Low sperm count, also called oligozoospermia, is a condition that causes men to have less than 15 million sperm per ml of semen that they produce. Having a low sperm count can make it hard for a man to have children, but not impossible. This is a common condition that impacts many couples who are trying to get pregnant.
There are no specific symptoms of low sperm count other than difficulties getting pregnant. Many men will be unaware that this condition affects them until they start to try to have children. Testing is required to identify this condition and diagnose it.
Low sperm count can have many causes:
Diagnosis of this condition is done through collection of a sperm sample. The sample is looked at under a microscope to get an accurate sperm count in the sample. You might need to provide more than one sample to ensure that an accurate count has been collected.
There are no specific treatments for low sperm count. You should get into a good exercise routine and make sure that you eat a healthy diet. Also, be sure that you moderate your alcohol consumption and that you do not smoke. You might also want to consider having sex every 2-3 days to try and increase the chances that you and your partner will get pregnant.
IVF therapy can also help couples with low sperm count to conceive. For those with very low hormone levels, hormone replacement therapy can also sometimes help to increase sperm count.
Prevention of low sperm count might not be possible. However, if you are using drugs or drinking alcohol, or you have been using anabolic steroids, you should consider stopping these behaviours to improve your sperm counts. You should also ensure that you do not allow your testicles to become overheated, as this can also cause a low sperm count.