A low sperm count is diagnosed as part of a 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. In some cases, a computer might be used to measure sperm count.
Some at-home tests also check how well sperm can move. For a home sperm test, you collect a semen sample by ejaculating into a small cup. A home sperm test may be appealing because you can do it in the privacy of your own home. Results are often ready within a few minutes.
Your health care provider will study your sperm volume, count, concentration, movement ("motility"), and structure. The results of the semen analysis tests tells about your ability to conceive (start a pregnancy). Even if the semen test shows low sperm numbers or no sperm, it may not mean you are permanently infertile.
Having a low sperm count can make it more difficult to conceive naturally, although successful pregnancies can still occur. Problems with sperm, including a low sperm count and problems with sperm quality, are quite common. They're a factor in around 1 in 3 couples who are struggling to get pregnant.
You can visit a clinic or doctor's office. However, we recommend using an at-home testing kit, such as themyLAB Box Male Fertility Home Test. As you can probably guess, home sperm tests measure your total sperm count. This is helpful, since beyond testing, there may not be any visible signs and symptoms of infertility.
Bottom line: Men generally see a decrease in fertility beginning at 35, and the decline progresses from there. The age men are most fertile may be between 30 and 35, but we haven't yet determined a specific window of peak fertility.
Obesity, too much alcohol, and smoking cigarettes all negatively affect sperm count and overall sperm health. So does stress. In fact, stress can actually cause sperm abnormalities and lower sperm concentration.
Fertility is most likely if the semen discharged in a single ejaculation (ejaculate) contains at least 15 million sperm per milliliter. Too little sperm in an ejaculation might make it more difficult to get pregnant because there are fewer candidates available to fertilize the egg.
There is no specific frequency with which a man should ejaculate. There is no solid evidence that failure to ejaculate causes health problems. However, ejaculating frequently can reduce the man's risk of getting prostate cancer. Ejacu-lation can be through having sex or masturbating a few times a day.
Some types of vitamins, including vitamins D, C, E, and CoQ10, are important for sperm health. One study showed that taking 1,000 mg of vitamin C every day can help men's sperm concentration and mobility.
You may increase your sperm count by stopping medications or behaviors that are contributing to low sperm levels. Other causes may need other treatments. For instance: You may need surgery to treat a varicocele or blocked sperm ducts.
Sperm count is considered low if it dips below 15 million sperm per milliliter (mL) of semen, although the average is around 75 million sperm per mL. Risk factors include having obesity or overweight, having experienced trauma or surgery in or around the testicles, and taking certain medications.
Conditions such as cancer of the testicle or prostate, diabetes, high blood pressure and peripheral vascular disease can cause a man to have a low sperm count. Lifesaving cancer treatment either surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy can destroy sperm cells, and greatly decrease a man's sperm count.
Male infertility is caused by multiple factors such as abnormal sperm production, blockage of delivery of sperm or low sperm production. Roughly 15 percent of couples in the United States have trouble conceiving, and over 50 percent of the time, there is a male infertility issue.
A study of 250 men who had sperm analyzed at a fertility clinic showed that men who ate higher amounts of fruits and veggies, particularly green leafy vegetables and beans (legumes), had higher sperm concentrations and better sperm motility compared to men who ate less of these foods.
For healthy semen samples collected between 5:00am and 7:30am were found to exhibit a statistically higher sperm concentration, total sperm count and a higher percentage of normally shaped sperm, compared to samples produced later in the day.
Understanding your menstrual cycle
You're most fertile at the time of ovulation (when an egg is released from your ovaries), which usually occurs 12 to 14 days before your next period starts. This is the time of the month when you're most likely to get pregnant.
When does male fertility start to decline? Like female fertility, male fertility declines throughout adulthood, but experts suggest that a man's age doesn't have a significant effect on his fertility until he's in his 40s, because there's only about a 1–2% decrease in sperm motility/morphology per year.
The main symptom of infertility is the inability to get pregnant. A menstrual cycle that's too long (35 days or more), too short (less than 21 days), irregular or absent can mean that you're not ovulating. There might be no other signs or symptoms.
You're generally diagnosed with infertility if you don't get pregnant after 1 year or more of trying, or if you have multiple miscarriages. There are treatments for many kinds of infertility, and many people go on to have a healthy pregnancy and a child. Fertility isn't just a “woman's problem” or an issue with age.
Seeing a male infertility specialist
We start with a good conversation, a comprehensive physical exam, a semen analysis and blood tests. This often points the doctor in the right direction, allowing a specialized treatment plan to be made. Many times, the problem is correctable.
IVF with ICSI is often the best treatment option for men with low sperm count. Hormonal treatment: If a male patient has low levels of the pituitary hormones that stimulate sperm production, we may attempt hormonal treatment before considering more invasive options (such as IVF with ICSI).