Low sperm count is a condition that can be treated with the right medical care, according to fertility experts who have urged men who are experiencing it to seek appropriate medical attention.
The experts stressed that, contrary to popular belief, the majority of low sperm count cases typically have an underlying cause and that the treatment of the condition depends on the underlying cause.
According to World Health Organization standards, a man must produce 39 million spermatozoa in the entire sample or 15 million spermatozoa per millimeter of ejaculated volume to be considered 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 noted that successful pregnancies can still happen when sperm counts are low.
Dr. Mojisola Aderonmu, a fertility specialist, and consultant urologist Dr. Gabriel Ogah noted that men with low sperm counts might not even be aware of their condition until they are tested.
Low sperm count in Nigeria needs to be better understood, according to Dr. Ogah, who noted that the condition has become a common issue for men there.
Low sperm count is caused by testicular failure, according to Ogah. In other words, the testes are no longer functioning. What function do the testes serve? They produce sperm, which is used to fertilize a woman’s eggs, as well as testosterone, a male hormone that causes men to put on muscle and appear more masculine.
According to a study titled “Prevalence of low sperm count and abnormal semen parameters in male partners consulting at a private fertility clinic in Abakaliki, Eastern Nigeria,” 70% of the 170 participants had low sperm counts and noticeably high defective parameters (64 per cent).
Asthenozoospermia (reduced sperm motility) and teratozoospermia (abnormal sperm morphology) were found to be the two most prevalent abnormal parameters in the study led by Emmanuel Ugwuja.
The most frequent reason for low sperm counts worldwide is testicular failure, which occurs when the testes have failed and are therefore unable to perform those functions.
Varicocele, or extra veins in the scrotum, is the most typical type of testicular failure. It is well known that such engorged veins in a man’s scrotum can result in testicular failure if they have been present for a while.
A varicocele is an enlargement of the veins within the loose bag of skin that houses the testicles, according to the Mayo Clinic, a medical institution that focuses on integrated health care, education, and research (scrotum).
It added that a varicocele might result in a testicle developing slowly, producing little sperm, or having other issues that might make it difficult to conceive.
In addition, Dr. Ogah mentioned that “toxins found in the environment and residues of pesticides found in food” could also contribute to low sperm counts.
He also mentioned the possibility of low sperm count in long-distance drivers who are exposed to heat around their waists.
Ogah acknowledged that hormonal factors 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 article, “reproductive tract infections, which may be linked to abnormal semen parameters and low sperm count, account for a large portion of infertility in Africa.
“A male factor is to blame in 40% of all couples who experience infertility, or about 60% of all couples. Primary infertility cases are more frequently linked to the male factor than secondary infertility cases.
IVF specialist Dr. Aderonmu added that factors such as obesity, alcohol abuse, smoking both cigarettes and shisha, and alcohol misuse can all result in low 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 depends on what is causing it when speaking of the condition’s treatment.
“Typically, the men will require additional hormone testing, scans of their private areas, and in some cases, a biopsy of the testes to examine the sperm-producing cells in the testes under a microscope.
“Medications, which may be hormones or supplements, are among the treatment options,” she said. “Use of donor sperm is another option.”
Regarding the duration of treatment, Aderonmu emphasized that it depends on the underlying cause, the corrective measures 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 fertility.
The experts strongly advised against unhealthy lifestyles like drinking alcohol, smoking, and being obese in order to prevent low sperm count.
They also emphasized the need to lessen exposure to environmental pollutants.
