Low Sperm Count, Causes, Healthyslide,

Low Sperm Count

Sperm quality isn’t something most men think about often. However, if there is a desire to expand or start a family, the number and quality of sperm produced would be foremost on every man’s mind.

While it only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg, the journey getting there can be a tumultuous one. The more sperm present, the better the chances.

Low sperm count also known as oligozoospermia refers to the presence of fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen.

A complete absence of sperm in semen is known as azoospermia. Having a low sperm count decreases the odds that one of the sperm will fertilize the egg of a female, resulting in pregnancy. Nonetheless, many men who have a low sperm count are still able to father a child.

Sperm count is considered low if it falls below 15 million sperm per milliliter (mL) of semen, although the average is around 75 million sperm per ml.

Risk factors of oligozoospermia include obesity, previous history of trauma or surgery in or around the testicles and taking certain medications.

Beyond these, there are various causes of low sperm quality, which can be categorized into three main categories: medical, environmental and lifestyle.

Medical Causes

A history of testicular injury or surgery as well as genetic conditions such as Klinefelter syndrome, may increase the chances of having a low sperm count.

Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation or surgery may also affect hormone and sperm production. Radiation of the testicles directly damages the cells that produce sperm, while radiation or surgery of the brain can likewise cause low sperm count, as the hormones produced in the brain stimulate sperm production.

Other causes include:

-Swelling in the veins that drain the testicles, which is called varicocele.

-Previous infections or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can cause blockage, scarring or other damage to the reproductive system.

-Erectile dysfunction or Ejaculatory dysfunction (retrograde ejaculation).

-Immune system disorders

-Genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis

-Medical procedures, treatments or medications such as antifungal, anticancer and antibiotic medications

Environmental Causes

Overheating of the testicles can lower sperm production. The ideal sperm conditions are slightly less than body temperature, which explains why the testicles are positioned outside of the abdominal cavity.

Other possible environmental causes include occupational exposure to herbicides, pesticides, solvents and other industrial chemicals or heavy metals. Exposure to radiation from X-rays or other sources may harm sperm production as well.

Lifestyle Causes

Use of anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass, will almost always shrink testicles and decrease sperm production. Recreational activities like heavy drug and alcohol use, as well as use of tobacco or vaping may likewise lower sperm count.

Marijuana and opioids also reduce sperm production.

Other possible causes include:

-Testosterone boosters, vitamins and pre-workout supplements containing anabolic steroids.

-Jobs that require long periods of sitting, such as truck driving.

-Emotional stress and depression especially if they are long term and severe

-Body weight, particularly being obese or overweight can affect sex hormone production

In a nutshell, low sperm count is a great challenge to men and symptoms and signs don’t present until attempts to start a family prove difficult. It is important to seek medical attention from a urologist if you have these symptoms present: