Men Fertility And Reproduction

Science notes that the male sex is a product of the Y chromosome during fertilization. He is the carrier of spermatozoa needed for fertilization and reproduction to occur. He shares human traits such as respiration, excretion, nutrition, etc; but his uniqueness is identified in his reproductive system.  The organs that make up this system are distinctively male. These organs are classified under external and internal organs. The external organs are those seen when naked. They are the penis, scrotum and testicles while the internal organs which cannot be seen are: vas deferens, ejaculatory ducts, urethra, epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate gland and Cowper’s gland. These internal organs help the external organs to perform efficiently. They are the ‘in-house power machines’. The male child is born with all of these parts mentioned above but they become sexually viable after puberty.

Puberty In Men

All human sexes experience puberty. Puberty is the ticket into adulthood. It paves way for sexual maturity and attainment of fertility. Puberty is initiated by hormones. The part of the brain called hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland; which is responsible for puberty phase in human.

The pituitary gland releases the follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing and testosterone hormones in males for puberty to roll in. These three hormones are the ‘workaholics’ that transform boys into men. Among these hormones, the testosterone is the primary hormone in males. This is because it is responsible for the physical developmental features that differentiate a boy from a man. For example, beards, baritone or deep voice, height, etc.

Puberty kicks off between the ages of 9 and 14 in boys. At this age, boys experience many body changes ranging from growth of hairs on the faces, armpits, skins, chin and jaws, and the pubic areas. Changes also occur on the shoulders and in the voice of the boy. Some boys may grow broad, narrow or muscular shoulders. There is also experience in the deepening of the voice. Acne, profuse sweating, wet dreams, thicker bones, more production of red blood cells in the blood stream, increase in height and sex drive creeps in. Puberty is greatly influenced by heredity and hormones. Hormones are responsible for early, normal or late puberty. Excess hormones lead to early puberty while delayed or late puberty is caused by insufficient hormones. Environment, medication, nutrition and psychology are other reasons that can influence puberty phase in boys.

Notwithstanding these changes, the first indication of maturity in boys is enlargement of the testicles while the scrotum begins to thin and redden. Other puberty changes follow up in the external and internal organs. For instance in the external organs, the penis increases in length and in width. Consequentially, the scrotum which houses the testicles regulates the temperature of the testicles to aid sperm production. The testicles also begin to produce testosterone for generating sperms.  In perfect conditions, the male reproductive organs should include and perform the following functions:

1. Penis: The penis is the visible cylindrical part of the male reproductive organ. It is used for sexual pleasure. It is made up of three parts: the root, the shaft (body) and the glans penis (head). It is elastic in nature, leading to an increase in length when erect. When erect (aroused), blood flows into the penis which makes it rigid. Penis is mostly referred to as the entire piece of the male reproductive organ; nonetheless it is nothing but the fleshy part of the entire components that make up the male sex organ.
2. Scrotum: These are the two big ‘grapes’ that rest behind the penis. It has the appearance of a sac of skin. The scrotum is a home for the testicles, regulating its temperature for sperm production. The scrotum must regulate the temperature of the testicles to be cooler than the body temperature.
3. Testicles: These are the sperm making factories. The testicles are deposited inside the scrotum. Their function is to produce sperm and testosterone (the primary male sex hormone). Within the testicles, there are coiled masses of tubes called seminiferous tubules. The seminiferous tubules job is to produce sperm cells.
4. Urethra: This is a tube which transports urine from the bladder outside the body. During ejaculation, semen is likewise expelled out of the male via this medium. It is a medium of waste disposal. It is located at the tip of the penis (glans or head region).
5. Vas deferens: The vas deferens collects the mature spermatozoa from the epididymis. It channels the mature sperm from its storage (epididymis) into the urethra (the outlet where they are discharged) in preparation for ejaculation. During sexual arousal, contractions force the sperm into the vas deferens. It is a muscular tube.
6. Epididymis: It is a storage container and a fertile incubator. It stores sperm cells produced in the testicles and brings the sperm to maturity. The epididymis is a long coiled tube that sits at the back of each testicle.
7. Seminal vesicles: This enriches the sperm with fructose (sugar fluid). The sugar acts as a source of energy to aid the floating movement of sperm in the course of fertilization.
8. Prostate gland: This provides an additional nourishing fluid to the sperm. The fluid produced by the prostate is also discharged alongside the semen during ejaculation. The prostate gland is walnut-sized. At the centre of the prostate gland, the urethra (waste disposal tube) extends out towards the glans penis.
9. Cowper’s gland: This is a cleaning agent for the urethra. It produces a crystal slippery fluid that empties into the urethra. The fluid neutralizes any urine residue left in the urethra before the presence of sperm, which is ready to be ejaculated.
10. Ejaculatory Ducts: This is a fusion of the vas deferens and the seminal vesicle. With this fusion, semen is created. That is, vas deferens (mature sperm carrier) and seminal vesicle (maker of seminal fluid) work together to create semen. The semen is a protective fluid to the sperm. It houses or contains millions of sperms. The semen is drained into the urethra when the penis is engaged in sexual activity or aroused waiting to be ejaculated. A man’s semen (sperm inclusive) resembles catarrh phlegm in colour and texture. It is said to have a salty taste, and varies in richness based on individual’s nutrition level.

Fertility In Men

The essence of all the parts of the male organ is to make the man reproductively sound. That is, the organs are to produce, maintain and transport semen which inhabits the sperm; deposit sperm into the female vaginal tract during sex and produce the male hormones for maintaining the reproductive organs. When these functions are duly met by the organs, the man is certified fertile. A fertile man is one who carries and is able to discharge quality sperm in quantity needed for conception. A man’s fertility is dependent on the quality and quantity of his sperm.

A quality sperm is thick and has the motility to swim up to the released egg when expelled into the vagina during sexual intercourse. Good quantity spermatozoa must rank up to millions in each ejaculation. The sperm is the procreative seed of the male. It contains the genetic traits and information of the man which is transferred to the zygote during fertilization.

The sperm has three units; the head, centre and tail. The head contains the man’s DNA which is transferred to the released egg in the woman during fertilization. The centre carries the mitochondria as a source of energy to aid sperm motility when ejaculated into the female. The tail acts as a propeller, assisting sperm movement to reach the ovum (released egg in the female). A man with no sperm issues should produce about 500 million sperms in a single ejaculation. When a sperm count is less than 15 million in a single ejaculation, the man may be trapped with infertility cases.

Infertility In Men

Infertility in men sets in when a man cannot get a woman pregnant after several attempts. Bear in mind that this attempt on sexual intercourse must take place at the appropriate timing (around the woman’s ovulation); the man must ejaculate inside the woman before it can be ascertained that the man is infertile, sterile or impotent. In men, infertility describes a man whose sperm is poor in quality, quantity or is absent totally. The male infertility problems are surrounded around his sperm; it is either with his sperm production or sperm transport.

Being infertile does not always disrupt a man’s erection and sexual prowess. This suggests that a man who is sexually active and satisfies his Eve sexually can be infertile without his knowledge. Infertility in men does not have any physical signs. This leaves only medical examination by a doctor the best option in revealing a man’s fertility status. When infertility cases are noticed in time and treated adequately, the man can get as a woman pregnant as many times as possible, as far as the woman is biologically and psychologically disposed. However, if diagnosed late, the case may become irreversible which makes the man sterile; that is, the inability to get a woman pregnant forever.

Infertility Problems In Men

1. Problems Associated with Sperm:The presence of a quality sperm is the main ingredient that draws the line between fertile men and infertile men. So, when such an ingredient is disrupted with low count (oligospermia), abnormal sperm shape, epididymitis, orchitis (inflammation of the epididymis and testes respectively) immotility, poor quality sperm (asthenospermia) and no sperm at all (Azoospermia) the man’s sexual organs are mere decorations on his body. Problems related to sperm are inexhaustible. These issues are summed up either in its production or transport. Factors as: torsion, radiation damage, infections, genetic problem, undescended testes, industrial chemicals, varicocele, certain medications, lifestyle of excessive alcohol consumption and smoking are responsible for sperm problems.  For detailing, Torsion is when the testes get twisted in the scrotum causing swelling in that region. This situation hampers sperm production. Likewise, varicocele (enlargement of the veins connected from the abdomen to the scrotum) hampers sperm production and quality. Chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) are sexual infections that alter sperm quality, production and motility. Treatment of cases as torsion, varicocele, undescended testes (failure of the testes to descend at 9 months in infants) can be corrected with surgery and medication. Other causes as smoking, alcohol, heat, chemicals etc. can be corrected with better life practices.
2. Problems Associated with Sexual Organs: At other times, a man’s inability to make his woman pregnant can be linked to damaged organs irrespective of having quality sperm in great numbers.  An issue as inflammation of the penis, causing itching, swelling, redness and pain is a hindrance to a man’s full sexual potential. Defects of urethra, vas deferens, epididymis and ejaculatory ducts responsible for transporting sperm from its production unit (testicles) out of the body or into the female during sex are a threat. These tubules may suffer from blockage, disruption in their form or dysfunction. Another organ’s misplacement is Hypospadius. Hypospadius is a disorder of the urethra when it opens in the underside of the penis instead of at the tip. Also, the self-consent surgery, vasectomy, is another cause of organ defect. Vasectomy is the cutting and sealing of the vas deferens in order to prevent supply of sperm into the urethra. This is done to make the man sterile. Vasectomy is carried out either to save the man from a threatening sexual problem or simply to render the man infertile due to family planning.  The surgery is carried out by an urologist. Vasectomy is irreversible but other defects mentioned above can be fixed with proper surgery and medication.
3. Problem Associated with Hormones: Sexual hormones are the foundation of reproductive maturity in humans. In men, the pituitary, testosterone, follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormones are responsible for sexual functions. Therefore, when there is a malfunction in any of these hormones, the sexual efficiency of the individual is at risk. Poor, malfunctional, insufficient or excessive excretion of hormones may contribute to mutations or tumors leading to testicle cancer or prostate cancer. Testicle cancer occurs when the cells in the testicles divide abnormally and form a tumor. For prostate cancer, the defeated cells in the prostate gland make it to enlarge rendering the victim infertile and sex not pleasurable. As well, hormonal disorders cause low testosterone (hypogonadism) disrupting maximum puberty attainment in males, low sperm and low maintenance of the entire reproductive organs. There are cases of low libido (sex drive), erectile and ejaculation dysfunction triggered by hormonal cases.  Erectile dysfunction is the inability of the man to maintain an erection for good sex duration. In ejaculation dysfunction, the man can suffer from premature, delayed or no ejaculation at all. Ejaculation is simply the release of sperm via the urethra out of the man’s body. When the necessary hormones needed during sexual intercourse or arousal is absent, little or excessive, the man can suffer from any of the negative issues on ejaculation aforementioned.

Note: hormonal disorders are interwoven with other factors causing infertility in men.  Adequate quality medical care is needed to avert and curb any fertility threatening issues unless in severe cases where it is irredeemable.

Tips To Maintaining And Boosting Fertility In Men

• Avoid sitting on heat/high temperature objects as they can heat up stored sperms in the epididymis and contribute to less quality sperm. Sometimes, where we seat in buses or motorcycles may be too heated up that they increase the temperature of the scrotum and therefore affect the sperm quality. Laptops should not be placed directly over the groin area. If it must be there, put a pillow between the base of the laptop, which heats up after long time of usage, and the groin area.
• Exercise regularly for body fitness and maintenance. Avoid sedentary lifestyle. Engaging in exercise, especially jogging, does not only boost muscles but also improves ones reproductive capabilities. Do not exercise only to get heavier chests, muscles and six packs. Your reproductive organs need some exercises too.
• Desist from excessive alcohol consumption. Most men are addicted to alcohol but little do they know that it affects their reproductive strength. It has recently been linked to poor performance during sex, which is why some resort to drugs to boost their performance.
• Smoking is also not good for the body. Research has shown that it has some (though it is little) effects on the reproductive organs that might affect ones fertility.
• Be more conscious and cautious with what you eat. We are what we eat.  Nutrients as zinc, vegetables, fruits, minerals, iron, diaries and protein should be preferred to sugar and carbonated drinks.
• Have a regular medical checkup. This helps to detect illnesses earlier on rather than in their severe stages.
• Avoid self-medication especially antibiotics. Excess antibiotics in the body repel sperm by rendering them weak. See a physician in any case of ill-health or unusual things in your body.
• Practice protective sexual practices. Use condoms, even though it is sweeter having sex without it. But this is about your life. You have to choose between life and death. Keeping only a faithful sexual partner at a time is best.
• When diagnosed with any infertility, visit a doctor and follow up medical recommendations religiously. Do not hide under shame and rot in fear.
• Practice good hygiene. Keep under wears clean. Cotton and loose fitting under wears are healthier.

Save your relationship by keeping yourself sexually and reproductively sound. Do not meddle with your fertility. The little things you do with/to your body may have such great consequence as causing reproductive problems. Be guided right!

Bignedu