There are numerous causes of low sperm count, some inherited and some inflicted. Low sperm count is a fairly common occurrence in men, and should be monitored throughout life. Usually, men wait until they are preparing to have a child before they worry about their sperm count. That is the point at which it is probably too late to raise it if it is too low.
Why Worry?
There is little reason to worry about low sperm count as a condition in and of itself. Low sperm count is not harmful to your body in any way. Where your sperm count comes into play is in procreation. It takes one sperm cell to fertilize one egg in order to conceive a child. Yet, even in healthy men, the odds of a single sperm cell's fertilizing an egg cell are low. A low sperm count is only going to make those odds more difficult to overcome.
Symptoms
The most obvious symptom of a low sperm count is the inability to father a child. if you have been trying for some time and nothing is happening, this could be an indication that your sperm count is low. It could, however, also be an issue with the woman's fertility. Both partners should be tested. Low sperm count can be a hormonal issue, in which case low amounts of body or facial hair and decreased sexual function are all possible symptoms.
Causes
It is difficult to pinpoint one cause of low sperm count until further testing has been completed. An enlarged vein in the scrotum can decrease sperm production and result in a low count. This is called varicocele. Any damage to the groin area could result in damage to the ducts responsible for carrying sperm from the testicles to the penis. Damage to sperm ducts can result in a low sperm count.
Some immune systems have been known to attack sperm cells using anti-sperm antibodies. There are also inherited conditions such as Klinefelter's syndrome, which gives males an additional X chromosome. Damage to the pituitary gland can also cause a low sperm count.
Risk Factors
If any males in your family have had low sperm counts, it is important for you to be tested for possible genetic conditions. Low sperm count can be passed on to future generations, if the root cause is hormonal. Abuse of drugs and alcohol can result in a low sperm count. Smokers are at a higher risk for having their sperm counts reduced. Being obese has been shown to cause hormonal alterations that inhibit the production of sperm. If you have had radiation treatments, especially for cancer, your risk of a low sperm count increases. In all of these instances, it is best to consult your doctor.
Consultation
If you suspect for any reason that your sperm count may be low, it is important that you consult with your doctor about the options open to you. Usually you will need to produce a sperm sample, which will then be processed and the level of sperm calculated. Consultation should be undergone by both partners if the couple have been struggling to conceive for some time. Sometimes men think they have a low sperm count, when it is actually the woman's body causing the problem. Doctors advise that couples wait until they have had a year of regular intercourse before seeking treatment for infertility.
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