Читать книгу Need to Know Fertility, Conception and Pregnancy - Harriet Sharkey - Страница 120

• If a man does not produce enough sperm or the sperm are of poor quality, this can lead to difficulty in conceiving.

• There can sometimes be difficulty in the sperm travelling from the testicles down the fine tubes that carry the sperm to the penis.

Sometimes these tubes can be blocked and so, even though enough sperm is produced, it cannot reach the vagina or the fallopian tube to fertilize the egg that is waiting.

• Men who have an undescended testicle, which is often treated by surgery in childhood, may have a problem producing sufficient sperm, as can those who have surgery in the area of the testicle, including a hernia repair.

• The testicles are outside the body for a reason. Sperm production occurs best at a slightly lower temperature than your body. So there is a link between tight clothing and increased temperature of the scrotum that might impact on sperm production. Doctors are not certain whether wearing loose fitting underwear actually makes a difference and improves the quality of sperm, but it seems like a reasonable and simple thing to think about doing if you have a low sperm count.

• Sometimes, a viral infection like mumps when you are an adult can affect the testicles and lead to a problem in sperm production.

• Difficulties in sperm production can sometimes be caused by genetic problems.

• Certain medications for medical conditions can have an impact, too. In particular, both radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer treatment can cause difficulties with male fertility.

• Infections, including sexually transmitted infections, can cause scarring and blockage of the fine tubes that allow the sperm to travel from the testicles to the penis.

• Just as with women, if a man is overweight with a BMI over 29 his fertility can be impaired.