Hormonal disorders in men are becoming a major yet hidden cause of infertility. While many people associate hormones mainly with women’s health, men also rely on a delicate balance of hormones such as testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and thyroid hormones to produce healthy sperm. When these hormones fall out of balance, the body’s ability to make sperm reduces sharply. Doctors say many men ignore early signs because the symptoms are mild or confused with stress, ageing, or lifestyle issues. As a result, fertility problems appear much later, making treatment harder and longer.

Hormonal disorders lower testosterone, which reduces sperm production and sexual drive. Thyroid imbalances (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism) disrupt metabolism and sperm quality. High prolactin levels interfere with testosterone production and may cause erectile problems. Insulin resistance and obesity disrupt hormonal balance, leading to poor sperm count and motility. Stress-related cortisol spikes suppress male reproductive hormones. “Over the past few years, we have noticed more young and middle-aged men coming with fertility concerns, and a large percentage of them have underlying hormonal disorders. We are observing 2-5 per cent of patients she has been seeing coming with hormonal disorder.

The biggest challenge is that these conditions do not show strong symptoms in the beginning. A man may only feel slightly tired, gain weight, have reduced interest in sex, or experience mood changes. Because these signs are subtle, they are often ignored for months or even years. This delay affects sperm quality, reduces hormone levels, and sometimes leads to complete disruption of the reproductive cycle.  Early diagnosis, lifestyle correction, proper medication, and hormone therapy will be beneficial to manage these problems effectively. I advise men to get a hormone panel and semen analysis done if they are trying to conceive and not seeing results,” said Dr Jyotshna Palgamkar, Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Virar, Mumbai.