A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.

It is possible to develop infertility with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing infertility. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your healthcare provider what you can do to reduce your risk.

Risk factors for infertility in men include:

Cigarette Smoking

The toxins in cigarette smoke negatively affect sperm quality. The concentration of sperm in semen is decreased, sperm motility (movement) is reduced, and the number of abnormal sperm is increased. Smoking also has adverse effects on hormone levels and may affect the cells in the testes that produce testosterone.

Use of Alcohol, “Recreational” Drugs, and Anabolic Steroids

Although moderate alcohol consumption does not affect male fertility, excessive alcohol intake alters hormone levels and reduces sperm count and sperm quality. Like cigarette smoking, use of marijuana also can adversely affect sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology. It also reduces plasma testosterone levels. Use of cocaine negatively affects sperm parameters as well as the ability of sperm to penetrate cervical mucus. Opiates (heroin, morphine) may reduce fertility in men by altering hormone production. Anabolic steroids are sometimes used to increase muscle mass or strength, but they also influence production of reproductive hormones and can reduce fertility.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Unprotected sexual intercourse (intercourse without a condom) increases your risk of developing a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Several STDs, including ]]>gonorrhea]]> and ]]>chlamydia]]> , often produce no symptoms, especially in men, so you may not know you are infected. Untreated STDs can cause scarring in the sperm-carrying tubes, which reduces the number of sperm in ejaculate and increases the risk of fertility problems. Use of lubricants during intercourse, however, may contribute to fertility problems since many of these products contain spermicides that are toxic to sperm.

Testicular Injury

The testicles are easily damaged during vigorous sporting events or fights. These injuries can cause inflammation that reduces the blood supply to the testicles, which can permanently damage sperm-producing cells.

Surgical Procedure

Various surgical procedures could directly or indirectly lead to infertility including the following: ]]>prostate]]> , pelvic, ]]>hernia repair]]> , bladder, or orchidopexy.

Excessive Exercise

Moderate exercise increases sperm production and may have beneficial effects on fertility. However, excessive exercise, such as that performed by long-distance runners, reduces sperm production.

Exposure to Toxic Chemicals or Heavy Metals

Numerous chemicals used in industry or found in the environment as contaminants have been linked to male infertility. These include organochlorine pesticides, lead, cadmium, radiation, aniline, dyes, dioxins (used to bleach paper products), and vinclozolin (a fungicide used on food). These chemicals are thought to reduce fertility by disrupting hormone function.

Exposure to Excessive Heat

Some evidence suggests that heat exposure, such as occurs when using a sauna or hot tub, may affect sperm quantity and quality.

Tight Shorts and Pants and Hard Bicycle Seats

Underwear and clothing that is tight and constricting may reduce blood flow in the groin and adversely affect sperm production. Other evidence indicates that certain bicycle seats may cause circulatory and neurologic damage in the groin that can affect erectile function.

Malnutrition or Obesity

Men with very poor nutritional status may have reduced fertility. Some recent studies also suggest that supplemental antioxidants may improve semen parameters, but it is unlikely that malnutrition is a significant cause of infertility in most US men. However, being ]]>obesity]]> or underweight may reduce fertility.

Stress

Excessive and/or prolonged emotional stress may also reduce fertility.

Medications

The following medications can cause subfertility even infertility: cimetidine, chochicine, allopurinol, minoxidil. Women whose mothers took diethylstilbesterol during preqnancy also contribute to this condition.

Medical Conditions and Treatments

Fever and Infections

High fevers due to flu or pneumonia can adversely affect sperm parameters, although these effects are generally short-term. Other infections, including viral infections such as mumps and ]]>prostatitis]]> , can cause inflammation of the testicles and thereby reduce fertility. Tuberculosis can produce blockages in the sperm-carrying tubes. Antiobiotics which can lead to subfertility or infertility include: erythromycin, tetracycline, sufasalazine, nitrofurantoin, and ketoconazole.

Diabetes

The long-term complications of ]]>diabetes]]> can produce blood vessel and nerve abnormalities that lead to problems with erection and ejaculation.

High Blood Pressure

]]>High blood pressure]]> itself, as well as many of the medications (alpha blocker, calcium channel blocker, spirorolactone) used to treat it, can cause erectile problems.

Neurologic Disorders

]]>Multiple sclerosis]]> , ]]>stroke]]> , and spinal cord injuries can alter nerve impulses, which can cause problems with erection and ejaculation.

Cardiovascular Disease

The build-up of plaque in the arteries, including those of the penis, can create erectile problems. These may be exacerbated by medications used to treat cardiovascular disease.

Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney failure can reduce sperm quality and can also lead to erectile difficulties.

Cancer

Some cancers affect the brain or other hormone-producing tissues and can affect fertility directly. In other instances, the radiation or chemotherapy used to treat cancers at other sites may severely reduce or stop sperm production.

Genetic and Congenital Factors

Cystic Fibrosis

]]>Cystic fibrosis]]> is an inherited disorder characterized by excessive production of mucus. Men with cystic fibrosis are infertile due to the absence of sperm, vas deferens, or seminal vesicles.

Sickle Cell Anemia

]]>Sickle cell anemia]]> is an inherited disorder in which the structure of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in blood, is abnormal. It can contribute to infertility because the testes may be underdeveloped.

Chromosomal Abnormalities

Chromosome disorders, including conditions such as ]]>Klinefelter’s syndrome]]> , occur in 2% to 20% of infertile men. These can influence fertility by disrupting cell division or by altering the development of the testicles.

Birth Defects

Some men are born with abnormalities of the reproductive organs, such as the absence of the sperm-carrying tube, which prevent sperm from being released into semen. Undescended testicles can also be a cause of infertility.