For those with:
Female anatomy Male anatomy
For those with male anatomy

Conditions affecting the reproductive system

Male infertility can be largely attributed to sperm-related issues – typically problems with sperm production or sperm transport.21

Illustration of male anatomy

Sperm production21

2 in 3 illustration

cases of male infertility are linked to low sperm count or sperm that do not function properly

Some of the potential medical conditions that could cause infertility

  • Genetic
  • Undescended testes (didn’t descend at birth)
  • Infections (such as sexually transmitted infections)
  • Torsion (twisting of the testes in the scrotum)
  • Certain medications (eg, exogenous testosterone)

Sperm transport21

Illustration to show around 25%

of cases of male infertility are linked to sperm transport problems, which can lead to a lack of sperm in the ejaculated semen

Some of the potential medical conditions that could cause infertility

  • Infections (such as sexually transmitted infections)
  • Prostate-related problems
  • Absence of vas deferens
  • Vasectomy

Wondering how infertility is diagnosed?

Doctors use a range of diagnostic tests to help identify potential underlying factors that could impact fertility.

Learn more
Illustration of speech bubbles

If you want to know more about how to manage these conditions or risks, talk to your fertility specialist, nurse or other healthcare professional.

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  1. Family planning NSW. Infertility. Available at: https://www.fpnsw.org.au/factsheets/individuals/fertility-and-infertility/infertility. Accessed April 2024.
  2. World Health Organization. Infertility. September 2020. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infertility. Accessed April 2024.
  3. Cleveland Clinic. Diminished ovarian reserve. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23975-diminished-ovarian-reserve. Accessed April 2024.
  4. Your Fertility. Age and reproductive outcomes. Available at: https://www.yourfertility.org.au/sites/default/files/2018-11/Age_and_reproductive_outcomes.pdf. Accessed April 2024.
  5. Your Fertility. Thinking about having a baby? Available at: https://www.yourfertility.org.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/Thinking_about_having_a_baby_resource.pdf. Accessed April 2024.
  6. Healthline. What is a normal sperm count? Reviewed August 2018. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/normal-sperm-count. Accessed April 2024.
  7. Healthline. How does sperm morphology affect fertility? Reviewed August 2017. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/sperm-morphology. Accessed April 2024.
  8. Medical News Today. How does sperm motility affect fertility? Reviewed November 2017. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320160. Accessed April 2024.
  9. Cleveland Clinic. Female reproductive system. Reviewed November 2022. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9118-female-reproductive-system. Accessed April 2024.
  10. Oyelowo T. Menstrual cycle. In: Mosby’s guide to women’s health. Missouri: Mosby, 2007: pp 11–15.
  11. MSD Manual. Overview of infertility. Reviewed September 2020. Available at: https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-nz/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/infertility/overview-of-infertility. Accessed April 2024.
  12. Jain M, Singh M. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) techniques. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island: StatPearls Publishing, 2023. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK576409. Accessed April 2024.
  13. Oyelowo T. Anatomy, physiology, and neurology. In: Mosby’s guide to women’s health. Missouri: Mosby, 2007: pp 1–7.
  14. Patton KT, et al. Anatomy and physiology, 11th ed. Missouri: Elsevier, 2022.
  15. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What are some possible causes of female infertility? Available at: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infertility/conditioninfo/causes/causes-female. Accessed April 2024.
  16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infertility FAQs. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/index.htm. Accessed April 2024.
  17. Mayo Clinic. Female infertility. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/female-infertility/symptoms-causes/syc-20354308. Accessed April 2024.
  18. Mayo Clinic. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352594. Accessed April 2024.
  19. Oyelowo T. Pelvic inflammatory disease. In: Mosby’s guide to women’s health. Missouri: Mosby, 2007: pp 168–71.
  20. Cleveland Clinic. Uterine factor infertility. Reviewed January 2020. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17738-uterine-factor-infertility. Accessed April 2024.
  21. Healthy Male (Andrology Australia). Male infertility. Reviewed May 2018. Available at: https://www.healthymale.org.au/files/resources/male_infertility_fact_sheet_healthy_male_2019.pdf. Accessed April 2024.
  22. Mayo Clinic. Infertility. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/infertility/symptoms-causes/syc-20354317. Accessed April 2024.
  23. Gnoth C, et al. Hum Reprod 2008; 23(6): 1359–65.
  24. Zhang LJ, et al. BC Med J 2020; 62(9): 319–22.
  25. Healthline. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): symptoms, causes, and treatment. Reviewed April 2021. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/polycystic-ovary-disease. Accessed April 2024.

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