The right low sperm count treatment can help you move from patient to parent
Pregnancy is only possible when sperm fertilizes an egg. A low sperm count can make this more difficult. However, parenthood is often still possible. Many options are available for low sperm count treatment. The key to success is finding the right one for you.
Andrew J. Levi MD of Park Avenue Fertility works with patients like you to make parenthood possible. Our Connecticut fertility specialist can order testing to find out what’s causing your low sperm count. Using these results, Dr. Levi can select the best treatment option for your case.
What causes a low sperm count?
From medical causes to lifestyle factors, there are many low sperm count causes. Our Connecticut fertility specialist will order a semen analysis and take a medical history. This information can help identify what is causing a low sperm count.
Below are some of the most common medical low sperm count causes.
- Varicocele (enlarged veins in the scrotum)
- Difficulty with ejaculation, including retrograde ejaculation and erectile dysfunction
- Undescended testicles (when one or both testicles don’t drop into the scrotum)
- Hormonal imbalances
- Certain medications and previous surgeries in the pelvic or abdominal area
Exposure to chemicals, heavy metals, heat and radiation can also lower sperm count.
Additionally, lifestyle factors can affect sperm health. Drug use, heavy alcohol consumption, smoking, and being above a healthy weight can all contribute to a low sperm count.
What are low sperm count treatments?
The best treatment for a low sperm count depends on what’s causing it. For example, some cases can be treated with lifestyle changes, while others may require medication, surgery or laboratory assistance.
Our Connecticut fertility specialist will review your history and test results to diagnose the cause of your low sperm count. Some cases may call for a collaborative approach, with a referral to a urologist who specializes in male fertility.
Once you have a diagnosis, Dr. Levi may recommend one of the following low sperm count treatments.
- Surgery that can treat issues like varicocele
- Medicine or counseling to help with erectile dysfunction
- Medications that help balance important hormones for sperm production
- Sperm retrieval procedures like testicular sperm extraction, or TESE, to remove the sperm directly from the testicles
Fertility treatments also exist to help couples who are struggling to conceive due to a low sperm count. The best options tend to involve laboratory assistance in the form of intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Using ICSI, embryologists in the lab inject a single healthy sperm into an egg. The goal is for the sperm to fertilize the egg, allowing it to grow into an embryo.
If you need low sperm count treatment, don’t lose hope. There is an excellent prognosis for nearly all men who pursue treatment. Dr. Levi and his team can help you get the care you need to welcome a baby. Contact us to schedule an appointment to learn more.
