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illness
There are a number of general illnesses and diseases, which can interfere with the production of healthy sperm. Given that the process of sperm production takes approximately 3 months, the effect of diseases or illnesses is temporary in some cases in which case normal sperm function resumes in time. Untreated infections can cause structural damage or reduce the production of healthy sperm. Fever and the use of some medications can also negatively affect male fertility.
illness
Reduced fertility can also be an unfortunate side effect of many health conditions or diseases, including diabetes, cystic fibrosis and mumps. All diseases that are associated with an extended period of high fever can also lower sperm production. In general, however, the effects of fever are temporary in nature.
urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infections are generally characterised by a stabbing pain during urination. Their cause and treatment is the same as for epididymitis. These diseases can be treated with antibiotics but, in conjunction with possible fever, can also have a negative effect on the sperm. This effect is often temporary.
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
The risk of reduced fertility as a result of a STD is high, as appeared to be the case with epididymitis, but at least men in contrast to women more often have the “advantage” of being aware of symptoms so that treatment can be given. (Many STDs, such as gonorrhoea, frequently cause no symptoms at all in women.) Some infections can be resistant to drugs and treatment can take longer than expected. Many men can also have STDs with no noticeable symptoms (asymptomatic), such as chlamydia, ureaplasma or mycoplasma, which may or may not impact the fertility of the man. However treatment is essential as these diseases can obviously have a profound effect on the fertility of the female partner.
epididymitis
This is an infection that can interfere with the function of the epididymis (where the sperm are stored) and therefore with the production of healthy sperm. In the case of epididymitis, the testicles can swell up due to the infection, which often causes pain. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are the most frequent causes of infections of the epididymis. A bacterial infection can usually be cured with antibiotics, yet sperm production may be permanently damaged. Mumps related orchitis occasionally occurs in young boys. This is an inflammation of the epididymis caused by the mumps virus. This can lead to fertility disturbances due to abnormal sperm later in life.
serious illnesses
Serious illnesses, such as cancer, can have an enormous effect on many aspects of life, including fertility:
- Chemotherapy and radiation treatment can damage or destroy the cells in the reproductive system.
- Sterility is a side effect of many drugs used to treat cancer.
- To treat the cancer it may be necessary to remove some of the reproductive organs, which will result in a damaged reproductive system.
On a more positive note, doctors and the medical establishment as a whole increasingly are aware of cancer patients’ desire to preserve their fertility. Many cancer patients arrange for sperm collection ahead of treatment. The sample can then be frozen until needed (cryopreservation).
