Low Sperm Count

What does low sperm count mean?
Low sperm count means that the fluid
(semen) a man ejaculates during orgasm
contains fewer sperm than normal. It is
also referred to as oligospermia. This is a
condition where a man's sperm count is
not good enough to impregnate a woman.
The sperm count is considered lower than
normal if a man has fewer than 15 million
sperm per millilitre of semen. So, when a
man's sperm is low, he may not be able to
impregnate his wife. A low sperm count is
not related to sexual anxiety or poor
performance, it only relates to the volume
and quality of sperm that the man
produces.

What causes low sperm count?
The exact factor is unknown. However, the
commonest cause is varicocele (an
enlargement of the veins in the scrotum)
which is a common cause of low sperm
production and decreased sperm quality. It is directly linked to infertility. However,
not all varicocele affects sperm production.
Alcohol abuse leads to low sperm count'
Dr. Gabriel Ogah, a consultant in urology,
speaks with MOTUNRAYO ABODERIN on
low sperm count
Varicocele can also cause testicles to
shrink.
But there are different factors that
can cause low sperm count. For example,
low sperm count is often due to a genetic
defect. Men who suffer from Cystic
Fibrosis, for example, may have a missing
or an obstructed vas deferens (which is the
tube that carries sperm).
Another relatively common genetic cause
for low sperm count is Klinefelter
Syndrome. Sufferers of Klinefelter
Syndrome have two X chromosomes and
one Y chromosome.

What are the symptoms?
The commonest symptom is that semen
will look watery. So when a man ejaculates
into the woman, it will feel as if he hasn't
ejaculated. Another symptom is that the
semen will reduce in volume. A woman
should know when a man has ejaculated,
but when a man with low sperm count
ejaculates, she wouldn't feel anything. It is
possible for a woman to know when a man
ejaculates. Ejaculation could be compared
to water rush, so when a man who has a
high or normal volume of sperm count
releases into her, she will feel a rush.
However, the primary symptom of low
sperm count is the inability to get a
partner pregnant within a year of trying to
conceive.

Is this condition related to one's age?
It is age-related in a way. It is more
common in elderly people than in young
men. A man who is 60 is likely to have
lower sperm than a man who is 25. But
this does not mean the elderly have low
sperm count. The fact is that the sperm
count in old age can vary greatly from one
man to the next man. Some men may
have a relatively high sperm count well
into their 80s. However, this seems to be
the exception, rather than the rule when it
comes to the decrease in sperm count in
old age.

Can a man who has low sperm count
impregnate a woman?
Yes he can. A man with low sperm count
does not mean he has no sperm at all, it's
just that the sperm are few. When a man
with low sperm count meets a woman who
is extremely fertile, the woman will be
impregnated. But when a man with low
sperm count meets a woman who isn't
very fertile, she may not get pregnant.

What are the effects of low sperm count?
One of the effects is unsatisfactory sexual
encounter in couples and more
significantly, infertility in marriage.
Can this condition be treated?
If the condition(low sperm count) is as a
result of hormonal imbalance, hormone-
based medicines prescribed could help
resolve the condition, because the body
secretes insufficient or too many hormones
that play an important role in helping many
internal organs, including the reproductive
system, to function properly. Secondly,
surgery is also used as a method of
treatment for low sperm count, when the
problem is caused by an inflammation of a
blood vessel that irrigates the testicles.
Does excessive alcohol cause low sperm
count?
Yes, excessive alcohol intake causes low
sperm count. Research shows that beer
contains estrogen which is a female
hormone. So this hormone, when
frequently taken can lead to low sperm
count. Smoking also causes reduction of
sperm count; wearing tight pants also
causes low sperm count. A man who takes
drugs and marijuana may eventually have
low sperm count.

Studies say sleep problems can lower the
fertility of young men? How true is this?
It is not very convincing. There is no direct
link between sleep problems and infertility
in men. However, it could be that some of
the conditions that make people have
insomnia may cause low sperm count.

What about recent findings that say men
who watch television a lot may develop
low sperm count?
There is also no direct link between men
watching television a lot and low sperm
count. In my opinion, no conclusive study
has been done to prove this.

Are there statistics of low sperm count in
Nigeria?
It is impossible majorly because Nigeria's
health care system is not organised. Not
everyone goes to the hospital, and even
the small percentage of people who visit
the hospital will not want to have a sperm
count test. It is not a common practice
among Nigerian men. This is worrisome
because the level of infertility in Nigeria is
high.

What is the first thing a man who thinks he
has low sperm count should do?
It can be difficult for a man with a fertility
problem to know what exactly he should
do. There is the embarrassing fact that he
has a problem with his sperm. In many
cases, the man feels as though he is less
than a man. But it's important for a man
who thinks he has low sperm count to visit
a urologist, who will then examine him and
find out whether or not he has low sperm
count. If the man has low sperm count,
the urologist will find out the cause and
treat it accordingly.

What are the things men can do to
improve their sperm count?
There are several supplements available
that have a variety of vitamins and
minerals that may help you with your low
sperm count. Keeping at least three days
between ejaculations may also help to
keep your sperm count higher.