Overview
Male infertility contributes to about half of all couples' difficulty conceiving, usually through low sperm count, poor sperm movement or blocked passages — yet in many Nigerian homes only the woman gets tested. A simple semen analysis is painless, affordable and should be among the first tests for any couple trying for over a year. Many causes are treatable.
Symptoms
- Usually no symptoms apart from difficulty conceiving
- Reduced semen volume in some cases
- Testicular swelling, lump or discomfort
- Visible enlarged veins in the scrotum (varicocele)
- Reduced facial or body hair (hormonal causes)
- Problems with erection or ejaculation
Causes & risk factors
- Varicocele — enlarged scrotal veins overheating the testes
- Past infections including untreated STIs and mumps
- Hormonal imbalance
- Heat exposure, tight underwear, alcohol, smoking and anabolic steroids
- Undescended testes, previous surgery or genetic factors
Treatment & self-care
Evaluation starts with semen analysis and examination, sometimes with hormone tests and a scrotal scan; treatment matches the cause — varicocele repair, hormone treatment, infection treatment or lifestyle change. Cooler clothing, stopping smoking, limiting alcohol and a healthy weight measurably improve sperm quality over about three months. Where counts remain very low, assisted conception (IUI or IVF/ICSI) offers real options.
See a doctor urgently if
- No conception after 12 months of regular unprotected sex
- A testicular lump, swelling or pain
- Known history of undescended testis, mumps after puberty or groin surgery
- Erection or ejaculation difficulties