How are Your Swimmers Doing?

16:45 19th May 2020 | Motile Sperm

Oligospermia Decreased facial or body hair erectile dysfunction Varicocele Chromosome defects Celiac disease Depression

What does it mean when Oligospermia is diagnosed?

Low sperm count means that the fluid (semen) you ejaculate during an orgasm contains fewer sperm than normal.

A low sperm count is also called oligospermia (ol-ih-go-SPUR-me-uh). A complete absence of sperm is called azoospermia. Your sperm count is considered lower than normal if you have fewer than 15 million sperm per millilitre of semen.

Having a low sperm count decreases the odds that one of your sperm will fertilize your partner's egg, resulting in pregnancy. Nonetheless, many men who have low sperm count are still able to father a child.

Symptoms

The main sign of low sperm count is the inability to conceive a child. There might be no other obvious signs or symptoms. In some men, an underlying problem such as an inherited chromosomal abnormality, a hormonal imbalance, dilated testicular veins or a condition that blocks the passage of sperm may cause signs and symptoms.

Low sperm count symptoms might include:

Problems with sexual function — for example, low sex drive or difficulty maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction)
Pain, swelling or a lump in the testicle area
Decreased facial or body hair or other signs of a chromosome or hormone abnormality

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if you have been unable to conceive a child after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse or sooner if you have any of the following:

Erection or ejaculation problems, low sex drive, or other problems with sexual function
Pain, discomfort, a lump or swelling in the testicle area
A history of testicle, prostate or sexual problems
A groin, testicle, penis or scrotum surgery

Medical causes

Low sperm count can be caused by a number of health issues and medical treatments. Some of these include: Varicocele. Infection. Ejaculation problems. Antibodies that attack sperm. Undescended testicles. Hormone imbalances. Defects of tubules that transport sperm. Chromosome defects.Celiac disease. Certain medications. Prior surgeries.

Environmental causes

Sperm production or function can be affected by overexposure to certain environmental elements, including: Industrial chemicals. Heavy metal exposure. Radiation or X-rays. Overheating the testicles.

Health, lifestyle and other causes

Other causes of low sperm count include: Drug use. Alcohol use. Occupation. Tobacco smoking. Emotional stress. Depression. Weight. Sperm testing issues.

Prevention

To protect your fertility, avoid known factors that can affect sperm count and quality. For example: