Infertility affects one in every six couples who are trying to conceive, and in nearly 30% of infertility cases, male infertility issues are the cause. 30-40% of infertility cases are due to a combination of female and male factors. About 10% of all American men suffer from infertility.
However, only 41% of Ob-Gyns even consider a urological evaluation of the male partner and only 24% routinely refer men to the urologist before ordering a semen analysis.
10 Causes of Male Factor Infertility
- Sperm quality/quantity
- Antisperm antibodies
- Heat stress from varicocele veins
- Blockages/issues with interior structure
- Low testosterone
- Toxin exposure
- Thyroid issues
- Obesity
- Genetic diseases, like cystic fibrosis
- Heavy smoking, drinking, and/or drug use
There are tests the man can do, like a semen analysis (to check sperm health and count), a scrotal ultrasound (checks for blocks, issues with interior structure, and blood flow as too much heat can kill sperm), and bloodwork to check testosterone and thyroid levels.
Lifestyle Choices That Impact Sperm Health
Heat stress from using hot tubs, working with laptop in lap, wearing whitey tighties or polyester undies. Avoid saunas and baths. No hot yoga either!
A sedentary job. Men who spend at least 50% of their work time in a sedentary position double their risk that their sperm DNA will be compromised. Stand up every hour to allow the testicular heat to dissipate.
Not enough sleep. You need at least 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep for healthy testosterone production. Ideally, aim for 7-9 hours of sleep every night for healthy hormone production.
Exercise. It’s well established that regular moderate to vigorous movement improves sperm health, particularly strength training. Avoid cycling and wearing tight/thick clothes during exercise.
Endocrine disruptors. Chemicals and substances like phthalates and BPA that imitate your hormones, alter hormone production, or interfere with hormone signaling can have various negative effects on sperm.
Smoking, alcohol, and exposure to radiation and industrial heavy metals are associated with increased oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is linked to male infertility, reduced sperm motility, sperm DNA damage, and increased risk of recurrent miscarriages and genetic diseases.
Nutrients That Support Male Fertility
Antioxidants like CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10), vitamins E and C, lycopene, and NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine) all help reduce oxidative stress and improve sperm health.
Fatty acids DHA and EPA are important components of sperm cell membranes, and omega-3 fatty acid intake directly correlates to sperm quality.
Zinc is essential for production of sperm, sperm morphology, sperm count and proper sperm functioning. In studies, zinc concentration in semen is directly related to sperm quality.
Selenium is another significant element that has antioxidative properties and is essential for healthy sperm.
Remember, it takes 72 days for a sperm to go from a little germ cell to a fully grown mature sperm that can fertilize an egg, so any change you make today needs to be consistent for at least 72 days to see any change in your sperm health.
How To Collect a Sample for a Semen Analysis
A urologist or the wife’s Ob/Gyn can order the semen analysis. Some fertility clinics will allow you to drop off the sample with the doctor’s order (call and arrange in advance). If you’re working with a NaPro or Catholic Ob/Gyn, then they may provide a kit with the prepared appropriate condom and instructions.
Other options include Labcorp On Demand Men’s Rapid Fertility Test (which only tests two factors: sperm concentration and semen volume) and Reprosource Semen Analysis with @Home Collection (which requires a doctor’s order and some out-of-pocket costs). Legacy is another direct-to-consumer, do-at-home semen analysis test kit.
In general, when done via a traditional lab, these are the sperm factors analyzed:
- Semen Ejaculate Volume
- Total Sperm Number
- Sperm Concentration
- Motility
- Viability
- Morphology
- Liquefaction
- Semen pH
- White Blood Cells
How Men and Women Experience the Pain of Infertility Differently, an excerpt from When Expecting Doesn’t Happen, by Marie Meaney
“To suffer from infertility can be a huge burden for the couple that can lead to a marital crisis. Men and women have very different ways of approaching problems and addressing suffering. Women tend to need to talk more about their pain, explain their frustrations, and cry over the absence of children. Men, in contrast, frequently want to find a solution without saying much. A husband does not want to see his wife suffer, and he becomes frustrated when he cannot resolve the issue. His wife’s approach seems futile to him, and it might be difficult for him to understand why she wants to speak about it so often.
The danger is real for each to close their heart to the other, the wife thinking her husband’s silence reveals an indifference to her suffering and a hardness of heart. The husband, in contrast, might come to the conclusion that his wife is overly sensitive; not wanting to encourage this by further dwelling on their infertility, he fails to talk to her. Everything is now in place for a major crisis. Each one suffers on his own, and to the pain of infertility is now added the suffering of a lack of communion between the spouses.
It is therefore essential that the spouses realize that the other experiences and approaches this pain differently. It is important for both to acknowledge this, but also to reach out to each other. The husband should create the space for his wife to express her anguish, while she should not oblige him to speak about his, even though she can encourage him. If he is silent, then this doesn’t mean that he doesn’t care. It’s more likely he feels helpless. The most productive approach could be for her to let him know what she needs and how much it helps her when she can share with him how she experiences the situation. At the same time, one spouse is often in greater pain than the other. There too, reaching out to the other is essential. Feeling less pain in this circumstance need not be the sign of hardheartedness, but simply having a less strong desire for children or a happier predisposition.
The wife ought also to tell her husband that his presence at various gynecological appointments would be of great support to her. It is difficult for her to find herself in a waiting room filled with pregnant women. It is tough to get bad news from the doctor on one’s own, or perhaps be pressured to try IVF. Hence, she experiences it as very supportive when her husband researches medical options with his wife, rather than letting her do everything on her own. Together, they should look for good doctors whom they can trust. And when pain paralyzes the woman and makes her incapable of taking action, then the husband can take things in hand.”
Chapter: A Male Perspective on Infertility in The Infertility Companion for Catholics: Spiritual and Practical Support for Couples, by Angelique Ruhi-Lopez and Carmen Santamaria
In this chapter, one author’s husband details his experience with his own infertility as well as his experience of his wife’s infertility. He also offers some advice for men on bearing their infertility and how a wife can support her infertile husband. He further discusses the concepts of failure and manliness as tied to being able to father a child, and acknowledges the effect that trying to get pregnant can have on your sex life and how you feel about sex itself.
Craig Turczynski, Ph.D.
Dr. Craig Turczynski is trained as a Reproductive Physiologist. His unique career path has led him to become an expert in fertility awareness methods and restorative reproductive medicine, especially andrology, a branch of science related to men’s fertility. Dr Turczynski is not a physician, but a Ph.D. trained clinical scientist and a Billings Ovulation Method certified instructor. He is especially passionate about working with couples who are experiencing infertility and seeking an alternative to IVF or other assisted reproductive technologies. Dr. Turczynski consults remotely nationally on semen analysis and male infertility evaluation from a Catholic perspective. He is certified in healthcare ethics from the National Catholic Bioethics Center and has done a fellowship in restorative reproductive medicine with Dr. Phil Boyle, founder of NeoFertility in Dublin, Ireland. You can connect with Craig on MyCatholicDoctor.
Springs in the Desert Podcast
As women and men traveling the hard path of infertility and loss, we know the importance of community. Allie, Ann and Kimberly speak from the heart about their own struggles and lessons learned on this journey. Allie’s husband James brings light to the rarely discussed male perspective of infertility with the regular feature “A Man’s Take.”
Red Bird Ministries Dad’s Retreat
Red Bird Ministries offers an overnight weekend retreat for grieving fathers to experience hope, healing, and fellowship. Men who have experienced any form of child loss are invited, including miscarriage, still birth, and the loss of an infant child, adolescent, or adult child.
The Grief of Dads: Support and Hope for Catholic Fathers Navigating Child Loss, by Patrick O’Hearn, Brian Feger, and Kelly and Ryan Breaux
Catholic Infertility Resources 