Low sperm count, or oligozoospermia, is when the level of sperm within the semen is low. Anything below 15 Million sperm per millilitre of ejaculate is considered low.
Although this can be a cause of male infertility, or difficulty for a couple to get pregnant, it does not mean that conception is not possible.
Problems with low sperm count are not uncommon, in fact research suggests that around 1 in 3 couples that are struggling with fertility are affected by either low sperm count or poor sperm quality.
Some couples may find that that are eligible for treatment with the NHS, however this is unfortunately not the case for everyone as a postcode lottery sadly exists to decide eligibility. If you would like to speak to a member of our team about what the right step for you and your partner is please feel free to contact us at any point via telephone or email.
If you and your partner have been struggling to get pregnant for 1 year or more it is a good idea to both have some fertility investigations. Fertility is 50/50 – it takes two to get pregnant and 50% of fertility problems lie with the man!
To conduct a semen analysis to assess a low sperm count, you will be asked to provide a sample of semen. After one to two days your results will be available. If it is found that you have a low sperm count then you will be referred to see a male fertility specialist, like Jonathan Ramsay. Our team at Fertility Solutions will guide you through the process, explain the results and help you on your journey.
A low sperm count can be caused by a number of different factors, which will all be investigated by your doctor. Some of the most common causes include:
- Previous testicle surgery
- Varicocele
- Medication
- Hormone imbalance
- Overheated testicles
- Being overweight or obese
- Bad diet and lack of exercise
- A genital infection
- Undescended testicles as a child
- Smoking
The treatment options for a low sperm count will differ depending on the cause and your partners fertility status will also play a factor. Please contact us if you would like to find out about the different treatment options for a low sperm count and what the best next step is.
This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.
