Patient's question:
What causes a low amount of semen? I've been married to my wife for 6 years, and she hasn't been able to get pregnant. At first, I thought there was something wrong with my wife because I had previously gotten pregnant with my ex-girlfriend. Later, after my wife had medical tests and everything came back normal, I got tested for sperm, and the doctor said my sperm count was low, making natural pregnancy difficult. I'm really frustrated. What causes a low amount of semen?Doctor's answer:
Hello: The normal sperm count in semen is over 20 million/m1, and if the sperm count is less than 20 million/m1, it is considered oligospermia. Between 5 to 10 million/m1, it is moderate oligospermia; less than 5 million/m1, it is severe oligospermia. Common causes of oligospermia include: (1) congenital testicular dysgenesis or cryptorchidism leading to impaired spermatogenesis (2) varicocele of the seminal vesicles, hydrocele of the tunica vaginalis (3) inflammation of the reproductive tract (4) immune suppression and endocrine disorders (5) chromosomal abnormalities, etc. Since the causes vary, the treatment methods also differ. Wishing you good health!