Does Having One Testicle Decrease My Chance of Conceiving?

Nowadays, the rate of infertility in men is getting higher. More and more men are becoming concerned about their reproductive health.  There are many reasons which can lead to male infertility. Some men are afraid of not being able to conceive because they have one testicle. So, does having one testicle decrease the chance of conceiving a child?

What does fertility mean?

According to the experts, to be considered fertile, the followings must occur:

• The man must produce healthy sperms (a cell that is produced by the male’s sex organ and can combine with a female egg). At least one of the man’s testicles must be functioning correctly and must produce testosterone and other hormones to trigger and maintain sperms production.
• Sperms have to be delivered into the semen (the whitish liquid containing sperms).
• There need to be enough sperms in the semen. If the number of sperm in the semen is low, the rate of conceiving a child can be lower. Sperm count is considered low when it is fewer than 15 million sperms per millilitre of semen or fewer than 39 million per ejaculation.

• Sperms must function normally. If the sperms function abnormally, the sperms may not be able to reach or fertilize the partner’s egg.

One testicle or two, number does not really matter

The main purpose of the male’s sexual organs in the male reproductive system is to produce, maintain, and transport sperm. Many studies state that the number of sperms produced varies with the size of the testicles, but averages at about 85 million sperms per day per testicle. So, one healthy testicle can still fulfil its function of reproduction.

Healthy sperm comes from a healthy body

The good thing about sperm health is that it is directly related to your whole body health. To have healthy sperms, you should have a healthy balanced diet, exercise, get enough sunshine every day on your skin, and avoid bad social habits for example alcohol, smoking tobacco, and other drugs. All of these things impact your general health and sperms health. If you’re obese, you’re going to have some problems with your hormones, which can have side effects on your sperm health as well.

With the support of modern technology, there is no need to worry if you just have one testicle. If you live a healthy lifestyle, you still have a chance to become a father. If you are struggling to conceive, make an appointment with a fertility specialist. Infertility is a problem that may be due to factors from both couples instead of just one. 

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.