Overcoming Oligospermia: A Complete Fertility Guide

Receiving a diagnosis of oligospermia can be quite shocking when you’re trying to get a partner pregnant. Unfortunately, the condition doesn’t have any side effects. It’s impossible to know that you have a problem, unless you get the necessary tests.

While oligospermia does make it more difficult to conceive a baby, there are various treatment options to choose among. The following guide will acquaint you with some of the solutions for the medical condition and help you figure out which one is best.

What Is Oligospermia And What Is It Caused By?

Before moving on to the possible treatments, let’s examine the condition and some of its most prominent causes.

Oligospermia is also called low sperm count. It refers to the deficiency of enough sperm cells in the semen. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) definition, low sperm count refers to concentrations of less than 20 million sperm cells per milliliter.

When the sperm count falls in the range from 10 to 20 million sperm/ml, the condition is classified as mild. Moderate oligospermia refers to concentrations of five to 10 million sperm cells per milliliter. Severe oligospermia has typical concentrations of zero to five million sperm cells per milliliter. Cryptoozospermia is a condition in which a man has either zero or very few sperm cells. When no sperm cells at all are present in a semen sample, the condition is called azoospermia.

Low sperm count can be caused by a wide array of factors. A few of the most prominent causes of oligospermia include:

• Being obese or overweight
• Suffering from type 2 diabetes or heart disease
• Varicocele (enlarged testicle veins)
• The use of anabolic steroids
• Testicular cancer or undergoing treatment for testicular cancer
• Mumps
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cigarette smoking
• Taking certain medications or being exposed to certain toxins
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Recreational drug use

Oligospermia is often present in guys who don’t really know about it. Many individuals suffering from a mild to moderate condition have no problems getting a partner pregnant. If oligospermia causes infertility, however, a treatment will have to be sought.

See Your Doctor Before Attempting Any Treatment

In some instances, oligospermia is caused by a more serious medical condition and it can be a symptom rather than an isolated occurrence.

Before attempting to find an adequate solution, it’s important to see an experienced urologist. Problems like varicocele and low testosterone are very often the cause of oligospermia. Such issues can be fixed relatively easily.

A doctor will also run tests for a few additional problems like a cardiovascular issue or diabetes. Once the cause of oligospermia is treated, you’ll also see an improvement in your sperm count.

Natural Supplementation

Using natural supplements that enhance spermatogenesis and increase sperm cell health is one of the best options for the treatment of oligospermia. Remember, however, that you’ll have to take such a product for a couple of months in order to see results.

Tribulus terrestris is one of the most prominent herbal extracts used for the purpose of treating male infertility naturally.

There’s enough evidence that tribulus terrestris has an impact on important hormones like testosterone. In addition, the herb stimulates spermatogenesis – the formation of new and healthy sperm cells.

Mucuna pruriens is also highly effective, which is why it’s contained in a big number of male enhancement supplements. Apart from being great for overcoming oligospermia, mucuna pruriens is also beneficial for men who suffer from erectile dysfunction.

A few of the other herbs that men suffering from a low sperm count can try include astragalus root extract, black cohosh, saw palmetto, maca root, panax ginseng and ashwagandha.

Deal With Bad Habits

The list of issues contributing to oligospermia features a few unhealthy habits. Consuming fattening foods, drinking alcohol to an excess and cigarette smoking impact sperm count and motility. As a result, these nasty habits are likely to make a man infertile.

If you want to have a baby with your partner, you should consider quitting cigarettes and excessive alcohol intake at least a few months prior to getting started with the baby-making attempts. Spermatogenesis requires approximately three months. This is the absolute minimal amount of time after which you can see improvements in sperm count.

One more habit you’ll need to change involves the type of underwear that you go for.

It’s very important for the testicles to be kept at a lower temperature than the one of the body. A high temperature can kill sperm cells or damage them. Thus, the best kinds of underwear for guys suffering from oligospermia is cotton boxers. These are made of a breathable fabric and they don’t push the testicles against the body.

Deal with Stress

Very often, hormones are out of whack due to excessive stress. Chronic stress can have a severe impact on the body. It will affect a number of functions, increase the risk of suffering from chronic diseases and destroy fertility.

If you have a busy and demanding job, you’ll have to look for an outlet.

Light exercise is great for overcoming stress and it can also improve circulation. These are two great effects that work together to boost fertility. The same applies to practicing yoga and meditation. Certain asanas are great for people who are trying to get a partner pregnant.

A coping strategy is very important. Stress affects your sexuality in a number of ways. Apart from potentially causing infertility, it can lead to a low libido and erectile dysfunction.

Avoid Heat

As already mentioned, heat has a negative impact on sperm cells. Excessively high temperatures can easily kill the little swimmers.

This is the main reason why you should try to be extra-careful with heat when trying to get your partner pregnant.

Avoid hot baths if you want healthy and strong sperm. A quick shower is a much better idea. If you like to soak and relax in the bathtub, make sure that the temperature of the water isn’t too high.

The same applies to soaking in Jacuzzis, swimming pools featuring hot mineral water and saunas. Avoid all of those until you manage to achieve a pregnancy.

Drink Green Tea And Supply Your Body With Antioxidants

Free radicals can damage many kinds of cells in the body, including sperm cells. This is the main reason why you should seek quality antioxidants in an attempt to counter the negative effects of free radicals.

Green tea is an excellent source of antioxidants and there’s some evidence it can be used effectively for the treatment of oligospermia.

One study was presented in a 2012 issue of the Molecular Nutrition and Food Research journal. Scientists worked with normozoospermic samples and a substance derived from green tea called EGCG.

Researchers found out that higher concentration of EGCG increased sperm viability, motility and survival rates.

Green tea is just one of the possibilities when it comes to giving yourself sufficient amounts of antioxidants. Foods that contain vitamin C are wonderful for enhancing sperm health. The same applies to all kinds of berries and green leafy vegetables. Just up your fruit and veggie intake while decreasing the amounts of processed foods you consume. Chances are that such a diet change will have a profoundly positive effect on sperm health.