Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal, Encyclopedia.
the inability of the male to fertilize the ovum; it may or may not be associated with impotence.
Etymology: L, mas + sterilis, barren
the inability of a man to produce sperm. Causes may include environmental factors, such as exposure to heat or radiation, or physiological factors, such as undescended testes, varicocele, prolonged fever, endocrine disorders, cancer chemotherapy, vasectomy, and abuse of alcohol or marijuana. See also infertility.
male ster·i·li·ty(māl stĕr-ili-tē)
Inability of the male to fertilize the oocyte or ovum; may or may not be associated with impotence.
The inability of a male either to produce sperm or to produce viable sperm, thereby prohibiting fertilization of the ovum. This may result from congenital factors, such as cryptorchidism or maldevelopment of the testicular ducts or testis, or acquired factors, such as radiation to, or surgical removal of, the testes.
See also: sterility