Oligospermia is a medical term that refers to the presence of fewer sperm than normal in the seminal fluid ejaculated during orgasm. The sperm count is considered below normal if the concentration per milliliter of sperm is less than 15 million. Moderate oligospermia is when the concentration is between 10 and 15 million/ml, moderate is when the concentration is between 5 and 10 million/ml, and severe is when the concentration is less than 5 million/ml. The fewer sperm in the ejaculate, the lower the chance that one of them will be able to fertilize the egg. However, we would like to point out that many men suffering from oligospermia are still able to become fathers. Unfortunately, this disorder is becoming more common and is the cause of difficulties in conceiving in about one in three couples. What are the symptoms of oligospermia? Oligospermia itself is not accompanied by any symptoms and is usually detected after a spermogram. However, in some patients, specific symptoms can be recognized, for example, hereditary hormonal imbalance or a disorder that blocks the passage of sperm. When to see a doctor? It is recommended to contact the specialists of the Bogolyuby Medical Center if you cannot conceive a child after a year of regular unprotected sex. Do you suffer from problems with erection or ejaculation, decreased desire or other problems related to sexual function, do you experience pain, discomfort or swelling in the testicles, have you suffered from problems with the reproductive system, testicles or prostate in the past? What are the risk factors? There are several risk factors associated with oligospermia and the problems that can cause it. These include: age over 35, smoking, alcohol abuse, drug use, being overweight/underweight, infections (current or cured), exposure to toxins and pollutants, overheating of the testicles, congenital or family history of fertility problems, tumors or chronic pathologies, radiation therapy, use of certain medications, competitive cycling or prolonged use of a bicycle, especially if the saddle is uncomfortable. What to do? The treatment method for oligospermia, as well as the prognosis, strictly depend on the underlying cause. The first advice usually given to couples is to continue trying to conceive naturally even during the diagnostic testing process, since in many cases there is a real chance of natural pregnancy. Ideally, you should try to have sex 3-4 times a week and improve your lifestyle as much as possible. This is an often overlooked aspect, but it can significantly improve the characteristics of your sperm. Pathologies such as varicocele, hydrocele, and some tumors may require surgical intervention. In case of infections, the andrologist will prescribe special antibiotic treatment. If oligospermia is caused by a hormonal imbalance, the doctor may recommend hormone replacement therapy or certain drugs that affect the amount of hormones in the bloodstream. If therapy does not give the desired results, you can resort to assisted reproduction methods that try to bypass the problem of low sperm count, typical of oligospermia. Intrauterine insemination: this is the first step and the least invasive technique, which makes sense in cases of mild to moderate oligospermia. Simply put, sperm is artificially introduced directly into the uterus on the most fertile days to increase the likelihood that at least one sperm will be able to fertilize the egg. IVF/ICSI: These are more invasive methods, but they provide fairly high success rates even in cases of severe oligospermia.
