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Low Sperm Count (Oligospermia)

Oligospermia: Treatment, Causes, Symptoms

A low sperm count, also known as Oligospermia, refers to a decrease in the number of sperm present in the semen. It is often associated with other sperm abnormalities, such as low sperm motility (Asthenospermia) and abnormal sperm morphology (Teratospermia).

Low sperm count is relatively common in India, affecting approximately 15% of the male population. Along with low sperm motility, it is one of the leading causes of male infertility, accounting for about 40-50% of all male infertility cases in the country.

This condition typically shows no symptoms and is often diagnosed only when a couple seeks fertility evaluation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a normal sperm count is 15 million sperm per milliliter (million/ml) or higher. If a man has fewer than 15 million sperm/ml, he is diagnosed with Oligospermia.

What are the Causes of Oligospermia?

Several factors can contribute to a decrease in sperm count, including:

Smoking
Alcohol consumption
Obesity
Tobacco use
Testicular trauma or injury
Stress
Varicocele
Hydrocele
Undescended testes
Retrograde ejaculation
Sexually transmitted infections
Febrile illnesses and viral infections, such as Mumps
Chronic conditions, like Diabetes Mellitus
Previous radiation exposure for pelvic tumors or chemotherapy

The condition can be managed with hormonal medications, antioxidants, multivitamins, or micronutrients as recommended by the doctor. In certain cases, such as Varicocele repair, surgical intervention may be the preferred option.

Certain lifestyle changes can also help improve the condition. These include:

Regular exercise
Avoiding tight undergarments
Following healthy diet regimen
Weight reduction
Avoiding smoking, alcohol, gutka, habit-forming drugs
Managing medical disorders like Diabetes Mellitus
Avoiding tight undergarments

Low Sperm Count Treatment

The treatment approach is determined by evaluating sperm count, motility, and morphology. When these parameters are only slightly low, simpler treatments like Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI) may be effective. For significantly low sperm quality, advanced treatments like ICSI are preferred. Techniques like IMSI and PICSI are used to select morphologically normal sperm during ICSI.

Spermatogenesis, the process of sperm production and maturation in the testes, takes approximately 72 days. Therefore, it may take two to three months of medication to see improvements in semen analysis. If no improvement is observed despite treatment, ICSI is typically chosen to assist with conception. In such cases, the success rate is around 50-60%, provided other parameters are normal.

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