Sperm quality and fertility are directly proportional.
Having the tendency to have a baby depends on female fertility and male partner’s fertility equally. In males, semen might be the last thing during ejaculation but it is a good indicator of your overall fertility. The sperm count is tested with the help of the semen analysis. A good fertility doctor will provide the same kind of attention to male-related infertility as to female-related infertility. It goes without saying that sperm quality and fertility are interrelated.
What is Semen?
Semen is a greyish-white body fluid secreted by male gonads. It carries sperm or sperm and fructose, as well as other enzymes that assist the sperm to survive to promote effective fertilization.
The whitish opalescence is due to the big quantity of protein it includes and due to the spermatozoa, it contains, its slightly turbid appearance. The semen moves through the ejaculatory ducts, and prostate, mixing seminal vesicles and bulbourethral glands with liquids. The seminal vesicles generate a viscous, fructose-rich liquid that forms approximately 65-70% of the semen foundation.
The semen’s white color is due to the secretion of enzymes, lipids, citric acid, and acid phosphatase from the prostate glands. This makes up about 25-30 percent of the base of semen. Testes release approximately 200-500 million sperms at each ejaculation. This makes up about 2-5 percent of the structure of the semen.
The bulbourethral glands, apart from these, generate a definite secretion. This enables the vagina and cervix sperm cells mobility. The secretion of the glands contributes less than 1% to the general structure of the semen.
Cause of Female related infertility
What is a normal sperm count?
Semen quality and fertility are directly related.
If you are attempting to conceive a kid, sperm quality and sperm count can be essential. An abnormal count of sperm may also show an underlying condition of health.
A standard sperm count varies from 15 million sperms per ml of semen to over 200 million sperms. Anything less than 15 million sperm per mL is regarded as small, or 39 million sperm per ejaculate. A small count of sperm is often called oligospermia. A sperm count of more than 200 million sperm per mL is large or above average.
You can consult the nearest clinic or the doctor for your semen analysis. Semen analysis consists of the following things –
- Sperm Motility or movement of sperm
- Number of sperms
- Shape of sperms
The number, shape, and mobility of sperm are important for testing for male factor infertility. Your doctor may recommend testing up to three samples of sperm at different visits to get an accurate analysis.
Why the sperm count is important?
If you are planning to have a baby, a normal sperm count is often a necessity. Although the pregnancy may require just one egg and one sperm to fertilize, increased sperm count will increase your chances of pregnancy every month.
Your sperm count may be an important measure of overall health even if you don’t try to conceive. One research discovered males with low sperms were more probable than males with greater sperm counts to have a greater proportion of body fat (larger waistline and greater BMI) and greater blood pressure. They also had a greater metabolic syndrome frequency, or a greater chance of developing diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Importance of sperm count and fertility
Does sperm count affect fertility? Yes, the number of sperm is very much important for the fertilization process. The decrease in sperm count will result in decreased chances of your partner getting pregnant.
Sperm quality problems can also influence your likelihood of becoming pregnant with a female. Male infertility factor is a prevalent reason that many couples have difficulty conceiving, often owing to low sperm quality. But couples may also have other health problems that may influence fertility.
What affects sperm quality?
The causes of low sperm count can be many. Here we will touch upon the main factors which affect semen in males.
- Varicocele – Varicocele is characterized by the swelling in the veins that drains the testicles. It is the most reversible and common cause of male infertility. The cause of the Varicocele might be unknown but it may be related to the abnormal temperature regulation in testicles. Varicocele results in a reduction in the sperm count. Treating Varicocele will help in increasing the sperm count and function.
- Tumors – Cancers and non-malignant tumors may directly influence male reproductive organs through the glands releasing reproductive-related hormones, such as the pituitary gland, or through unidentified triggers. Sometimes, male fertility may be affected by surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy to treat tumors.
- Infections – Some infections can interfere with sperm health or sperm production. These infections might include the inflammation of epididymis or of testicles known as orchitis. Most often the sperms can be retrieved but in some cases, the infection results in permanent damage of testicles.
- Hormonal Imbalances – Infertility may lead to testicular illnesses or an abnormality that affects other hormonal structures including the hypothalamus, thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands. There are a number of possible underlying causes for low testosterone (masculine hypogonadism) and other hormonal issues
- Industrial chemicals – Chemical exposures for a long time to benzene, xylene, pesticides, herbicides, organic solvents, and painting material can result in low sperm count
- Heavy exposure to metals – Exposure to lead and other heavy metals has an adverse effect on male infertility.
- Radiation or X rays – Exposure to X rays for a long time or to any kind of radiation results in a reduction in sperm count.
- Use of alcohol – Drinking alcohol can result in reduced testosterone levels that can cause a decrease in erectile function as well as in sperm count. Liver disease caused by excessive drinking can also lead to infertility problems.
- Smoking – Men who smoke have a lower rate of fertility than those who don’t. Passive smoking can also harm male fertility.
- Use of drugs – Anabolic steroids are taken to boost muscle power and development can cause shrinkage of the testicles and reduced semen quality. Using cocaine or marijuana may also momentarily decrease your sperm count and quality.
- Stress – Stress can interfere with the hormones that are necessary for producing sperms. Hence, it can also lead to an adverse effect on male infertility.
How can one preserve sperm count and fertility?
There are some ways in which male fertility and sperm count can be preserved.
- Accept a healthy lifestyle, with a balanced diet and periodic workouts.
- Do not drink alcohol or maintain drinking alcohol within the recommended boundaries.
- Do not use recreational drugs or smoke.
- Try to prevent exposure to industrial and occupational hazards by following safety practices and, where available, wearing protective clothing.
- Avoid sexually transmitted infections by taking the help of protective measures like using condoms.
Conclusion
Therefore, your sperms are a very much important factor in whether you will conceive a child naturally or not. Take care of the above-said measures while trying to conceive a child.
If you’d like to learn more about IVF, Egg Donation, or surrogacy services globally, check out the rest of our website at IVF Conceptions.
I am Neelam Chhagani, a chief Surrogacy Consultant, representing IVF Conceptions, with more than 10 years of experience in international surrogacy. It will be my great pleasure to assist you. With vast experience and deep subject knowledge, I guide and support intended parents, understanding the surrogacy process in terms of process, costs, and legalities country-wise and then manage their journey with one of our programs/partners worldwide. So, basically, saving their ton of research time and money and thus, channelizing you toward the right direction.