Sperm count or sperm volume is one of the major factors that determine the chances of a successful pregnancy. Men with low sperm counts will have difficulties trying to impregnate their partner and have their own babies.
Though even one high-quality sperm is enough sometimes for successful fertilization and pregnancy, the chances of this happening decrease as the chances of having high-quality sperm are also low.
So, what can these men do? What should they do if sexual intercourse does not help them have a baby? They can choose to undergo fertility treatments to achieve pregnancy.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the fertility treatment options that men can choose if they have a low sperm count.
Top Fertility Treatment Options For Low Sperm Count
A man is considered to have a low sperm count when he has less than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. This can make natural pregnancy a bit difficult.
Below are some fertility treatments men with a low sperm count can undergo to achieve pregnancy and have their own baby.
IVF With ICSI
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is one of the best fertility treatment options for both men and women with infertility issues.
In a natural pregnancy, fertilization happens inside the female partner’s body when the sperm swims to the fallopian tubes and fertilizes the egg there. With IVF, however, fertilization happens in a laboratory. The eggs and sperm will be collected from the male and female partners and fertilized artificially.
ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is a type of IVF where a single, healthy, and high-quality sperm is collected in a needle and injected directly into the egg’s cytoplasm.
This is a good option in case of male-factor infertility, where the male partner has a low sperm count or low-quality eggs. Fertility doctors can use ICSI to identify the best quality sperm in a semen sample and inject it into the egg for fertilization.
Hormonal Treatment
Sometimes, hormonal imbalances, like low testosterone production, can also lead to low sperm count. In such cases, doctors will recommend hormonal treatments or medications to bring the hormones to normal and facilitate healthy sperm production.
Surgery
A low sperm count can also be caused due to certain reproductive conditions that might require surgical intervention to return to normal.
For example, any blockages in the path of sperm transport, varicocele, hydrocele, or previous vasectomies can play a part in low sperm count. These conditions can be corrected surgically, and the sperm count can be increased.
Artificial Donor Sperm Insemination
Most times, fertility doctors will try their best to achieve a successful pregnancy using the male partner’s sperm. However, in cases where the male partner has serious infertility issues and has no chance of resulting in pregnancy, the couple can choose to use donor sperm for their treatment.
Donor sperm are collected from other healthy men who will donate their sperm to fertility hospitals to be used by other men. There are many requirements and eligibility criteria to become a sperm donor. So, couples don’t need to worry about the baby’s health.
Conclusion
Having a low sperm count may seem like a serious issue that can’t be treated easily. However, technology has advanced, and there are several fertility treatment methods that men can choose from to make their partner pregnant and have a healthy baby.
Aside from the treatment options available, the fertility doctor that couples choose also plays an important part in ensuring the treatment is successful, and the couple has a high chance of having a baby.
So, it is important for couples to do their research and choose the best fertility doctor in their area to have a healthy and successful pregnancy.
IMSI is short for Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection. This is a type of advanced ICSI where a high-magnification microscope (over 6000x) is used to choose the best sperm for fertilization.
The sperm is then collected in a needle and injected into the egg’s cytoplasm, just like in an ICSI procedure.
Below are some of the major factors that can cause low sperm count in men:
- Overweight or obesity,
- Taking certain medications,
- Exposing testicles to high temperatures,
- Smoking,
- Other lifestyle factors, and
- Having other medical issues.
Contrary to what many people believe, masturbation does not cause low sperm count. The testicles will keep producing new sperm every day. So even if you masturbate on a daily basis, it won’t have much effect on sperm count or quality.
Certain natural products have been shown to improve sperm count and male fertility. Below are some of those products.
- Black seeds
- Folic acid
- Coenzyme Q10
- L-carnitine
- Horse chestnut (aescin)
- Zinc
- Panax ginseng
A man is considered to have a low sperm count when he has less than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. This can make natural pregnancy a bit difficult. They can consult a fertility doctor and undergo the necessary treatments to achieve pregnancy.
