Sperm count, low

Causes of a low sperm count

In many cases, it's not obvious what causes a low sperm count.

Sometimes problems with sperm count and quality are associated with:

ahormone imbalance, such as hypogonadism (reduced hormone production)
a genetic problem such as XXY (Klinefelter syndrome)
having had undescended testicles as a baby
astructural problem for example, the tubes that carry sperm being damaged and blocked by illness or injury, or being absent from birth
a genital infection such as chlamydia , gonorrhoea or prostatitis (infection of the prostate gland)
varicoceles (enlarged veins in the testicles)
previous surgery tothe testicles or hernia repairs
the testicles becoming overheated
excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and using drugs such as marijuana or cocaine
certain medications, including testosterone replacement therapy, long-term anabolic steroid use , cancer medications (chemotherapy), some antibiotics and some antidepressants

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for sperm count, low

Introduction

Find out about the causes of a low sperm count, how to get tested, and what the main treatments are to help to conceive.

Gettingyour sperm count checked

See your GP if you have not managed to conceive after one year of trying for a baby. It's a good idea for both you and your partner to get advice, as fertility problems can affect men and women and o

Home sperm count testing kits

There are several male fertilityhome-testing kits available to buy from pharmacies. These tests claim to indicate whether your sperm count is low. It may be tempting to try one of the tests if you wo

Causes of a low sperm count

In many cases, it's not obvious what causes a low sperm count. Sometimes problems with sperm count and quality are associated with: ahormone imbalance, such as hypogonadism (reduced hormone product

Treatments for low sperm count

If you or your partner has been diagnosed with a low sperm count, there are several options available. Keep trying Your doctor may initially suggest trying to conceive naturally for a little longer.

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