"One half of one percent of men were functionally sterile in 1938. Today it has reached between 8-12 percent. 'Functionally sterile' is defined as sperm counts below 20,000,000/ml of semen." - Dr. Cecil Jacobson

Types of Male Infertility

Male infertility can be classified into four main types:

1. No Sperm (azoospermia) - No sperm is present, and accounts for 3-4% of male infertility.

2. Poor Sperm (oligospermia) qualitly/quantity - Characterized by low motility and a high rate of abnormal sperm.

3. Sperm Dysfunctional - Sperm lack or have defective fertilizing capabilites resulting in complete failure or poor fertilization of the egg. This accounts for 3-6% of male infertility.

4. Inability to ejaculate into the vagina. This accounts for 4-6% of male infertility.

A "male factor" is found in about 30-40 % of infertility cases. These factors include retrograde ejaculation, impotence, hormone deficiency, environmental pollutants, scarring from STDs, decreased sperm count from heavy marijuana use or perscription drugs such as cimetidine, spironolactone, and nitrofurantion.

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