Causes Male

Semen analysis looks at the total number, motility (forward movement) and number of normal forms of the sperm (morphology). Sometimes sperm can be an abnormal shape which makes it harder for them to move and fertilise the egg. A sperm count of less than 15 million per millilitre is considered low.

• High sugar diet
• Drug use or alcohol consumption
• Smoking
• Previous infection
• Varicocele
• Previous tumours or surgery  (including vasectomy)
• Genetic factors (including chromosomal abnormalities.)

The testicles produce and store sperm. If they are damaged, it can reduce the quality of semen. This can be caused be infection, testicular cancer, surgery, congenital defects, undescended testicles and injury to testicles.

Certain types of medication can sometimes cause infertility problems. This includes sulfasalazine - an anti-inflammatory medication, anabolic steroids and chemotherapy. 

Some ejaculation problems can make it difficult to release semen, therefore reducing likelihood of conception.

This is a condition where there is an abnormally low level of testosterone - the hormone involved in making sperm. 

This can be caused by:

-illicit drug consumption

-a tumour of the pituitary

-Klinefelter Syndrome - a syndrome involving an extra female chromosome.