Men may be particularly sensitive about infertility. Male identity is frequently closely tied to sexual performance and virility. Often there are no symptoms of male infertility other than the inability to conceive so infertility is often considered to be a woman’s problem. The truth is that about 40% of infertility is due to male factors. Men may not talk much about their fertility but it is a common problem.

Male fertility starts with large quantities of healthy, well-formed sperm. About 90% of male infertility is caused by low sperm counts. Low sperm count can be caused by pollution, diet, genetics and many other factors. Other causes of male infertility can include sperm that die too quickly or are not formed properly, and physical problems such as enlarged scrotal veins (varicocele) or fluid accumulation in the scrotum (hydrocele). Correcting circulation to the testes with exercise or surgery may restore fertility.

Under current guidelines from the World Health Organization a sperm sample is considered to be normal if there are at least 20 million sperm per milliliter and at least 50% of those sperm are moving. If there are less than 20 million sperm or fewer of them are mobile, then it is considered to be abnormal. However, the National Cooperative Reproductive Medicine Network proposed new guidelines in 2001 that suggest a sperm count of greater than 48 million per milliliter and more than 63% mobility is normal. Anything between 13.5 million and 48 million would be considered to be in a “grey area” according to the proposed guidelines. Those with fewer than 13.5 million sperm and fewer than 32% mobility would be considered infertile.

There are many simple things you can do to improve sperm quality and sperm count. Nutrition is one of the most important steps to better sperm, although there are also a number of herbs proven to improve your odds of fertility. It is important to note that men also need proper levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone. There are a number of herbs that will help to make sure your hormones are properly balanced.

Start with a thorough health workup and sperm analysis. Talk to your doctor about any concerns that arise. Thyroid problems or diabetes can also interfere with proper hormone levels so it is important to discuss these issues with your doctor.

Between 28% and 71% of men with low sperm count are in fact suffering from an infection in the reproductive organs. Infections of the prostate and epididymis (a tubular structure secretion collectors on top of each testis) can interfere with sperm production or block the path of sperm. Infections can lead to anti-sperm antibodies. Some infections, such as Chlamydia, are sexually transmitted. Many infections have no outward symptoms, they just silently cause inflammation that can block the flow of sperm. They may also cause sperm anti-bodies to form, causing the immune system to kill sperm. Treating the infection with antibiotics can often restore fertility.

Some infections, such as an inflammation of the testicles following the mumps can result in permanent infertility. Chromosomal abnormalities such as Klinefelter’s syndrome may be associated with permanent infertility.

There are natural treatments for many causes of male infertility. many natural remedies have astoundingly high success rates in scientific studies.

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