Understanding Low Sperm Count
Hearing that you have a low sperm count is certainly not a pleasant experience. While a low sperm count doesn't indicate anything about your masculinity, many men tie these two things together in their minds. Therefore, it is important to have all the facts and to understand the origins of low sperm count. This may help you to increase your sperm count, to understand your situation and to get the treatment that you need to conceive a healthy baby.
Factors In Your Control
Low sperm count might be the result of certain behaviors that are in your control. Temporary overheating can create a low sperm count. This can be the result of a high fever, or of sauna or hot Jacuzzi use. It may also be that you place a laptop on your lap for extensive periods of time, or that you work in a location that overheats often. Another factor that you can control is substance abuse. If you are a cocaine or marijuana user, this can reduce both the number and quality of your sperm by as much as 50%! Marijuana hurts the sperm's ability to swim and it makes it harder for the sperm to penetrate the egg.
More Factors In Your Control
In addition to these issues, smoking cigarettes may also result in a low sperm count. Cigarettes hurt sperm count, and they also hurt sperm motility, sperm lifespan and other aspects of sperm health. They may cause genetic changes with the baby as well. It is also possible that the side effects of cigarette smoking are keeping you from conceiving. One interesting study in 1999 found that male smokers had lower sex drives and engaged in sex less frequently than did their peers who didn't smoke. Your diet may also influence your sperm count. If you have very low levels of vitamin C, selenium, zinc and folate, this may put you at a higher risk for sperm problems. You should certainly be eating well while trying to conceive, and meeting with your doctor or with a nutritionist if you don't know what nutrients are best for you. Obesity has also been tied to low sperm count, so make sure to eat well, to exercise and to stay within a normal weight range.
Factors Not In Your Control
There are also certain factors that you can't usually control that can lead to a low sperm count. Researchers believe that there is a correlation between the man's age and his sperm count. Fertilization rates are usually over 60% for men who are younger than 39, but they fall to slightly over 50% for those who are over this age range. Your genetic make-up may also be a factor in low sperm count. If you have certain genetic issues such as systic fibrosis, Klinefelter syndrome, and Kartagener syndrome, you may experience a lower sperm count as a result. You should speak to your doctor if you have any of these syndromes to find out what can be done to help you with your sperm count. Next, physical and emotional stress can inhibit sperm count. Impotence, premature ejaculation and relationship problems can all contribute to lower sperm count and to infertility issues.
Factors That People Don't Often Consider
Finally, there are a few unusual factors that may contribute to a low sperm count. If you are an avid bicycle rider, you may actually be hurting your sperm. The pressure of the bike seat is thought to damage blood vessels and nerves needed to ejaculate. In particular, mountain biking is thought to hurt sperm count. Another usual problem is environmental factors. If you are exposed to toxins, chemicals and infections they may negatively impact your sperm count. Exposure to heavy metals like lead, cadmium and arsenic may hurt sperm production, as may radiation treatments and x-rays.
While you can control some of these factors, and try to limit or reverse their effect, there are others that are out of your control. Speak with your doctor if you suspect that you have a low sperm count, or if you've already been told that you do. A specialist may be able to help you to overcome these issues and to move forward on the road towards conception.
