Causes in men

A man produces sperm throughout his life. Over time, the proportion of fast-moving sperm decreases and changes in sperm function can occur. As a result, the sperm's ability to fertilize may decrease.

In addition, the age of the man is associated with a higher rate of chromosomal abnormalities in the sperm. This can result in infertility, miscarriages, illnesses or birth defects in the children. We would be happy to inform you about this in a personal consultation. Make an appointment directly.

Ideally, the ejaculate (ejaculation) is obtained by masturbation in our center. A specially equipped, discreet room is available for this purpose. If desired, the ejaculate can also be collected at home. In this case, we will inform you about the necessary transportation measures. The collected ejaculate is then analyzed in a complex examination in the andrology laboratory. This mainly involves measuring the number of sperm, the proportion of normally formed sperm and the motility and speed of the sperm.

The results are assessed according to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO). Too few, too slow or too many abnormally shaped sperm can lead to the failure of a pregnancy. Sometimes all three parameters are restricted. In this case, we speak of OAT syndrome (oligo: too few, astheno: weakly motile, terato: malformed). Sometimes pregnancy occurs naturally despite abnormal results. It is important to know that malformed sperm do not lead to malformations in the child. The formation and function of sperm can be subject to strong fluctuations, so we recommend that you repeat the ejaculate examination from time to time.

Disorders in the formation and function of sperm (sperm cells) are a common cause of involuntary childlessness. The most common cause is a disorder of sperm formation in the testicular tissue. Occasionally, however, there is a hormonal cause or the release of sperm is impaired, e.g. in the case of impaired sexual function or after infections/surgeries. Sperm cells are formed in the seminiferous tubules of the testicles. It takes two and a half months for the sperm cells to mature and become functional. This maturation process is complex and is largely regulated by the pituitary gland (hypophysis). This process can also be disrupted, for example by taking hormones (doping). The sperm cells then pass from the testicles to the epididymis, where the "final production" of the sperm takes place, in particular the ability to move (motility). The sperm enter the woman's vagina via the vas deferens and through the urethra during ejaculation. The seminal fluid (ejaculate) is made up of sperm and the fluids from the epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate. Normally, there are several million sperm in an ejaculate, only some of which reach the woman's fallopian tube, where the egg is fertilized. As a rule, only a single sperm can penetrate the egg, which will contribute the paternal part of the genetic information in the event of successful fertilization.

Hormonal imbalances can also occur in men and lead to infertility. Two hormones in particular are important for male fertility: FSH and LH (). Both hormones are released by the pituitary gland (hypophysis). LH ensures testosterone production in the testicles, while FSH has a direct effect on the formation of sperm in the testicles. We would be happy to inform you about this in a personal consultation. Make an appointment now.

In the case of undescended testicles, the testicles are not or not permanently in the scrotum, as is necessary for undisturbed sperm production. As a result, the temperature level in the body is too high for the testicles in the long term. Sperm and hormone production can only take place to a limited extent or not at all. The result is limited fertility or even inability to conceive.

A simple blood test can detect congenital genetic causes if sperm quality is severely impaired. In some cases, the use of pre-implantation diagnostics (examination of the embryo's genetic material) can help. We would be happy to provide you with more information in a personal consultation. Make an appointment now.

Sexual dysfunction is not uncommon. Sexual intercourse can be painful for both partners. Lack of desire, reduced sexual arousal, a lack of or weak erection and premature or absent ejaculation are among the most common sexual dysfunctions. Some couples have consensual sex only very rarely or not at all. If the couple or one of the partners suffers from sexual dysfunction, treatment is possible.