Low Sperm Count
The terms oligospermia, oligozoospermia, and low sperm count refer to semen you ejaculate with a low concentration of sperm and is a common finding in male infertility. Often semen with a decreased sperm concentration may also show significant abnormalities in sperm morphology and motility(technically oligoasthenoteratozoospermia)
The diagnosis of oligozoospermia is based on one low count in a semen analysis performed on two occasions. For many decades sperm concentrations of less than 20 million sperms/ml were considered low or oligozoospermic, recently, however, the WHO reassessed sperm criteria and established a lower reference point, less than 15 million sperm/ml, consistent with the 5th percentile for fertile men.
Sources usually classify oligospermia in 3 classes:
- Mild: concentrations 10 million – 15 million sperms/mL
- Moderate: concentrations 5 million – 10 million sperms/mL
- Severe: concentrations less than 5 million sperms/mL
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SYMPTOMS
Many men who have low sperm count are still able to father a child.
- The main symptom of low sperm count is the inability to conceive a child.
- Other Symptoms will, problems with sexual function – for example low sex drive, or difficulty in maintaining erection (erectile dysfunction).
- Pain, lump, swelling in the testicular area.
- Decreased body hair, facial hair, small penis(due to hormonal imbalance and chromosomal abnormally.
When to see a Doctor
See a specialist doctor, if you have been unable to conceive a child after a year of regular unprotected intercourse or sooner if you have any of the following.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Low sex drive.
- Other problems with sexual function.
- Pain, lump swelling, discomfort in testicular area.
- H/o scrotum surgery, testicular, Penile surgery.
- H/o varicocele, infection(epididydamo orchitis)
- H/o Surgery for undesended surgery
Treatment for low sperm count, may includes medical, surgical and ART
- Surgery: Varricocele correction, reversal of vasectomy.
- Treating Infection, incase of infection.
- Hormonal imbalance, (Low FSH, Low LH) can be corrected by recombinet FSH, LH injections.
- Medical Treatment - many drugs are given to improve the count motility morphology.
- Assisted reproductive technology – IUI, IVF, ICSI