Knowing the risk factors for male infertility can help you celebrate Father’s Day in the future

During Father’s Day, everyone is celebrating the existing dads in their lives. However, our Austin fertility specialists know it’s also important to think about all the future-fathers out there. One of the ways that our team does this is by sharing information that allows men to protect their fertility. For this Father’s Day, the Texas Fertility Center team is sharing some risk factors for male infertility so that all the guys out there can keep their little swimmers safe.

What are the risk factors for male infertility?

Men are often surprised to learn how many things can affect their fertility. However, it makes sense because everything in the body is interconnected.

The following list highlights some common risk factors for male infertility.

• Use of tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, certain medications and cancer treatments
• Being overweight or obese
• Testicular issues, including infections, injury or surgery
• Exposure to certain toxins at home and in the workplace
• Overheating the testicles by wearing tight-fitting clothing
• Having a fertility disorder or a history of undescended testicles
• Having certain medical conditions like chronic and genetic illnesses

When should you make an appointment with a fertility doc?

Many men aren’t sure when they should visit a doctor like one of our Austin fertility specialists. They might think that an issue will resolve itself, or they might be on the fence about whether there’s a problem at all.

The general advice is that hopeful parents should visit a fertility doctor if they haven’t conceived after one year of having unprotected sex. They should make this appointment after six months of trying if the female partner is age 35 or over.

Here are some other signs that you should visit a fertility specialist.

• Pain or swelling in the testicles
• A history of testicular or sexual issues
• Surgery on the groin, testicle, penis or scrotum
• Problems with ejaculation, erection or sex drive

When you visit our clinic, your doctor will take your medical history and order a semen analysis. They will also order testing for your female partner if you have one.

After receiving your test results, they will either make a referral to a local urologist or work with you to design a customized treatment plan. Our goal is to help you overcome any barriers on your path to parenthood so that you can celebrate your next Father’s Day as a dad.

If you have more questions about the risk factors for male infertility or male fertility treatments, contact us to schedule an appointment. We’ll give you the information you need to make fatherhood possible.