Is Male Infertility Permanent?

If you and your partner are struggling to conceive and male factor infertility has been identified or suspected, you may be wondering: is male infertility permanent?

The answer is that it depends on the cause.

There are causes of male infertility that may be reversible or treatable, while others may not be. This is why identifying why male factor infertility is occurring is so important.

Let's break it down.

What Male Infertility Means

Male factor infertility is a disorder of the male reproductive tract that prevents embryo fertilization from occurring.

Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive within 12 months of trying when the female partner is 35 years old or younger, or within six months of trying when the female partner is over the age of 35.

But a diagnosis of male factor infertility doesn't automatically tell you whether the infertility is permanent. To answer the question “Is male infertility permanent?”, you first have to determine what is causing it.

Common Causes of Male Infertility

There are several different things that can contribute to male infertility, and sometimes more than one factor may be involved.

Common causes of male infertility include:

• Abnormal semen quality or sperm function

• Anatomical abnormalities, such as a varicocele or vas deferens obstruction

• Endocrine abnormalities

• Genetic abnormalities

• Functional or immunological abnormalities

• Sexual disorders, such as erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction

This is why identifying the underlying cause matters so much. Knowing that male factor infertility is present is only part of the picture. You need to know why it is happening to determine whether it may be temporary, treatable, or permanent.

When Male Infertility May Be Temporary

So, is male infertility permanent? Not necessarily.

There are causes of male infertility that may be reversible or treatable. These can include:

• Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

• Obstructive azoospermia or ductal obstruction, such as an obstruction that may be addressed with a vasectomy reversal

• Varicocele

• Medication effects

• Lifestyle factors

Depending on the cause, addressing the underlying issue may help treat the male factor infertility.

When Male Infertility May Be Permanent

There are also identifiable causes of male infertility that may not be reversible.

These can include bilateral testicular atrophy and certain genetic causes, such as Klinefelter syndrome or Y chromosome macrodeletions.

But the moral of the story here is identifiable.

There has to be a reason identified to know whether male infertility is permanent or not. Simply knowing that male factor infertility exists doesn't tell you whether it is reversible, treatable, or permanent.

Treatment Options for Male Infertility

Treatment options for male infertility are going to depend on the source of the infertility.

For some men, modifying lifestyle factors can make a significant difference. For others, surgery may be required to address the cause of infertility. And in some cases, a relatively simple change, such as changing a medication, may help treat male infertility.

Again, this is why identifying the cause is so important. There isn't one treatment for male infertility because there isn't one cause of male infertility.

When to Seek Professional Help

Per the guidelines, it is recommended to seek professional help after six months of unsuccessful trying when the female partner is over the age of 35, or after 12 months of unsuccessful trying when the female partner is 35 or younger.

However, I want to make something really clear:

“Just keep trying for 12 months” does not mean doing nothing for 12 months.

I often find that couples will try for six to 12 months without success, and then they have to wait another three months to get in to see a doctor. Then they may be referred to another doctor, which means more waiting, and before you know it, the timeline just continues to extend.

You don't have to spend that entire six or 12 months doing nothing.

During that time, you can begin implementing lifestyle changes and have medications reviewed, if applicable. There are things you can be looking into and changes you can be making while you are trying rather than simply waiting until you hit that six- or 12-month mark to start taking action.

Want to work with us?

If you have known or suspected male factor infertility, Jordan and I would love to work with you.

You can find a lot more information about how to work with us on this page here. We would be happy to help you on your journey to a baby.