Saturday 7 July 2012

LOW SPERM COUNT

A low sperm count decreases the odds that of your sperm will fertilize your partner's egg, leading to pregnancy. Nevertheless, plenty of men who have a low sperm count are still able to brother a kid.

Low sperm count means that the liquid (semen) you ejaculate in the work of an orgasm contains fewer sperm than normal. Low sperm count is also called oligospermia (ol-ih-go-SPUR-me-uh). Your sperm count is thought about lower than normal in case you have fewer than twenty million sperm per milliliter of semen.

Sperm count may increase if an underlying condition can be identified & treated. Both you & your female partner may require treatment to boost fertility. For some couples, achieving pregnancy requires a procedure such as in vitro fertilization.

SYMPTOMS
The main sign of low sperm count is the inability to conceive a child. Often, there's no other obvious signs or signs. In some cases, however, an underlying issue such as an inherited hormonal imbalance or a condition that blocks the passage of sperm may cause signs and signs. Low sperm count signs may include:

  • The inability to conceive a child
  •   Issues with sexual function for example, low sex drive or difficulty maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction)
  •   Pain, swelling or a lump in the testicle area
  •   Decreased facial or body hair or other signs of a chromosome or hormone abnormality

SEE A DOCTOR IF YOU

    • Are unable to conceive a infant after a year of regular, unprotected sexual activity along with your partner
    •   Have erection or ejaculation issues, low sex drive or other issues with sexual function
    •   Have pain, discomfort, a lump or swelling in the testicle area
    •   Have a history of testicle, prostate or sexual issues
    •   Have had groin, testicle, penis or scrotum surgery
     
CAUSES
Sperm production is complex & requires normal functioning of the testicles (testes) as well as the hypothalamus & pituitary glands  organs in your brain that produce hormones that trigger sperm production. One time sperm are produced in the testicles, delicate tubes transport them until they mix with semen & are ejaculated out of the penis. Issues with any of these systems can affect sperm production. In addition, a variety of issues may cause abnormal sperm shape (morphology) or movement (motility). Often the reason for low sperm count is not ever identified.

MEDICAL CAUSES
Low sperm count can be caused by a considerable number of health issues and medical treatments. A number of these include:

  Varicocele
   A varicocele is a swelling of the veins that drain the testicle. This may prevent normal cooling of the testicle, leading to reduced sperm count and fewer moving sperm.
  
Infection. 
Some infections can interfere with sperm production and sperm health or may cause scarring that blocks the passage of sperm. These include some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including chlamydia and gonorrhea; inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis); inflamed testicles due to mumps (mumps orchitis); and other infections of the urinary tract or reproductive organs.

Retrograde ejaculation. 
This happens when semen enters the bladder in the coursework of orgasm in lieu of emerging out of the tip of the penis. Various medical conditions may cause retrograde ejaculation, including diabetes, multiple sclerosis, spinal injuries, & surgical procedure of the bladder, prostate or urethra. Retrograde ejaculation may even be caused by sure medications  medications for enlarged prostate, such as terazosin (Hytrin), tamsulosin (Flomax) & alfuzosin (Uroxatral).
 
Lack of ejaculation. 
Some men with spinal cord injuries or sure diseases cannot ejaculate semen, although they still produce sperm.
 
Antibodies that assault sperm.
 Anti-sperm antibodies are immune system cells that mistakenly identify sperm as harmful invaders & try to eliminate them. This is common in men who have had a vasectomy.

Tumors. 
Cancers and nonmalignant tumors can affect the male reproductive organs directly, or can affect the glands that release hormones related to reproduction (such as the pituitary gland). In some cases, surgical procedure to treat tumors can affect male fertility.
 
Undescended testicles. 
In some males, in the work of fetal development or both testicles fail to descend from the abdomen in to the sac that usually contains the testicles (scrotum).
 
Hormone imbalances
Infertility can result from disorders of the testicles themselves or an abnormality affecting the glands in the brain that produce testosterone and other hormones that control the testicles (the hypothalamus or pituitary glands). Low testosterone (male hypogonadism) and other hormonal issues have various feasible underlying cause.

 Sperm duct defects
The tubes that carryover sperm can be damaged by disease or injury. Some men are born with a blockage in the part of the testicle that stores sperm (epididymis) or a blockage of of the tubes that carryover sperm out of the testicles (vas deferens). Men with cystic fibrosis & some other inherited conditions may be born without sperm ducts altogether.
 
Chromosome defects
Inherited disorders such as Klinefelter's syndrome  in which a male is born with X chromosomes & Y chromosome in lieu of X & Y cause abnormal development of the male reproductive organs.
 
Issues with sexual activity. 
These can include trouble keeping or maintaining an erection sufficient for sex (erectile dysfunction), premature ejaculation, painful intercourse, or psychological or relationship issues that interfere with sex.
 
Celiac disease. 
A digestive disorder caused by sensitivity to gluten, celiac disease may cause male infertility. Fertility may improve after adopting a gluten-free diet.
 
Sure medications. 
Testosterone replacement therapy, long-term anabolic steroid use, cancer medications (chemotherapy), sure antibiotics, some ulcer medications & sure other medications can weaken sperm production & decrease male fertility.

ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES 
 Overexposure to positive environmental elements such as heat, toxins & chemicals can reduce sperm production or sperm function. Specific causes include:

 Pesticides.
 Some men exposed to pesticides such as ethylene dibromide & organophosphates have lowered sperm counts. Pesticide exposure has also been linked to testicular cancer. Most studies have been done on men who work in agriculture or live in agricultural areas.
  
Heavy metal exposure. 
Exposure to lead or other heavy metals also may cause infertility.
  
Exposure to radiation or X-rays. 
Exposure to radiation can reduce sperm production. It can take several years for sperm production to return to normal. With high doses of radiation, sperm production can be permanently reduced.
  
Overheating the testicles. 
Frequent use of saunas or hot tubs may temporarily lower your sperm count. Sitting for long periods or wearing tight clothing also may increase the temperature in your scrotum & reduce sperm production.
  
Extended bicycling. 
Extended bicycling is another feasible cause of reduced fertility due to overheating the testicles. In some cases, bicycle stool pressure on the area behind the testicles (perineum) may cause numbness in the penis & erectile dysfunction.

 Health, lifestyle and other causes
Some other causes of low sperm count include:

 
Illegal drug use. 
Anabolic steroids taken to stimulate muscle strength and growth may cause the testicles to shrink and sperm production to decrease. Use of cocaine or marijuana may temporarily reduce the number and quality of your sperm as well.
 
  Alcohol abuse. 
Heavy drinking can lower testosterone levels, cause erectile dysfunction and decrease sperm production. Liver disease caused by excessive drinking may also cause fertility issues.
 
 Tobacco smoking. 
Men who smoke may have a lower sperm count than do those who don't smoke. Secondhand smoke also may affect male fertility.
  
Emotional stress.
 Stress may interfere with sure hormones needed to produce sperm. Your sperm count may be affected in case you experience extreme or extended emotional stress. A controversy with fertility itself can sometimes become long term and discouraging, producing stress.
 
 Vitamin deficiency. 
Deficiencies in nutrients such as vitamin C, selenium, zinc and folate may contribute to decreased sperm production and male infertility.
  
Weight. 
Obesity may cause hormone changes that reduce male fertility. Men who are underweight also may have reduced fertility.
  
Age.
 Men older than 35 start to have a gradual decline in sperm production.
 
 Incomplete sperm collection.
 Lower than normal sperm counts can result from testing a sperm sample that was taken soon after your last ejaculation; was taken soon after an disease or stressful event; or didn't contain all of the semen you ejaculated because some was spilled in the coursework of collection. For this reason, results are usually based on several samples taken over a time period.

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