{"id":38257,"date":"2020-08-27T12:37:44","date_gmt":"2020-08-27T19:37:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.avawomen.com\/?p=38257"},"modified":"2020-11-08T15:06:56","modified_gmt":"2020-11-08T23:06:56","slug":"low-sperm-count","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.avawomen.com\/avaworld\/low-sperm-count\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do About Low Sperm Count when You’re Trying to Conceive"},"content":{"rendered":"

You probably know that all it takes to make a baby is one egg and one sperm. But in order for a single sperm to make it all the way to the egg, you actually need quite a <\/span>lot<\/span><\/i>\u2014we\u2019re talking millions\u2014to begin with. That\u2019s why low sperm count may decrease the chances of conceiving naturally.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe your partner has done a semen analysis<\/a>, and your report indicates a low sperm count. Read on to understand what a low sperm count means, why it might be happening, and what you can do about it at home\u2014or at your doctor\u2019s office.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sperm basics<\/span><\/h2>\n

Sperm is the male sex cell, also known as a \u201cgamete,\u201d that carries half of the genetic material for a new baby. Sperm are produced in the testicles in a process called spermatogenesis; in a healthy reproductive system, approximately 50 \u2013 100 million viable sperm are produced each day. Spermatogenesis begins at puberty and typically continues until death, but some of the sperm health parameters are negatively affected with aging.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sperm count<\/span><\/h2>\n

Sperm count refers to the total number of sperm in the \u201cejaculate\u201d (the semen that\u2019s released from the penis during ejaculation). Sperm concentration, on the other hand, is the density of the sperm within the semen\u2014in other words, it\u2019s the number of sperm per milliliter of semen. For example, a sample may include 3 milliliters of semen (also known as semen volume) and a total sperm count of 45 million; that would be a concentration of 15 million sperm per mL.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though they\u2019re not exactly the same value, both sperm count and sperm concentration measures test the same basic idea: if there are enough sperm being produced and ejaculated to make a natural pregnancy likely.<\/span><\/p>\n

Normal sperm count vs. low sperm count<\/span><\/h3>\n

What\u2019s a normal sperm count? Technically, 15 million sperm per mL of semen is considered a <\/span>normal sperm concentration<\/span><\/a> according to the World Health Organization 5th Edition, and anything under that threshold would be considered a low sperm count. But some researchers <\/span>argue<\/span><\/a> that concentrations under 40 million\/mL may impede chances of pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Low sperm count\/concentration is known as oligospermia, while having no sperm in your semen at all is known as azoospermia.<\/span><\/p>\n

What a low sperm count means for your fertility<\/span><\/h3>\n

The natural conception process begins with ejaculation, when sperm (floating within semen) are released from the penis into the female reproductive system, in hopes of making it to the egg. There are many obstacles along the way, including the acidic vagina, the cervical mucus (which can sometimes be helpful to sperm, but if abnormal, can destroy sperm), and the possibility that sperm will move toward the wrong fallopian tube (in a normal cycle, only one fallopian tube, either the left or the right, will hold an egg at the time of ovulation). Most abnormal sperm will fall prey to these dangers, along with a good percentage of healthy sperm.<\/span><\/p>\n

While approximately 80 million sperm are typically released in one ejaculate, only about 400 make it to the egg. When you consider that failure ratio, it makes sense that having a lower sperm count would make it less likely that one sperm will be able to fertilize the egg and result in pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

While low sperm count may indicate that natural conception might be more challenging, it doesn\u2019t mean that a couple is infertile, or can\u2019t get pregnant without reproductive assistance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Measuring sperm count (and other sperm health parameters)<\/span><\/h2>\n

The test to measure sperm count is called a <\/span>semen analysis<\/span><\/a>. During this test, a sample of semen\u2014typically produced via masturbation\u2014is examined under a microscope to determine sperm count along with motility (how well sperm are moving) and morphology (how many sperm are the proper shape and size). <\/span><\/p>\n

Traditionally, a semen analysis is performed at a fertility clinic, urologist\u2019s office, or a lab.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can I check my sperm count at home?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Yes! There are several options for sperm analysis tests that don\u2019t require a visit to a doctor\u2019s office. Some test only for sperm count, while others\u2014like Legacy\u2019s <\/span>at-home sperm testing kit<\/span><\/a>\u2014evaluate many factors to provide a more comprehensive picture of male fertility.<\/span><\/p>\n

What can cause low sperm count?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are <\/span>many<\/span><\/i> lifestyle factors and medical conditions that can be associated with low sperm count. These are just a few.<\/span><\/p>\n

Medical causes<\/span><\/h3>\n