What is male infertility?
Male infertility happens when you’re unable to get your partner pregnant. It usually occurs from a low sperm count or an absence of sperm.
Fertility and Reproductive Care at Penn Medicine has helped thousands of people with male infertility have biological children. They work with the female fertility team to provide a comprehensive, personalized care plan to help couples build their families.
Causes of male infertility
Low sperm count or absence of sperm (azoospermia) are the primary causes of male infertility. These conditions can occur due to:
Certain types of chemotherapy or radiation can cause low sperm count.
Heavy drinking, using marijuana or tobacco, or taking certain prescription medications can interfere with male fertility.
Sometimes, male infertility happens because of genes or a family history of low sperm count. Klinefelter syndrome, a genetic condition in which a male has an extra X chromosome, can cause infertility.
Certain health conditions, like obesity and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can contribute to infertility.
You may have a hormonal imbalance in your testicles or pituitary gland. Your pituitary gland releases hormones that stimulate your testicles to produce the hormone testosterone. Your testicles need sufficient levels of testosterone to make sperm.
An injury to your spinal cord or testicles can cause infertility in males.
Your body may produce antibodies that attack sperm. Antibodies can develop if your immune system detects sperm outside of your testicles. This sometimes occurs after an injury to your testicles, an infection, or a vasectomy.
Structural issues in your reproductive organs or sperm can cause problems with fertility. These include:
- Abnormal sperm shape or function that prevents sperm from swimming to and fertilizing an egg
- Birth defect that causes the absence of a vas deferens, the muscular tube that connects your testicles to your urethra
- Blocked ejaculation caused by a vasectomy
- Retrograde ejaculation, where semen flows into your bladder instead of through the penis
- Varicoceles, which are large veins in your scrotum
Diagnosing male infertility
At Penn Medicine Urology, our fellowship-trained urologists collaborate with fertility specialists to diagnose and treat many causes of low sperm count or fertility problems. Our on-site laboratory and advanced equipment enable us to provide a fast, accurate diagnosis.
Male infertility tests include:
- Chromosome analysis
- Semen analysis
- Testicular biopsy
- Testicular ultrasound
Treatment for male infertility at Penn Medicine
At Penn Medicine, you have access to the most advanced and comprehensive infertility support and treatments for men in the region. Our fertility specialists can treat many causes of infertility and help you and your partner have a biological child. Treatment options include:
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Patient stories
Coming home to ‘Team Penn’: Kate’s Story
From the moment Kate Korson showed up at her first appointment wearing a Penn sweatshirt to symbolize she was on “Team Penn,” every one of her caregivers let her know they were on “Team Kate.” “Penn has now saved all three members of my family,” she said, after participating in a clinical trial.
Starting their family with Penn Medicine help near home
“It really gave us the power to decide to be parents,” said Carly Albright Keller. As an employee of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, she said that the fertility benefit was a huge asset, and one she mentions to others interested in growing their family.