If you try to get pregnant for at least a year without success, it’s likely that infertility issues are to blame. While these issues are often assumed to be a women’s problem, men can have infertility problems as well.

At Urology Associates of Southeastern North Carolina, our experienced team of urologists offers infertility services for men in the Wilmington, North Carolina, area. Here’s what you need to know about male infertility and how to find treatment.

How male fertility works

For a man to successfully fertilize an egg, he needs two primary components: healthy sperm, and an erection strong enough to produce an ejaculation so the sperm can reach the egg. Issues that interfere with either of these components can cause male infertility. 

To evaluate male fertility, we usually perform a semen analysis. During this test, we capture several measurements, including the:

• Concentration or the number of sperm present
• Movement or motility of your sperm
• Morphology or shape of your sperm

This analysis can help us determine what is contributing to your infertility. In most cases, men experience infertility because of problems with how their testicles work or from structural issues in their reproductive system. 

Testicle function

Your testicles make and produce sperm. Several factors can impact their ability to function properly, including:

• Being underweight or overweight
• Sustaining trauma to the testes
• Living with conditions like varicoceles or diabetes
• Experiencing hormone imbalances, like low testosterone, or pituitary problems
• Taking certain medications or supplements
• Having genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis
• Undergoing cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation

Lifestyle choices can also affect your sperm production, including consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, smoking, and using steroids or illicit drugs. Exposure to toxins can also cause fertility problems. 

Structural problems

If you have something interrupting the flow of semen within your reproductive system, it can lead to infertility. These types of structural issues can be present at birth or develop because of an infection or inflammation.

It’s also possible to develop blockages in your reproductive system from scar tissue or swollen veins in your scrotum.

Treating male infertility

As experts in male reproductive health care, we offer numerous treatments for fertility issues. Depending on the cause of your condition, we might recommend one or more approaches, such as:

• Lifestyle modifications 
• Medications that improve sperm production and quality
• Surgery to remove structural blockages

If you’re experiencing fertility issues because of erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation, we can also provide a personalized treatment strategy to address them.

To learn more about male infertility and your treatment options, call our Wilmington office at (910) 763-6251. You can also send a message to the team here on our website.