You may assume you’d know if you had a fertility problem. But male infertility often doesn’t cause obvious symptoms. You can have a normal sex drive, erections, and ejaculation and still have a problem with your sperm.
In fact, one of the most common signs of a fertility problem is simply that pregnancy isn’t happening.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Infertility in Males?
You can’t tell whether you’re fertile by looking at your semen or judging your sexual performance. Semen can look completely normal even when there aren’t enough healthy sperm to fertilize an egg.
When symptoms do occur, they’re often caused by a health problem affecting fertility.
Changes in Sexual Function
Changes in sexual function don’t always mean you have a fertility problem, but they can sometimes be a sign of one.
You may notice:
- Difficulty getting or keeping an erection
- Less interest in sex
- Trouble ejaculating
- Very little or no semen released during orgasm
Retrograde ejaculation is one possible cause of ejaculation problems. Instead of leaving the body, semen travels backward into the bladder. Certain medications, surgery, nerve damage, and conditions such as diabetes can cause this problem.
Testicular or Scrotal Changes
Talk with your doctor if you notice:
- A lump in or around a testicle
- Swelling in the scrotum
- Ongoing discomfort or heaviness
- A change in the size of a testicle
A varicocele is one condition linked to male fertility problems. It happens when veins in the scrotum become enlarged. In some men, it can affect sperm production.
Signs of a Hormone Problem
Your body uses hormones to make sperm and support sexual function. Signs of a hormone problem may include:
- Less facial or body hair
- Loss of muscle mass
- Breast enlargement
- Lower sex drive
- Erectile problems
Blood tests can check testosterone and other hormones that play a role in fertility.
Can You Have Male Infertility With No Symptoms?
You can have a fertility problem and feel completely healthy. You can’t judge your fertility based on how your semen looks, your sex drive, your ability to get an erection, or how often you ejaculate.
A semen analysis can find sperm problems that you can’t see or feel.
Can Your Medical History Affect Male Fertility?
Past health problems, surgeries, medications, and treatments can affect fertility years later.
Tell your doctor if you have a history of:
- An undescended testicle
- Testicular injury or surgery
- Chemotherapy or radiation
- Vasectomy
- Pelvic surgery
- Anabolic steroid use
- Testosterone replacement therapy
Testosterone therapy is especially important to mention when you’re trying to have a child. Taking testosterone can reduce the signals that tell your testicles to make sperm. Sperm production may become very low or stop during treatment.
When Should You See a Doctor About Male Infertility?
If you and your partner have been having regular, unprotected sex without pregnancy, it may be time for a fertility evaluation. Couples should generally get checked after 12 months if the female partner is younger than 35, or after six months if she’s 35 or older.
You don’t need to wait if you already have a known fertility risk, such as a past testicular injury, undescended testicle, cancer treatment, or ejaculation problem.
A fertility evaluation usually includes a physical exam and questions about your health. A semen analysis checks the number of sperm in the sample, how well they move, and the amount of semen. Blood work or other testing may also be needed.
Many fertility problems don’t cause symptoms you can see or feel. If you have concerns about the signs and symptoms of infertility in males, schedule a visit with a urologist in the Eugene or Springfield areas to get answers and talk about your next steps.