You might not realize it, but in close to have of the cases where a couple is having trouble conceiving there is at least one male fertility factor present. There are any number of causes of male infertility, and understanding exactly what can cause them can help you to know what kind of treatment to expect, and what kinds of changes you might make to increase your odds of trying to conceive.

Some of the most common causes of male infertility include:

• Low sperm count. This is most often the cause of male infertility. The vast majority of male infertility issues stem from a low sperm count. A low sperm count happens when a man’s semen doesn’t’ have enough sperm. This can be caused by many different things. Hormonal changes, for example, can be responsible for a low sperm count. So can the use of certain medications, illicit drug use, alcohol use or abuse, excessive caffeine intake, smoking and more. Even testicular injury or testicular overheating can contribute to a low sperm count. Testicular overheating is most often caused by things like hot tub or sauna use, a heated waterbed or wearing tight underwear.
• Low sperm motility. This is the next most common cause of male infertility. If a man’s sperm don’t move forward at a reasonable rate, you’re going to have a hard time conceiving. This can be caused by many of the same things that can cause a low sperm count, such as medications, drug use, alcohol use, excessive use of caffeine, smoking or testicular injury. It can also be caused by testicular overheating.
• Abnormal sperm. When a man’s sperm aren’t developing correctly and have an abnormal shape, it will affect his fertility. Abnormal sperm can be caused by many of the same things that the other sperm problems can. In addition, exposure to heavy metals or to certain chemicals can also cause a man to have abnormal sperm.

If you’re having trouble trying to conceive, it’s important that the male partner provides an open and honest health history to your doctor. This will help to narrow down the possible causes of male infertility, and get you on track to have a better chance of conception.