Oligospermia: Low Sperm Count

What Is Meant by Oligospermia?

Oligospermia is a condition of low sperm count. Usually, people only know this when they try to have a baby and fail at it. This condition occurs when there are less than 15 million sperm in one milliliter of semen. Besides oligospermia, a person can also have oligozoospermia, which indicates a severe low sperm count. This condition can be treated by knowing the cause.

There is no count of how many people are affected by this condition, as the diagnosis is made when the couple tries to conceive and fails at it. This condition results in infertility.

What Are the Symptoms Associated With Oligospermia?

The most common sign of this condition is the inability of the person to conceive a child. There are no other serious signs or symptoms. But in some cases, other underlying conditions, such as inherited chromosomal abnormality, hormonal imbalance, dilated testicular veins, and other conditions that block the passage of sperm, can result in symptoms.

Low sperm count symptoms include

• Issues with sexual functions, such as reduced sex drive or difficulty maintaining an erection.

• Presence of pain, swelling, or lump in the testicular area.

• Reduced body and facial hair and other chromosomal abnormalities.

What Are the Causes of Oligospermia Condition?

There are many causative factors related to oligospermia; they are

1. Disease Conditions:

• Genetic conditions like Klinefelter syndrome (where the male is born with an extra copy of an X chromosome) or cystic fibrosis (a condition that affects the protein in the body).

• Illness such as mumps.

• Infections like UTI (urinary tract infection) or STI (sexually transmitted infection) can result in this condition.

• Problems such as reduced testosterone level or other abnormalities of the hormone.

• Hypogonadism, where the sex glands fail to produce the required sex hormone.

• Blockages that prevent the sperm from leaving the body.

2. Heat:

The testicles where the sperm are produced always maintain a temperature less than the normal body temperature. So, any change in this temperature can affect sperm production. These conditions include

• If the testicle is near the groin, then the temperature is very high.

• If the person has varicoceles, the twisted veins can be large, resulting in a high temperature of the testicles.

• Spending a very long time in hot tubes can also result in low sperm count, but this condition is reversible.

3. Toxins: Toxins such as heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, or arsenic can affect the person's overall health, including the sperm count.

4. Medications: Some prescribed and non-prescribed medications can result in low sperm count.

5. Radiation or X-Ray: Over-radiation exposure can result in reduced sperm count. It is a reversible process, but it will take a long time for the sperms to return to normal count. In some cases, due to high doses of radiation, the sperm count can be reduced permanently.

6. Lifestyle and Other Causes:

• Drug: Anabolic steroids, which are used to strengthen the muscle and stimulate growth, can make the testicles shrink and affect the sperm count. Usage of cocaine or marijuana can also affect the count and quality of the sperm.

• Use of Alcohol: Alcohol consumption can impact the sperm count.

• Occupation: Some occupations, such as welding, work associated with prolonged sitting, etc, are related to the increase in the risk of infertility.

• Smoking: Men who smoke will generally have a lower sperm count than those who do not.

• Emotional Stress and Depression: Severe and prolonged stress and depression can interfere with hormones and can affect fertility.

• Obesity: Being overweight can result in reduced sperm count and infertility.

What Are the Diagnostic Methods for Oligospermia?

The doctor will usually collect the medical history and perform a physical examination. Other tests will be recommended, such as

• Semen analysis.

• Sperm function test.

• Urinalysis to test whether the sperm is moving inside.

• Image testing of the reproductive organs, such as transrectal and scrotal ultrasound.

• Test to rule out genetic conditions.

• Tests to measure the hormonal level.

How Is Oligospermia Managed?

Managing and treating low sperm count depends on the condition's cause. The sperm count can be increased by stopping the medication and changing behaviors that contribute to the reduced sperm count. Some other causes require treatments such as

• Treatment should be done in case of blocked sperm ducts.

• The doctors may recommend hormonal supplements.

• Antibiotics may be prescribed in case of any infection.

• Counseling will be recommended in case of erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation.

What Are the Risk Factors Associated With Low Sperm Count?

Some common risk factors are

• Smoking.

• Consumption of alcohol.

• Use of certain drugs.

• Obese.

• Stress and depression.

• Exposure to toxins.

• Overheating or trauma to the testicles.

• Cancer treatment.

• Vasectomy or any major pelvic surgery.

• Infection.

• Presence of tumor.

• Some chronic conditions.

What Are the Complications Related to Oligospermia?

Infertility due to low sperm count can be very depressing. Some complications are

• Surgery and other treatment methods to manage the underlying cause of reduced sperm count.

• IVF (in vitro fertilization) treatment.

• Stress is caused by the inability to have a child.

How Can Low Sperm Count Be Prevented?

The known factors that can cause low sperm count need to be avoided, such as

• Quit smoking.

• Reduce the consumption of alcohol.

• Avoid heat.

• Avoid taking drugs without consulting a doctor.

• Maintenance of healthy weight.

• Manage stress and depression.

• Exposure to toxins and heavy metals needs to be prevented.

What Is the Prognosis of Low Sperm Count?

Based on the cause of the condition, how long the condition lasts can be assessed. If the cause is due to the person's lifestyle, then low sperm count can be reversed. Genetic issues, which result in low sperm count, cannot be reversed. Low sperm count is not a fatal condition and can be treated.

Conclusion

Oligospermia is a condition which refers to low sperm count. This condition is usually diagnosed when the couple tries to conceive but fails. It can be caused due to many conditions. It is a treatable condition where low sperm count is caused by some causes, which can be reversed by managing the causative factor.