A married man like you dreams to build a happy family. You want to have as many children that you can raise happily with your spouse. This has been a picture in your mind of an “ideal family”. However, this picture remains a picture because for several years up to today it is not yet realized. Problems with male infertility such as a low sperm count have become a delicate issue concerning men that you yourself want to know more of.
The Causes
Sperm production is a complex process. This requires healthily functioning testicles, pituitary gland and hypothalamus. Here are medical causes of a low sperm count that many men like you may be dealing with:
Varicocele
This is a medical condition wherein the blood vessels (veins) that drain your testicles become swollen. This prevents the normal cooling of your testicles which leads to a low sperm count as well as poor sperm motility.
Infection
You may have suffered certain infections that can interfere with the production of sperm. They can leave scars on the passageway of sperm. Infections that are sexually transmitted such as gonorrhea and chlamydia as well as prostate inflammation (prostatitis), mumps orchitis and urinary tract infection can leave you a problem with sperm count and motility.
Ejaculation Problems
Have you heard of retrograde ejaculation? It occurs when your semen (during orgasm) instead of going out of the penis, enters your bladder. This may be due to bladder surgeries, diabetes, spinal injuries and other procedures done on the urethra and prostate. Anti hypertensive medications are also known to cause retrograde ejaculation. What is even worse is that, if you have spinal injuries, though you have normal sperm count, you can’t ejaculate at all.
Antibodies
There are antibodies which attack and kill your sperm. These cells of the immune system have anti-sperm properties that destroy your sperm. Your body identifies your sperm cells as foreign bodies so it attempts to eliminate these cells. This is a common condition among men who have had vasectomy.
Tumors
Tumors can develop anywhere in your body. It can be in your reproductive system which affects the functions of your organs or on your pituitary gland affecting your hormonal production which influences sperm production. These conditions are treated by radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Undescended Testicles
While you are in your mother’s womb, testicular development may be delayed that the descent of your testicles from your abdomen into its sac (scrotum) fails. Decreased fertility or even infertility may result because of this.
Hormones
Your hormones play a major role in the maturity of your reproductive organs to produce sperm. Your testicles, pituitary gland and hypothalamus do work together in order to produce the “seeds of fertility”. Other glands that may help in this process are your adrenal and thyroid gland.
There are many other medical conditions that may cause a low sperm count. These causes are one of the most common culprits to male infertility. It is important that you seek for your urologist’s expertise in identifying these problems early. There is much hope that you can realize your dream of having a family. An open mind and a willful heart can help you achieve it in time.








