc.): In situations where sperm are not present in the ejaculate due to blockages or severe production issues, sperm can be retrieved directly from the testes or epididymis and used for IVF with ICSI.
Why Choose Yashoda IVF & Fertility?
For couples facing male infertility, selecting a centre with dedicated expertise in male reproductive health is crucial. Yashoda IVF & Fertility provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for a wide spectrum of male fertility problems.
- Advanced diagnostics: Detailed semen analysis, hormonal profiling, imaging, and genetic testing to accurately identify the cause of male infertility.
- Personalised treatment plans: Individualised protocols tailored to each patient’s diagnosis, lifestyle, and reproductive goals.
- Specialist team: Experienced urologists, andrologists, and fertility specialists who focus on male reproductive medicine and complex cases.
- Confidential and compassionate care: A supportive, discreet environment that respects the sensitive nature of infertility and encourages open communication.
Myths and Facts FAQs
What are early signs of male infertility?
Early signs may be subtle or absent, and many men notice no symptoms other than difficulty conceiving after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse. Possible indicators include reduced sexual desire, problems with erections or ejaculation, pain or swelling in the testicles, or very low semen volume.
Can male infertility be cured?
Some causes of male infertility can be fully corrected, such as certain infections or hormonal imbalances, while others can be effectively managed to improve fertility potential. Even when sperm counts are very low or sperm are absent in the ejaculate, advanced techniques like surgical sperm retrieval combined with IVF–ICSI may still allow couples to conceive.
How is male fertility tested?
Male fertility testing typically starts with a detailed medical and sexual history, physical examination, and semen analysis to assess sperm count, motility, morphology, and other parameters. Depending on the findings, further tests such as hormone evaluation, scrotal ultrasound, genetic studies, or testicular biopsy may be recommended.