{"id":105901,"date":"2020-07-09T15:44:13","date_gmt":"2020-07-09T13:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/?p=105901"},"modified":"2022-04-12T17:35:21","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T15:35:21","slug":"low-sperm-count","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/blog\/low-sperm-count\/","title":{"rendered":"A low sperm count: symptoms, causes and treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"
A low sperm count<\/strong> leading to infertility is an increasingly common condition in the Western world. A recent study led by Dr Ashley Tiegs, IVI fellow, found that the number of men at risk of needing fertility treatment went from 12.4% in 2004 to 21.3% in 2017. It also reported that male infertility now represents around 50% of all the cases treated by fertility clinics. Her team\u2019s findings have given rise to both alarm and speculation about the possible causes. You may not give a second thought to your, or your partner\u2019s, sperm count until the time comes to start a family. Then it becomes crucial.<\/p>\n In this article we examine the possible causes of low sperm count<\/strong>, its signs and symptoms, how it is diagnosed and, most importantly, the steps you may need to take. What are the options for low sperm count treatment<\/strong> to help you rescue your dreams of having your own family?<\/p>\n The only real symptom of having a low sperm count<\/strong> is infertility. Therefore until you are actively trying to conceive a child, it\u2019s quite likely you will have no idea that there is a problem. However a low sperm count<\/strong> could be associated with other underlying medical conditions, which do have a range of symptoms.<\/p>\n If you have any symptoms such as low sex drive, erectile dysfunction or pain and swelling in the testicle area, you should consult your medical practitioner. If you don\u2019t have symptoms but have been trying for a pregnancy for a year without success, it\u2019s time for some diagnostic fertility tests.<\/p>\n Even for people who do not have any of these underlying medical conditions, a low sperm count<\/strong> can still be the result of lifestyle and environmental factors. Contrary to popular myth, masturbation is not one of them, and has no impact on the health of sperm.<\/p>\n Lifestyle causes of low sperm count<\/strong><\/p>\n Heavy use of recreational drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, opioids and even use of anabolic steroids for body-building purposes can all have an adverse impact on sperm quality. Long-term mental health issues such as depression or anxiety can also lower sperm count. Maintaining a healthy weight is also important, as being overweight can affect the hormone balance and damage the quality and quantity of sperm.<\/p>\n Environmental factors <\/strong><\/p>\n The reason that sperm are stored outside the body cavity is that their ideal temperature is slightly below that of the normal body. Anything that heats up the groin area, such as working for long periods with a laptop on your lap or taking long soaks in a hot tub, is therefore not good news for sperm. You should also try to avoid pollutants such as herbicides, pesticides, industrial chemicals and solvents in order to protect your sperm health. This risk is due to working with them or because some of them can be present in the food.<\/p>\n There\u2019s really no other way except for a full semen analysis to diagnose any problem with your sperm count. While it is possible to use an over-the-counter home semen analysis kit, many of these only measure the number of sperm, and quantity is by no means the whole story. A full semen analysis will also examine sperm motility, that is how many of your sperm are capable of swimming, and morphology, the structure and shape of your sperm, as well as acidity, concentration and volume.<\/p>\n A fertility specialist or an assisted reproduction clinic will supplement these technical aspects of semen analysis by taking your medical history and performing a full physical examination. Where necessary, a diagnosis can also include blood tests to check hormone levels, an ultrasound scan of the testicles and prostate and, in the case of blockages, a biopsy to evaluate sperm production.<\/p>\n For some of the medical causes of low sperm count<\/strong>, surgery would be needed. Or, in the case of a blockage preventing sperm from entering the ejaculate, a biopsy or just an epididymal aspiration to recover sperm may be necessary. But the good news is that most cases are treatable in terms of fertility. The most commonly used assisted reproduction treatments would be intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilisation (IVF).<\/p>\n Intrauterine insemination<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Also known as artificial insemination, IUI is recommended for heterosexual couples where the male partner has mild or moderate deficiencies in sperm quality. It increases the chances of pregnancy in three ways:<\/p>\n In vitro fertilisation<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The more invasive and complicated but overall more successful technique of IVF may be used when IUI is unsuccessful, and in cases of moderate or severe male factor infertility. This well-known process involves a few more stages than IUI.<\/p>\n A low sperm count <\/strong>doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that you and your partner will not become parents! If you would like to discuss diagnostic testing, or you want to know more about the options for fertility treatment, do get in touch with us at IVI<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A low sperm count leading to infertility is an increasingly common condition in the Western world. A recent study led by Dr Ashley Tiegs, IVI fellow, found that the number of men at risk of needing fertility treatment went from 12.4% in 2004 to 21.3% in 2017. It also reported that male infertility now represents… View Article<\/a>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":105923,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[66,254,255],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSymptoms of low sperm count<\/h2>\n
Medical causes of low sperm count<\/h2>\n
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Other causes of low sperm count<\/h2>\n
How is low sperm count diagnosed?<\/h2>\n
Fertility treatment for low sperm count<\/h2>\n
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Getting in touch with IVI<\/h2>\n