Find out what you can do for your spouse's low sperm count and increase your chances of conceiving ..
Having trouble getting pregnant? Is your spouse's low sperm count the cause? Don't fret. There are many treatments to increase your chances of having a baby. The first step is to learn about low sperm count and the causes.
Low sperm count
There are many factors involved in reproduction and sperm count is just one of them. According to Dr. Leonor Manio-Leonardo, MD, FPOGS, Advisor from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital and Asian Medical Center, sperm count is "very important but other factors such as semen, volume, and potency motility (movement) and morphology (sperm shape) of semen are also needed. "
Sperm counts are normal when there are at least 15 million to more than 200 million sperms per milliliter of semen. Having less than 15 million means your partner has a low sperm count. Also known as Oligospermia, a low sperm count reduces the odds that one of your partner's sperm cells will fertilize your egg and help you get pregnant. Even so, some men with low sperm counts are still able to have children.
Causes and symptoms
Low sperm count can be caused by a number of medical, environmental and lifestyle reasons. Exposure to industrial chemicals and heavy metals such as lead and radiation, as well as long-term cycling and testicular tempering (such as frequent use of saunas) can affect to sperm production. Lifestyle choices such as illegal drug use, smoking, stress, weight, and occupation are likely to be the cause.
According to Dr. Leonardo, the most common causes are swollen testicular veins and metabolic diseases such as diabetes. A sign of swollen testicular veins is swelling of the vas deferens, preventing normal cooling of the testicles, resulting in a decrease in sperm count and less sperm movement. Diabetes, on the other hand, is a chronic disease that affects the insulin production of the pancreas, affecting the blood vessels and nerves.
The most obvious sign of a low sperm count is a man's inability to create a baby. However, other symptoms also include erectile dysfunction, pain, swelling or lumps in the testicles, and signs of chromosomal or hormonal abnormalities such as decreased facial or body hair. .
Diagnosis and treatment
Consult your doctor with your partner. Usually, the patient must undergo a semen analysis test, in which the number of the sperm is determined by examining the semen under a microscope. Depending on the results, your doctor may prescribe other tests such as scrotum or transrectal ultrasound and hormonal tests.
Low sperm count can be treated in a variety of ways including treating infection, treating hormones, taking medications and surgery. There are also a few things you can do at home. Avoid using lubricants during sex as some have been known to reduce sperm movement. If you must, ask your doctor for a sperm-safe recommendation.
You can also increase the frequency of sex while you're ovulating. According to Dr. Leonardo, having sex does not affect sperm count as normal sperm automatically increases every 48-72 hours. She said: "To have a baby, it is recommended, at least once a day for 7 days: 3 days before ovulation, the day of ovulation peak and 3 days after ovulation."
So don't lose hope when your partner suffers from low sperm count. Take him for testing and treatment so that you can increase your chances of getting pregnant.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: JANICE LIM
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