LOW SPERM COUNT

General Infomation
Definition: 

Low sperm count (oligospermia) is one cause of male infertility. Although it takes only a single sperm to fertilize an egg (ovum), the odds of a single sperm reaching the egg are very low. For this reason, having a low sperm count decreases your chance of getting your partner pregnant.

The lower your sperm count, the more likely you'll have trouble fathering a child. But treatments for male infertility related to low sperm count can help.

Symptoms: 

Signs And Symptoms of Low Sperm Count

For most men, the only sign of low sperm count in men is the inability to pregnant a woman and have children (infertility). A couple is considered infertile if they're unable to conceive after one year of regular intercourse. If sperm production is impaired by an underlying hormonal problem, you may have other signs such as decreased facial or body hair or problems with sexual function.

Causes & Complication
Causes: 

Causes Of Low Sperm Count

Possible reasons for low sperm count include:

Infections. Active untreated infections can hinder sperm production. It's advisable to get checked and treated for STI'S/ STD.
Varicocele. This is a swollen vein inside the scrotum that can affect sperm production. This common cause of male infertility can be repaired with minor surgery.
Damaged sperm ducts. Inherited conditions, infections, surgeries or injuries can damage the delicate duct system that carries sperm from the testicles into the penis.
Anti-sperm antibodies. Men who have anti-sperm antibodies have an immune system response that attacks their own sperm. Common in men who have had a vasectomy reversal, this condition can also be caused by other problems such as an injury or infection.
Problems with sperm production. These issues can be caused by a genetic (inherited) condition such as Klinefelter's syndrome or a hormonal disorder such as a health problem that affects the pituitary gland in your brain. If you have an inherited condition, you're more likely to have complete lack of sperm in your semen (azoospermia).
Masturbation. Too much masturbation on daily basis can lower sperm count. Sperms needs time to accumulate and mature so that they can be enough and more powerful. Abstain for 3 to 4 days before having an intercourse to make sure you have enough and healthy sperms.
Too Much Heat Sperm production is favored by low room temperatures and that's why testicles are designed outside the body. If one is working in a hot environment, or is wearing too tight underwear, there is likely wood of having low sperm count.

Tests
Tests and Diagnosis: 

See a doctor so that he will try to determine the underlying cause. Sperm production is complex and requires normal functioning of the testicles (testes) as well as the hypothalamus and pituitary glands — organs in your brain that produce hormones that trigger sperm production. Problems with any of these systems can affect sperm production.

Semen analysis- semen analysis test. Sperm count is generally determined by examining semen under a microscope to see how many sperm appear within squares on a grid pattern. You will have to masturbate and ejaculate into a special container.

Sperm counts:
Normal sperm densities range from 20 to greater than 100 million sperm per milliliter of semen. Men can reproduce with much lower numbers of sperm, but chance of impregnating decreases along with decreasing sperm count.
• Men with sperm counts between 12.5 and 25 million sperm per milliliter are able to get their partner pregnant.
• Those with sperm counts less than 12.5 million sperm per milliliter are less able to get their partner pregnant.

Sperm Morphology: Your sperm have a normal shape.

Sperm motility: Your sperm should show normal forward movement

Ultrasound
To check if reproductive tract is blocked, doctor may order an ultrasound test. Scrotal ultrasound is used to detect a varicocele or blocked epididymis.

Testicular biopsy
This procedure uses a fine needle to take a small tissue sample of the testicle to look for any abnormalities and to determine if sperm are present. The doctor will numb the area where the samples will be taken (generally one from either testicle). The procedure isn't painful, but you may feel sore for a few weeks afterward.

Blood tests and genetic tests
If low sperm count is caused by hormonal condition, your doctor may test your blood for hormone levels. In some cases, problems with sperm production are linked to a genetic (chromosomal) abnormality. If your doctor suspects this is the case, genetic testing can be used to check for absent or abnormal regions of the male chromosomes (Y chromosomes).

Medication & Prevention
Treatments and Drugs: 

Treatment for low sperm count

.

Varicocele repair. Surgical treatment to repair a varicocele can improve the sperm count and increase the chances for a pregnancy but success rate is very low (20%)and its very costly apart from causing scars. CONTACT US at Neem for an alternative natural varicocele treatment. Call 0720760419
Hormone replacement. If the hypothalamus or pituitary glands in your brain aren't producing normal hormone levels, Doctor will prescribe hormonal replacement treatment. (Gonadotrophin injections.) This can take up to a year of regular injections to achieve normal fertility. CONTACT US for Natural and faster hormonal treatment. This takes 1 to 2 months only. call 0720760419
Treating infections. If a blood test reveals high numbers of white blood cells, you may have an infection of the reproductive tract that affects sperm production. Antibiotic treatment may cure the infection, but may not restore fertility.
In vitro fertilization (IVF). During IVF, Very few sperm are used. They are harvested and combined i laboratory with woman's eggs also harvested. Fertilized eggs are then placed into the woman's uterus.
Artificial Insemination sperm injection is done into the woman's uterus after being harvested form a man.

Lifestyle and Home Remedies: 

Taking care of yourself can help increase the number of healthy sperm in your semen.
Frequency of ejaculation. It's important to have sex on a regular basis around the time of ovulation, when your partner can get pregnant. But ejaculating more than a few times a week can reduce the number of sperm present in your semen.
Avoid the heat. High body temperatures have been shown to decrease sperm production. Avoid hot tubs, saunas and exposure to hot weather. Tight fitting shorts or prolonged laptop computer use also may increase the temperature of your testicles, decreasing sperm production.
Make healthy lifestyle choices. Staying at a healthy weight and avoiding tobacco, excessive drinking and illegal drugs can all help reduce the risk of low sperm count.

Prevention: 

A number of factors can help you maintain higher numbers of healthy sperm — and increase your chances of conceiving a child. Here are a few lifestyle decisions that may help:
Don't smoke. Smoking can damage sperm and interfere with sperm production and libido. Secondhand smoke also may cause low sperm count.
Avoid excessive drinking. Excessive alcohol consumption (more than two drinks a day for men) has been shown to reduce sperm production and affect libido.
Steer clear of illegal drugs. Drugs including anabolic steroids, marijuana and cocaine can all affect sperm production and libido.
Keep the weight off. Obesity is linked to decreased sperm production.
Don't get a vasectomy. If there's any possibility you may want to father a child in the future, use other methods of birth control. Even though vasectomies can sometimes be reversed, you may have a reduced sperm count.
Keep cool. Avoid hot tubs, saunas and other sources of sustained heat, which can temporarily reduce sperm count. Tight underwear and sitting for long periods or using a laptop computer also may increase scrotal temperature.

By Anonymous on 16 May 2011

Comments on this post

    Post new comment