Male infertility statistics: how common is it?

September 14, 2023September 14, 2023

Male infertility is of much concern worldwide, and those affected by it seek the required treatment. Male infertility statistics do highlight the fact that male fertility cannot be ignored.

Male infertility happens to be a common problem that affects millions of people across the world. According to several sources, male infertility happens to be a factor in 30% to 50% of all infertility cases. It is defined as the inability of a male to make a fertile female pregnant after at least one year of regular unprotected intercourse. A few causes of male infertility are abnormal sperm production, blockage of sperm delivery, low sperm production, hormonal imbalances, environmental factors, genetic infections, lifestyle factors, and medications.

Infertility is indeed defined clinically in women as well as men who cannot achieve pregnancy after 1 year of having intercourse without making use of birth control and in women who have two or even more failed pregnancies. There is much to know about male infertility statistics.

Studies do indicate that after 1 year of having unprotected sex, 15% of couples are rather unable to conceive, and after 2 years, 10% of couples still have not really had a successful pregnancy. In couples younger than age 30 who are usually healthy, 20% to 37% are in fact able to conceive in the first 3 months.

Further studies do show a novel and unique way to calculate the distribution of male infertility across the world. Results also indicate that at least 30 million men worldwide are infertile, with the highest rates in Africa as well as Eastern Europe. No doubt, further research is required regarding etiology as well as treatment, reducing stigma and cultural barriers, and thus establishing a more precise calculation.

Several different medical conditions and other factors can, of course, contribute to fertility problems, and an individual case can perhaps have a single cause, several causes, or even, in a few cases, no identifiable cause. Overall, one-third of infertility cases are indeed caused by male reproductive issues, one-third by female reproductive issues, and one-third by both male and female reproductive issues or by unknown factors.

In order to conceive a child, a man’s sperm must, of course, combine with a woman’s egg. The testicles do make and store sperm, which is ejaculated by the penis in order to deliver sperm to the female reproductive tract during sexual intercourse. The most common issues that do lead to infertility in men are problems that affect how the testicles work. Other problems are hormone imbalances or even blockages in the male reproductive organs. In about 50% of cases, the cause of male infertility cannot really be determined.

A complete lack of sperm does occur in about 10% to 15% of men who are infertile. A hormone imbalance or blockage of sperm movement can, in fact, cause a lack of sperm. In a few cases of infertility, a man does produce less sperm than normal. The most common cause of this condition is varicocele, an enlarged vein in a man’s testicle. Varicocele is rather common in about 40% of men with infertility problems.

It is understood that infertility does affect 8–12% of couples globally, with a male factor actually being a primary or contributing cause in approximately 50% of couples. Causes of male subfertility vary greatly but can be related to congenital, acquired, or perhaps idiopathic factors that impair spermatogenesis. Several health conditions can affect male fertility, which underscores the need for a thorough evaluation of patients in order to identify treatable or even reversible lifestyle factors or other medical conditions. Although semen analysis remains the cornerstone for evaluating male infertility, advanced diagnostic tests meant to investigate sperm quality and function have been developed to no doubt improve diagnosis and management. The use of assisted reproductive techniques has also greatly improved the ability of couples with infertility to have their own biological children.