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August 26: Fertility Health Checks Learn More

The Lower The Sperm Count, The Lower The Chances

microscopic perspective view closeup of a group of sperm swimming in one direction

If the semen (fluid) that you ejaculate during an orgasm is abnormal, you might be suffering from low sperm count. Your sperm count should be 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen to be considered normal. Infertility affects 15 percent of healthy couples, and of those cases, males are the cause 40 percent of the time. Low sperm count is the cause for one-third of male infertility cases. The lower your sperm count, the lower your chances of fertilizing your partner’s eggs.

Causes Of Low Sperm Count

Low sperm count can be caused by numerous factors. Some of the most common causes are:

  • Damaged Ducts
  • Low Production
  • Varicocele
  • Antibodies
  • Other factors

If you are suffering from damaged ducts, blunt force trauma or an infection may have caused significant damage to your sperm ducts. Your testicles are connected to the penis by these sperm ducts. Surgical procedures can also lead to damaged ducts.

Alternatively, you may suffer from low sperm count because you are unable to produce large amounts of sperm. This may occur because of a genetic disorder or you may have issues with your organs or glands. For instance, you could have issues creating sperm in your testicles if you have problems with your purity glands.

Varicocele causes a low sperm count because of swollen veins. If you suffer from varicocele, you are unable to produce sperm due to a vein inside of your scrotum that has become swollen. The good news is that this cause can typically be corrected through minor surgery.

Antibodies fight off diseases, but some can cause you to have a low sperm count. These specific antibodies are known as “anti-sperm antibodies.” They mistake sperm as harmful invaders, and destroy the sperm before it has a chance to exit your body.

Lifestyle Choices

There are some self-inflicted causes of low sperm count. The type of lifestyle you live will play an important role in your chances of reproducing. If you use drugs and alcohol, or encounter a great deal of stress, your sperm count can be lowered. Studies show that men who do not smoke or use tobacco products have a higher sperm count than those who do. Stay away from stressful situations, both at work and home, because the hormones you need to produce sperm can be affected. You should maintain a healthy weight. Obesity has been known to reduce male fertility because of hormone changes; therefore, maintaining a good diet and exercising regularly is important. Here is a complete list of infertility causes.

Treatment

Although some low-sperm count cases cannot be treated, others can. There are medications that you can take that will improve your sperm count. Men who use Clomiphene have the ability to improve their sperm’s production and motility. You can take human chorionic gonadotriptin to boost your sperm production, as well as your testosterone levels. Always consult with a doctor or specialist before taking medications to improve your sperm count. A specialist can explain the positive and negatives, such as conception statistics and side effects.

If you have a low sperm count that does not prevent you from conceiving a child, but your chances at conception can be affected. If you are unsuccessful, there are other options available for you, such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), or sperm donors. A specialist will go over all of your options with you. Call us at 1300 FERTILITY to get any questions answered, or you can send an email to our nurse manager Denise Donati.