Male Infertility: Causes and Effects on Reproductive System

Running head: MALE INFERTILITY
MALE INFERTILITY
Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author’s Note:

MALE INFERTILITY
1
Male infertility is one of the major health complications in Australia population and has
contributed to the failure in conceiving among 50% of the couples which causes significant
marital and psychosocial stress (Jungwirth et al., 2015). The term infertility is defined as the
inability to conceive after the period of one year of unprotected and regular sex. The male factor
contributes to 30% of the case of male infertility. It is a global problem. However, there is a lack
of accurate data and statistic to determine the rate of male infertility. The normal male fertility
depends on the production and transport of sperm which is depended on the functioning of the
endocrine gland and release of the hormone. When examining the fertility potential of the male
population, it depicts an essential part of the evaluation of the couples who fail to become
pregnant. However, it should be noted that the assessment must be done simultaneously with the
female partner. It is reported that in Australia, 18% of the minimum cases, male fertility test is
where the fertility prognosis is compromised and additionally misses a chance to improve the
health of the male patient. Thus, the main aim of the paper is to discuss male infertility referring
to its cause, and effect of male infertility.
Male infertility is mainly caused by a wide range of reason and condition which are often
ignored. It is reported in the study of (Jungwirth et al. (2015) that genetic abnormalities,
anatomical changes, neurological and systemic disease, iatrogenic injury, gonadotoxins,
infection trauma and production of the sperm antibodies are the primary reason for the high rate
of male infertility. Such causative elements have resulted in a defect in the production of sperm
and secretion of the low level of the hormone by the pituitary gland. In the study of Glazer et al.
(2018), genetic mutation or changes in the chromosome are responsible for male infertility.
There are numerous causes that is associated with male infertility that are contributing to
high rate failure in conceiving a child. The two primary reasons and cause for male infertility are

MALE INFERTILITY
2
high exposure to hazardous environmental chemicals and psychological stress in male people of
the growing population. It is highlighted in the research of Ayaz et al. (2018) that humans are
being exposed to a wide range of exogenous and environmental chemicals through numerous
ways and route. For example, establishment of chemical industry, unhealthy working
environment and high rate of unemployment. It has caused to release of a plethora of
xenobiotics and heavy metals in the environment. Such harmful chemicals are known to interrupt
the male reproductive system because as it is noted in the study of Ayaz et al. (2018) that male
reproductive system is highly sensitive to heavy metals and hazardous chemicals. They have the
potential to cause infertility in the male population. The foreign molecule which includes
pesticides, herbicides, cleaning materials, cosmetic and industrial wastes enter human bodies in
various ways like eating and bathing.
High level of stress is the other cause that has a detrimental effect on male reproductive
effects. For example, stress of work or family and other personal issues. It is evident from the
study of Durairajanayagam (2018) that due to stress response, the sympathetic nervous system
gets activated and includes the hypothalamus-pituitary-inhibitory axis. In association with
gonadotrophin-inhibitory hormone trigger inhibitory effect on the Leydig cells and HPG axis.
This causes a reduction in the level of testosterone and leads to changes in the Sertoli cells which
cause suppression of spermatogenesis. It can be said that the impairment of secretion of
testosterone is the primary source underlying the damaging effects of mental stress on the
process of sperm production Ayaz et al.,2018)
The major effect of the environmental chemicals can be observed in Spermatogenesis,
sperm parameters like sperm density and its motility and testis weight are affected by getting
exposed to harmful chemicals. This has caused a decrease in sperm count, viability, DNA