Low Sperm Count: Causes, Symptoms And Treatments.

Low sperm count means that the fluid
(semen) you release during an climax contains fewer
sperm than normal. A low sperm count is also called
oligospermia. Your sperm count is considered lower
than normal if you have fewer than 15 million sperm
per milliliter of semen.

Having a low sperm count decreases the odds that
one of your sperm will fertilise your partner’s egg,
resulting in pregnancy.

Nonetheless, many men who
have a low sperm count are still able to father a child.

Low sperm count symptoms may include:

1. Problems with s*xual function — for example, low
s*x drive or difficulty maintaining an erection
(erectile dysfunction)

2. Pain, swelling or a lump in the testicle area

3. Decreased facial or body hair or other signs of a
chromosome or hormone abnormality

When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you:

1. Are unable to conceive a child after a year of
regular, unprotected s*xual intercourse with your
partner.

2. Have erection or ejaculation problems, low s*x
drive or other problems with s*xual function

3. Have pain, discomfort, a lump or swelling in the
testicular area

4. Have a history of testicle, prostate or s*xual
problems.

5. Have had groin, testicle, man-hood or scrotum
surgery.

Low sperm count can be caused by a number of
health issues and medical treatments. Some of these
include:

1. Varicocele. A varicocele (VAR-ih-koe-seel) is a
swelling of the veins that drain the testicle. It’s a
common cause of male infertility. This may prevent
normal cooling of the testicle, leading to reduced
sperm count and fewer moving sperm.

2. Infection. Some infections can interfere with sperm
production and sperm health or can cause scarring
that blocks the passage of sperm. These include some
s*xually transmitted infections, including chlamydia
and gonorrhea; inflammation of the prostate
(prostatitis); inflamed testicles due to mumps
(mumps orchitis); and other infections of the urinary
tract or reproductive organs.

3. Ejaculation problems. Retrograde ejaculation
occurs when semen enters the bladder during climax
instead of emerging out of the tip of the man-hood.
Various health conditions can cause retrograde
ejaculation, including diabetes, spinal injuries, and
surgery of the bladder, prostate or urethra. Certain
medications also may result in retrograde
ejaculation, such as blood pressure medications
known as alpha blockers. Some men with spinal cord
injuries or certain diseases can’t release semen at all,
though they still can produce sperm.

4. Antibodies that attack sperm. Anti-sperm
antibodies are immune system cells that mistakenly
identify sperm as harmful invaders and attempt to
destroy them. This is especially common in men
who’ve had a vasectomy.

5. Tumors. Cancers and nonmalignant tumors can
affect the male reproductive organs directly, or can
affect the glands that release hormones related to
reproduction (such as the pituitary gland). Surgery,
radiation or chemotherapy to treat tumors can also
affect male fertility.

6. Undescended testicles. During fetal development
one or both testicles sometimes fail to descend from
the abdomen into the sac that normally contains the
testicles (scrotum). Decreased fertility is more likely
in men with this condition.

7. Hormone imbalances. The hypothalamus, pituitary
and testicles produce hormones that are necessary to
create sperm. Alterations in these hormones, as well
as from other systems such as the thyroid and
adrenal, may impair sperm production.

8. Sperm duct defects. The tubes that carry sperm
can be damaged by illness or injury. Some men are
born with a blockage in the part of the testicle that
stores sperm (epididymis) or a blockage of one of the
tubes that carry sperm out of the testicles (vas
deferens). Men with cystic fibrosis and some other
inherited conditions may be born without sperm
ducts altogether.

9. Chromosome defects. Inherited disorders such as
Klinefelter’s syndrome — in which a male is born with
two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome instead
of one X and one Y — cause abnormal development of
the male reproductive organs. Other genetic
syndromes associated with infertility include cystic
fibrosis, Kallmann’s syndrome, Young’s syndrome,
and Kartagener syndrome.

10. Celiac disease. A digestive disorder caused by
sensitivity to gluten, celiac disease can cause male
infertility. Fertility may improve after adopting a
gluten-free diet.

11. Certain medications. Testosterone replacement
therapy, long-term anabolic steroid use, cancer
medications (chemotherapy), certain antifungal
medications, some ulcer medications and some other
medications can impair sperm production and
decrease male fertility.

Environmental causes

1. Over exposure to certain environmental elements
can affect sperm production or function. Specific
causes include:

2. Industrial chemicals. Extended exposure to
benzenes, toluene, xylene, herbicides, pesticides,
organic solvents, painting materials and lead may
contribute to low sperm counts.

3. Heavy metal exposure. Exposure to lead or other
heavy metals also may cause infertility.

4. Radiation or X-rays. Exposure to radiation can
reduce sperm production. It can take several years for
sperm production to return to normal. With high
doses of radiation, sperm production can be
permanently reduced.

5. Overheating the testicles. Frequent use of saunas or
hot tubs may temporarily lower your sperm count.
Sitting for long periods, wearing tight clothing or
using a laptop on your lap for long periods of time
also may increase the temperature in your scrotum
and reduce sperm production. The type of underwear
you choose to wear is unlikely to significantly impact
your sperm count.

6. Prolonged bicycling. Prolonged bicycling is another
possible cause of reduced fertility due to overheating
the testicles.

Health, lifestyle and other causes
Other causes of low sperm count include:

7. Illegal drug use. Anabolic steroids taken to
stimulate muscle strength and growth can cause the
testicles to shrink and sperm production to decrease.

Use of cocaine or marijuana may temporarily reduce
the number and quality of your sperm as well.

8. Alcohol use. Drinking alcohol can lower
testosterone levels and cause decreased sperm
production.

9. Occupation. Certain occupations may increase
your risk of infertility, including those associated
with extended use of computers or video display
monitors, shift work and work-related stress.

10. Tobacco smoking. Men who smoke may have a
lower sperm count than do those who don’t smoke.

11. Emotional stress. Severe or prolonged emotional
stress, including stress about fertility itself, may
interfere with certain hormones needed to produce
sperm.

12. Weight. Obesity can cause hormone changes that
reduce male fertility.

13. Sperm testing issues. Lower than normal sperm
counts can result from testing a sperm sample that
was taken too soon after your last ejaculation; was
taken too soon after an illness or stressful event; or
didn’t contain all of the semen you ejaculated
because some was spilled during collection. For this
reason, results are generally based on several samples
taken over a period of time

Treatments for low sperm count include:

1. Surgery. For example, a swelling of the veins that
drain the testicle (varicocele) can often be surgically
fixed or an obstructed vas deferens tube repaired.

2. Treating infections. Antibiotics can cure an
infection of the reproductive tract, but this doesn’t
always restore fertility.

3. Hormone treatments and medications. Hormone
replacement or medications may be prescribed to
change hormone levels. It can take between three and
six months before you’ll notice any effects on your
semen analysis.

4. Assisted reproductive technology (ART). ART
treatments involve obtaining sperm through normal
ejaculation, surgical extraction or from donor
individuals, depending on your specific case and
wishes. The sperm is then inserted into the female
private part tract, or used for in vitro fertilization or
intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

When treatment doesn’t work
Sometimes male fertility problems can’t be treated,
and it’s impossible for a man to father a child. If this
is the case, you and your partner can consider either
using sperm from a donor or adopting a child.

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