It seems that you can attribute all the ‘blunders’ of the male species on testosterone. It looks like not enough or too much of testosterone might cause infertility. This is due to the fact that testosterone has an essential part to play in the manufacture and distribution of sperm.
To give you an idea: testosterone is produced in the testes, which are in the scrotum. Two hormones LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) promote the making of testosterone. Thus, if there is a problem with the pituitary gland, which makes FSH and LH, or the hypothalamus, which releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) which stimulates the pituitary to produce LH and FSH, then testosterone manufacture will also be impacted. Phew! The characteristics that make men look and sound like men – muscular physique, facial hair and deep voice and the like – are all an effect of testosterone released during puberty. It is also responsible for regulating the sex drive.
Hypogonadism is a condition where you have a lack of testosterone. As mentioned before, problems with the hypothalamus, pituitary gland or testes can lower your testosterone manufacture or it can be a problem that you are born with. Sorry to say, hypogonadism attacks your fertility from all sides – without enough you can have not enough sperm, decreased sex drive and problems attaining and sustaining an erection. Ouch! Other indicators of hypogonadism include less facial and body hair, enlarged breast tissue, an increase in body fat, hot flashes and mood swings. Usually a hormone specialist (endocrinologist) is the only person who will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis. Generally you will be put on testosterone replacement therapy, but you may still require further help to get pregnant. Make sure your doctor knows that you want to get pregnant as this may influence your treatment.
Believe it or not, hypergonadism, lots of testosterone, may also cause problems! It’s easier to boost the quantities of hormones than it is to lower them, so it is more difficult to treat hypergonadism, although the good news is that it is much less common. Men who have hypergonadism will experience abnormal hair growth, enlarged breast tissue, increased muscle mass (the only good news), early puberty and acne.
An excess of testosterone may also be a problem for the women as it can cause PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), a common cause of female infertility. Women who have PCOS will battle to lose fat, and they might experience excess facial hair, acne and irregular or absent periods. So abnormal testosterone amounts in men or women may cause fertility difficulties. With the appropriate amount of testosterone, infertility is unlikely. Possibly the most difficult thing to handle if you suffer from hyper- or hypogonadism is your perception of yourself as a man, so don’t be afraid to get help.
Here is more information on What is Infertility. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Infertility.