Male infertility

Male infertility refers to a

Sperm motility increases from puberty through one's mid-thirties. Research shows that from the age of 36 onwards, sperm motility decreases from 40% Grade A & B to 31% in one's 50s. The effects of aging on semen quality is summarized below based on a study of 1,219 subjects:[9]

90% of seminiferous tubules in men in their 20s and 30s contain spermatids, whereas men in their 40s and 50s have spermatids in 50% of their seminiferous tubules, and only 10% of seminiferous tubules from men aged > 80 years contain spermatids.^[10][11] In a random international sample of 11,548 men confirmed to be biological fathers by DNA paternity testing, the oldest father was found to be 66 years old at the birth of his child; the ratio of DNA-confirmed versus DNA-rejected paternity tests around that age is in agreement with the notion of general male infertility above age 65–66.^[12][13]

Causes

Factors relating to male infertility include:^[14]

Immune infertility

Antisperm antibodies (ASA) have been considered as infertility cause in around 10–30% of infertile couples.^[15] ASA production are directed against surface antigens on sperm, which can interfere with sperm motility and transport through the female reproductive tract, inhibiting capacitation and acrosome reaction, impaired fertilization, influence on the implantation process, and impaired growth and development of the embryo. Risk factors for the formation of antisperm antibodies in men include the breakdown of the blood‑testis barrier, trauma and surgery, orchitis, varicocele, infections, prostatitis, testicular cancer, failure of immunosuppression and unprotected receptive anal or oral sex with men.^[15][16]

Genetics

Chromosomal anomalies and genetic mutations account for nearly 10–15% of all male infertility cases.^[17]

Mitochondrial DNA

Mature human sperm contains almost no mitochondrial DNA at all. An increased amount of mitochondrial DNA in the sperm cells has shown to have a negative impact on fertility.^[18][19]

Klinefelter syndrome

One of the most commonly known causes of infertility is

• Age group 12–49 (Paternal age effect)
• Aneuploidy, an abnormal number of chromosomes
• Centriole^[23]
• Neoplasm, e.g. seminoma
• Idiopathic
  failure
• Cryptorchidism
• Trauma
• Hydrocele, particularly hydrocele testis
• Hypopituitarism in adults, and hypopituitarism untreated in children (resulting in growth hormone deficiency and proportionate dwarfism.)
• Mumps^[24]
• Malaria
• Testicular cancer
• Defects in USP26 in some cases^[25]
• Acrosomal
  defects affecting egg penetration
• Idiopathic oligospermia – unexplained sperm deficiencies account for 30% of male infertility.^[26]

Pre-testicular causes

Pre-testicular factors refer to conditions that impede adequate support of the testes and include situations of poor hormonal support and poor general health including:

Varicocele

Varicocele is a condition of swollen testicle veins.^[27]

It is present in 15% of normal men and in about 40% of infertile men.

It is present in up to 35% of cases of primary infertility and 69–81% of secondary infertility.^[28]

• Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism due to various causes
  • Kiss1 expression, which, in turn, alters the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).^[29]
• Undiagnosed and untreated coeliac disease (CD). Coeliac men may have reversible infertility. Nevertheless, CD can present with several non-gastrointestinal symptoms that can involve nearly any organ system, even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms. Thus, the diagnosis may be missed, leading to a risk of long-term complications.^[30] In men, CD can reduce semen quality and cause immature secondary sex characteristics, hypogonadism and hyperprolactinaemia, which causes impotence and loss of libido.^[31] The giving of gluten free diet and correction of deficient dietary elements can lead to a return of fertility.^[30][31] It is likely that an effective evaluation for infertility would best include assessment for underlying celiac disease, both in men and women.^[32]
• Drugs, alcohol
• Strenuous riding (
  horseback riding
  )
• Medications, including those that affect spermatogenesis such as
  anabolic steroids, cimetidine, spironolactone; those that decrease FSH levels such as phenytoin; those that decrease sperm motility such as sulfasalazine and nitrofurantoin
• Genetic abnormalities such as a Robertsonian translocation

Tobacco smoking

There is increasing evidence that the harmful products of tobacco smoking may damage the testicles^[34] and kill sperm,^[35][36] but their effect on male fertility is not clear.^[37] Some governments require manufacturers to put warnings on packets. Smoking tobacco increases intake of cadmium, because the tobacco plant absorbs the metal. Cadmium, being chemically similar to zinc, may replace zinc in the DNA polymerase, which plays a critical role in sperm production. Zinc replaced by cadmium in DNA polymerase can be particularly damaging to the testes.^[38]

DNA damage

Common inherited variants in genes that encode enzymes employed in DNA mismatch repair are associated with increased risk of sperm DNA damage and male infertility.^[39] As men age there is a consistent decline in semen quality, and this decline appears to be due to DNA damage.^[40] The damage manifests by DNA fragmentation and by the increased susceptibility to denaturation upon exposure to heat or acid, the features characteristic of apoptosis of somatic cells.^[41] These findings suggest that DNA damage is an important factor in male infertility.^{[citation needed]}

Epigenetic

An increasing amount of recent evidence has been recorded documenting abnormal sperm DNA methylation in association with abnormal semen parameters and male infertility.^[42][43] Until recently, scientists have thought that epigenetic markers only affect the individual and are not passed down due to not changing the DNA.^[44] New studies suggest that environmental factors that changed an individual's epigenetic markers can be seen in their grandchildren, one such study demonstrating this through rats and fertility disruptors.^[44] Another study bred rats exposed to an endocrine disruptor, observing effects up to generation F5 including decreased sperm motility and decreased sperm count.^[45] These studies suggest that environmental factors that influence fertility can be felt for generations even without changing the DNA.^{[citation needed]}

Post-testicular causes

Post-testicular factors decrease male fertility due to conditions that affect the male genital system after testicular sperm production and include defects of the genital tract as well as problems in ejaculation:^{[citation needed]}

• Vas deferens obstruction
• Lack of Vas deferens, often related to genetic markers for cystic fibrosis
• Infection, e.g. prostatitis, male accessory gland infection
• Retrograde ejaculation
• Ejaculatory duct obstruction
• Hypospadias
• Impotence

Diagnostic evaluations

The diagnosis of infertility begins with a medical history and physical exam by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. Typically two separate semen analyses will be required. The provider may order blood tests to look for hormone imbalances, medical conditions, or genetic issues.^{[citation needed]}

Medical history

The history should include prior testicular or penile insults (

To obtain the sample, a sterile plastic recipient is put directly inside, always no more than one hour before being studied. Conventional preservatives should not be used, as they have chemical substances as lubricants or spermicides that could damage the sample. If preservatives have to be used, for cases of religious ethics in which masturbation is forbidden, a preservative with holes is used. In case of paraplegia it is possible to use mechanic tools or electroejaculation.

The sample should never be obtained through coitus interruptus for several reasons:

• Some part of ejaculation could be lost.
• Bacterial contamination could happen.
• The acid vaginal pH could be deleterious for sperm motility.

Also is very important to label the sample correctly the recipient with patient identification, date, hour, abstinence days, among other data required to be known.

The volume of the semen sample (must be more than 1.5 ml), approximate number of total sperm cells, sperm motility/forward progression, and % of sperm with normal morphology are measured. It is possible to have hyperspermia (high volume more than 6 ml) or Hypospermia (low volume less than 0.5 ml). This is the most common type of fertility testing.^[46][47] Semen deficiencies are often labeled as follows:

• oligozoospermia
  – decreased number of spermatozoa in semen
• Aspermia – complete lack of semen
• Hypospermia – reduced seminal volume
• Azoospermia – absence of sperm cells in semen
• Teratospermia – increase in sperm with abnormal morphology
• Asthenozoospermia – reduced sperm motility
• Necrozoospermia
  – all sperm in the ejaculate are dead
• Leucospermia
  – a high level of white blood cells in semen
• Normozoospermia or normospermia – It is a result of semen analysis that shows normal values of all ejaculate parameters by WHO but still there are chances of being infertile. This is also called as unexplained Infertility^{[citation needed]}

There are various combinations of these as well, e.g. Teratoasthenozoospermia, which is reduced sperm morphology and motility. Low sperm counts are often associated with decreased sperm motility and increased abnormal morphology, thus the terms "oligoasthenoteratozoospermia" or "oligospermia" can be used as a catch-all.

Special obtaining

• Psychological inhibition

– Psychotherapy

– Intercourses with special preservatives without lubricants or spermicides. In case of religion limitations we should use a SCD, or Seminal Collection Device, such as preservatives with holes.

– Drug stimulation

– Percutaneous spermatozoa obtaining directly from epididymis, testes, etc.

• Neurological injury

– Vibro-stimulation

– Electro-stimulation

• Retrograde ejaculation

This type of ejaculation happens when there is a defect on prostate, so the sample is not ejaculated outside but to the bladder. So, in that case, what we have to do to obtain the sample is:

– Intake bicarbonate, about 25 grams, the night before and the morning of the sample obtaining. This will neutralize acidic urine and will turn it alkaline, near semen's pH, so spermatozoa can survive.

– Before masturbation we have to urinate to empty the bladder. This must go to the first recipient.

– Just after that, the subject has to masturbate and ejaculate, obtaining then a new urine sample with ejaculation that will be stored on the second recipient.

– Finally we have to obtain the next urine, 2nd urine, for potential ejaculation fraction, which will be stored in the third recipient. This may contain the most important fraction.

Blood sample

Common hormonal test include determination of FSH and testosterone levels. A blood sample can reveal genetic causes of infertility, e.g. Klinefelter syndrome, a Y chromosome microdeletion, or cystic fibrosis.^{[citation needed]}

Ultrasonography

To check if the plasma membrane of the sperm is working properly or if it is damaged. To do this, the spermatozoa are placed in a hypotonic medium (low in salts), which causes an osmotic imbalance in the cells, causing the medium to enter the interior of the spermatozoon and swell it. If the sperm membrane is damaged, it will not be functional, so fertilization cannot take place. Hence the relevance of this test.[48]

Sperm FISH

To check if the spermatozoa have a normal set of chromosomes. It provides great information about the seminal quality of the male. It is performed by marking specific chromosomes of the sperm with fluorescent DNA probes. Some situations in which sperm FISH is indicated are the following:

-Alterations in the karyotype. -Altered seminogram, especially in cases with low concentration or serious morphology problems. -Man undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy. -Couples with recurrent miscarriages of unknown cause. -

Prevention

Some strategies suggested or proposed for avoiding male infertility include the following:

• Avoiding smoking^[50] as it damages sperm DNA
• Avoiding heavy
  marijuana and alcohol use.^[51]
• Avoiding excessive heat to the testes.[51]
• Maintaining optimal frequency of coital activity: sperm counts can be depressed by daily coital activity^[51] and sperm motility may be depressed by coital activity that takes place too infrequently (abstinence 10–14 days or more).^[51]
• Wearing a
  soccer, karate or other martial arts
  or any sport where a ball, foot, arm, knee or bat can come into contact with the groin.
• Diet: Healthy diets (i.e. the Mediterranean diet[52]) rich in such nutrients as omega-3 fatty acids, some antioxidants and vitamins, and low in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and trans-fatty acids (TFAs) are inversely associated with low semen quality parameters. In terms of food groups, fish, shellfish and seafood, poultry, cereals, vegetables and fruits, and low-fat dairy products have been positively related to sperm quality. However, diets rich in processed meat, soy foods, potatoes, full-fat dairy products, coffee, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets have been inversely associated with the quality of semen in some studies. The few studies relating male nutrient or food intake and fecundability also suggest that diets rich in red meat, processed meat, tea and caffeine are associated with a lower rate of fecundability. This association is only controversial in the case of alcohol. The potential biological mechanisms linking diet with sperm function and fertility are largely unknown and require further study.^[53]

Treatment

Treatments vary according to the underlying disease and the degree of the impairment of the male's fertility. Further, in an infertility situation, the fertility of the female needs to be considered.^[54]

Pre-testicular conditions can often be addressed by medical means or interventions.

Testicular-based male infertility tends to be resistant to medication. Usual approaches include using the sperm for

Administration of luteinizing hormone (LH) (or human chorionic gonadotropin) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is very effective in the treatment of male infertility due to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.^[60] Although controversial,^[61] off-label clomiphene citrate, an antiestrogen, may also be effective by elevating gonadotropin levels.^[60]

Though androgens are absolutely essential for spermatogenesis and therefore male fertility, exogenous testosterone therapy has been found to be ineffective in benefiting men with low sperm count.^[62] This is thought to be because very high local levels of testosterone in the testes (concentrations in the seminiferous tubules are 20- to 100-fold greater than circulating levels)^[63] are required to mediate spermatogenesis, and exogenous testosterone therapy (which is administered systemically) cannot achieve these required high local concentrations (at least not without extremely supraphysiological dosages).^[62] Moreover, exogenous androgen therapy can actually impair or abolish male fertility by suppressing gonadotropin secretion from the pituitary gland, as seen in users of androgens/anabolic steroids (who often have partially or completely suppressed sperm production).^[60][62] This is because suppression of gonadotropin levels results in decreased testicular androgen production (causing diminished local concentrations in the testes)^[60][62] and because FSH is independently critical for spermatogenesis.^[64][65] In contrast to FSH, LH has little role in male fertility outside of inducing gonadal testosterone production.^[66]

Estrogen, at some concentration, has been found to be essential for male fertility/spermatogenesis.^[67][68] However, estrogen levels that are too high can impair male fertility by suppressing gonadotropin secretion and thereby diminishing intratesticular androgen levels.^[62] As such, clomiphene citrate (an antiestrogen) and aromatase inhibitors such as testolactone or anastrozole have shown effectiveness in benefiting spermatogenesis.^[62]

Low-dose estrogen and testosterone combination therapy may improve sperm count and motility in some men,^[69] including in men with severe oligospermia.^[70]

Research

Researchers at

Researchers from Montana State University developed precursors of sperm from skin cells of infertile men.[74]^[75][76]

Sharpe et al. comment on the success of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in women saying, "[t]hus, the woman carries the treatment burden for male infertility, a fairly unique scenario in medical practice. Ironically, ICSI's success has effectively diverted attention from identifying what causes male infertility and focused research onto the female, to optimize the provision of eggs and a receptive endometrium, on which ICSI's success depends."^[77][78]

Prevalence

Currently, there are no solid numbers on how many couples worldwide experience infertility, but the World Health Organization estimates between 60 and 80 million couples are affected. The population in different regions have varying amounts of infertility.

Starting in the late 20th century, scientists have expressed concerns about the declining semen quality in men. A study was done in 1992 with men who had never experienced infertility showed that the amount of sperm in semen had declined by 1% per year since 1938.^[79][80] Further research a few years later also confirmed the decline in sperm count and also seminal volume.^[81] Various studies in Finland, Southern Tunisia, and Argentina also showed a decline in sperm count, motility, morphology, and seminal volume.

Males from India had a 30.3% decline in sperm count, 22.9% decline in sperm motility, and a 51% decrease in morphology over a span of a decade. Doctors in India disclosed that the sperm count of a fertile Indian male had decreased by a third over a span of three decades.^[82] Some factors may include exposure to high temperatures at places such as factories. A 1 degree increase in temperature will reduce 14% of spermatogenesis.^[83]

Researchers in Calcutta conducted a study between 1981 and 1985 that also showed a decrease in sperm motility and seminal volume, but no change in sperm concentration.^[84]

Society and culture

There are a variety of social stigmas that surround male infertility throughout the world. The condition and its effects on both men and women is the topic for example of the novel set in Nigeria entitled, The Secret Lives of Baba Segin's Wives. A lot of research has pointed to the relationship between infertility and emasculation.^[85][86][87] This association has led to infertility being less studied and diagnosed in men over time.^[88] In places like Egypt,^[86] Zimbabwe,^[85] and Mexico,^[89] erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is considered a determinant of infertility. When stereotypical ideals of manhood are virility and strength, men sharing problems of infertility can face feelings of inadequacy, unworthiness, and have thoughts of suicide.^[90] In many cases, a variety of socio-economic interventions come in play to determine penile activity. For the Shona people, since impotence is linked to infertility, an examination to check on the penile function spans from infancy to post marriage.^[85] At infancy, there are daily check-ups by the mothers on the son's erection and urine quality.^[85] When the son reaches puberty, they are asked to ejaculate in river banks and for their male elders to examine sperm quality.^[85] The traditions last until post-marriage, when the family of the bride take part to check on consummation and the groom's sperm quality.^[85]

Crisis

See also

• Female infertility
• Fertility preservation
• Fertility testing
• Infertility
• Male accessory gland infection (MAGI)
• Meiosis
• Oncofertility
• Paternal age effect
• Spermatogenesis
• Sterility
• Vasectomy

References