Men with low sperm counts are urged by fertility experts to seek appropriate medical help because the disease is treatable with the right care.
The specialists stressed that, contrary to popular belief, the majority of low sperm count cases typically have an underlying cause and that the treatment of the problem depends on the underlying cause.
According to World Health Organization standards, a male must generate 39 million spermatozoa in the total sample or 15 million spermatozoa per millimeter of ejaculated volume to be deemed to have normal semen.
The British National Health Service claims that having a low sperm count can make getting pregnant naturally more challenging. Despite the challenges, the BNHS acknowledged that successful pregnancies can still happen when sperm counts are low.
The experts emphasized that men with low sperm counts may not even be aware of their condition until they are examined, including Consultant Urologist Dr. Gabriel Ogah and a fertility expert Dr. Mojisola Aderonmu.
Dr. Ogah noted that there has to be greater awareness of low sperm count in Nigeria because it has become a widespread issue for males there.
Additionally, a study titled Prevalence of low sperm count and abnormal semen parameters in male partners of women consulting at a private fertility clinic in Abakaliki, Eastern Nigeria, discovered that 70% of the study’s 170 participants had low sperm counts with noticeably high defective parameters (64%).
Asthenozoospermia (reduced sperm motility) and teratozoospermia (abnormal sperm morphology) were found to be the two most prevalent aberrant parameters in the study lead by Emmanuel Ugwuja.
Civil personnel had a greater incidence of oligospermia (low sperm count), and oligospermia semen (38) was linked to a bacterial infection.
Ogah said, “Low sperm count is caused by testicular failure,” in an interview with PUNCH HealthWise. In other words, the testes are no longer functioning. What function do the testes serve? They produce sperm, which is required to fertilize a woman’s eggs, as well as testosterone, a male hormone that causes men to put on muscle and appear more masculine.
“Testicular failure is the most typical reason of low sperm count worldwide when the testes have failed, meaning they are unable to perform those functions.
Varicocele, or extra veins in the scrotum, is the most typical type of testicular failure. It is generally recognized that such engorged veins in a man’s scrotum might result in testicular failure if they have been there for a while.
A varicocele is described as an expansion of the veins within the loose pouch of skin that houses the testicles (scrotum), according to a recent article published online by Mayo Clinic, a healthcare organization that focuses on integrated health care, teaching, and research.
The website added that a varicocele may result in poor testicular development, limited sperm production, or other issues that could result in infertility.
Other variables that could contribute to low sperm count, according to Dr. Ogah, include “toxins found in the environment and residues of pesticides found in food.”
He also mentioned the possibility of decreased sperm count among long-distance drivers who are exposed to heat around their waists.
Ogah acknowledged that hormonal variables can contribute to low sperm counts, but emphasized that chronic infections of the testicles, such as the mumps in childhood, can also have an impact on sperm counts in adults.
An article written by Sunny Abarikwu and published in the African Journal of Reproductive Health supports Dr. Ogah’s viewpoint.
According to the report, “reproductive tract infections, which may be linked to aberrant semen characteristics and low sperm count, account for a major portion of infertility in Africa.
“A male element is to blame in 40% of all couples who have infertility, or roughly 60% of all couples. Primary infertility cases are more frequently linked to the male factor than secondary infertility cases.
But according to Dr. Ogah, “in addition to all these factors, advancement in age could also be a factor for the development of low sperm count.”
However, he emphasized that if the underlying cause is correctly identified and dealt with, low sperm count can be remedied.
Additionally, Dr. Aderonmu, an IVF expert, noted that factors such as obesity, alcohol addiction, smoking shisha, and alcohol usage can all result in poor sperm counts.
Dr. Aderounmu added that conditions like cancer can also affect a man’s sperm count.
She clarified that the management of low sperm count relies on what is causing it while speaking of the condition’s treatment.
“Typically, the males will require more hormone testing, scans of the private parts, and in some cases, a biopsy of the testes to examine the sperm-producing sections of the testes under a microscope.
“The treatment options include medications, which may be supplements or hormones, and use of donor sperm is another option,” she said.
Regarding the duration of treatment, Aderonmu emphasized that it depends on the underlying cause, the corrective methods being used, and how the man’s body is responding to those measures how long it takes to manage a man’s sperm count to maximize chances of conceiving.
The specialists strongly advised against unhealthy habits including drinking alcohol, smoking, and being obese in order to prevent low sperm count.
They also emphasized the need to lessen exposure to environmental toxins.
