Fertility problems
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Illness and infertility

Some illnesses affect your chances of having a baby.
 
 
 
 
 
Source:
Irvine DS.
Epidemiology and aetiology of male infertility.
Human Reproduction. 1998; 13: 33-44.
 
 
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
 
 
Source:
Meniru GI.
Evaluation of the infertile couple.
In: Cambridge guide to infertility management and assisted reproduction. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK; 2001.
 
 
 
 
 
2

Undescended testicles
In some newborn baby boys, their testicles have not descended from inside the abdomen. If this happens to both testicles and it isn't treated, it may later make the man infertile. If only one testicle is affected, he may still produce sperm but he may have a low sperm count. There is an operation to bring down undescended testicles. Having this operation in childhood probably improves a man's chances of having children later in life.

Cystic fibrosis
 
 
 
 
 
cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a disease people are born with that gives them problems with their lungs and bowels. The main results are breathing and digestive problems.
 
 
 
 
 
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease. Some men with cystic fibrosis can't release sperm from their testicles. But they do still make sperm, which can be used with a treatment called ICSI. Cystic fibrosis sometimes affects a woman's chances of getting pregnant.

Mumps
Mumps is an infection that can damage a man's testicles. Make sure you're vaccinated against mumps.

Diabetes
 
 
 
 
 
diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes too much sugar to circulate in your blood. It happens when your body stops making a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin stops working (type 2 diabetes).
 
 
 
 
 
Diabetes can cause fertility problems in men.

Other illnesses
There are some rare
 
 
 
 
 
genes
Your genes are the parts of your cells that contain instructions for how your body works. Genes are housed on chromosomes, structures that sit in the nucleus at the middle of each of your cells. You have 23 pairs of chromosomes in your normal cells, each of which has thousands of genes. You get one set of chromosomes, and all of the genes that are on them, from each of your parents.
 
 
 
 
 
genetic problems that can affect your chances of getting pregnant.

Sources for the information on this page:
  1. Irvine DS.Epidemiology and aetiology of male infertility.Human Reproduction. 1998; 13: 33-44.
  2. Meniru GI.Evaluation of the infertile couple.In: Cambridge guide to infertility management and assisted reproduction. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK; 2001.
This information was last updated on Aug 06, 2009
BMJ Group
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.