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Male infertility is most often linked to varicocele
Summary
About 1 in 10 couples meet the clinical definition of infertility, and roughly one-third of cases involve male factors; the most common male cause reported is a varicocele. Semen analysis and hormone testing are described as the usual first steps in evaluating male fertility.
Content
Infertility affects about 1 in 10 couples within a year and is becoming more common for a variety of reasons including delayed parenthood and environmental and health factors. Causes are divided roughly into thirds: male factors, female factors, and combined or unknown causes. The article reports that the single most common male cause is a varicocele, which are swollen scrotal veins found in about 1 in 5 men and seen in about 2 in 5 men among couples with infertility. Evaluation typically involves a semen analysis and hormone tests, and a range of medical, surgical and assisted-reproduction options are described.
Key findings:
- Infertility is clinically defined as failure to conceive after one year, affecting about 10% of couples.
- Male factors account for about one-third of infertility cases.
- Varicocele (swollen veins in the scrotum) is reported as the most common male cause, present in roughly 20% of men and about 40% of men in infertile couples.
- Semen analysis measures sperm count, motility and shape; commonly cited thresholds are 15 million sperm per milliliter, 40% motility, and 4% normal morphology.
- Reported management options include lifestyle and hormonal approaches, surgical repair or sperm retrieval, and assisted-reproduction techniques; evidence for routine benefit from supplements is described as limited.
Summary:
Varicoceles account for a substantial share of male infertility and are often identified during evaluation with semen analysis and hormone testing. A spectrum of options is available for addressing male fertility issues, ranging from medical and surgical treatments to assisted-reproduction approaches, and the article notes limits to evidence for supplement therapies.
