Sperm count is the average number of sperm found in one sample of sperm. A male is diagnosed with a low sperm count when there are less than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen, commonly known as oligozoospermia. Also, azoospermia is the medical term for the complete absence of sperm.
A low sperm count decreases the likelihood that one of your sperm will fertilize your partner's egg, resulting in pregnancy. A semen analysis is conducted to determine whether a sperm or semen problem may be the root of infertility and provide the optimum treatment.
Low sperm count can persist due to a variety of factors, which can be classified into three categories: Medical, Environmental, and Lifestyle.
- Medical
You may be more likely to develop low sperm counts if you have a history of testicular symptoms, injuries, or operations, as well as genetic disorders such as Klinefelter Syndrome. Past infections, STIs, medical operations, or therapies may also have an impact on the sperm production in addition to previous surgery on the male reproductive system.
- Environmental
Overheating your testicles might reduce sperm production. This means that anything from regularly using hot tubs to sitting with your computer on your lap may drop your counts. Other possible environmental causes include occupational exposure to Industrial chemicals like herbicides, pesticides or exposure to radiation from X-rays or other sources that may harm sperm production.
- Lifestyle
Activities such as excessive drug and alcohol use, as well as smoking or vaping, can all reduce sperm count. Anabolic steroids, which are commonly used to build muscular mass, usually cause testicles to shrink and sperm production to decline. Jobs that demand prolonged sitting, mental concerns such as stress and sadness, and body weight, particularly if you are obese or overweight, can all have an impact on hormones.
Low Sperm Count Treatment
The cause of this fertility issue will determine the course of low sperm count treatment that are enlisted below:
- Medications - Medication can be used to treat infections of the reproductive system, which are the probable cause of the low sperm count. These infections must be treated right away. However, in some cases, the sperm count may not always return to normal even after an infection has been well treated, owing to the lasting tissue scarring.
- Surgery - Surgery is a possibility in situations where there are extensive varicoceles, obstructions, or problems with sperm exiting the body. In some situations, sperm can be surgically removed from the testes or epididymis and used directly for ART (Assisted Reproductive Techniques), such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
- Hormonal Treatments - The testosterone and other hormone levels that are either too high or too low can result in poor sperm count. Addressing hormonal levels with drugs and other therapies may help restore normal sperm count to get pregnant Avoid using anabolic steroids, testosterone, or even the majority of over-the-counter testosterone boosters since they can lead to infertility.
- IVF with ICSI - IVF has a high success rate, but when combined with ICSI, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the success rate for men with low sperm counts might be much higher. ICSI is taking a sperm sample and purifying it to find the healthiest, strongest sperm. The egg is then injected with a single sperm to complete fertilization. The best course of therapy for males with low sperm counts is frequently IVF with ICSI.
- Assisted reproductive technology (ART) - Depending on your personal condition and aspirations, ART treatments may entail collecting sperm by regular ejaculation, surgical extraction, or from donor persons. The sperm is subsequently implanted in the female genital tract or utilized in IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
When Treatment Doesn't Work
Male reproductive issues are sometimes untreatable, making it difficult for a male to become a father. In this situation, you may want to think about utilizing donor sperm or raising a child via adoption.
Conclusion
The first step in treating the couple's infertility is determining what is causing it. You need to visit the best fertility clinics that have the top infertility doctors with years of experience. Consult with experts, know the underlying causes and get the best-optimized treatment for your low sperm count problem. There is no need to lose hope, as modern techniques are advancing day by day, eventually increasing the treatments' rate of success.