Sperm Quality and Age

42 Comments:

• At Sat Apr 14, 08:48:00 PM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  could a person increase there sperm count example producing more sperm than usual if so how?

   

• At Tue Apr 17, 11:11:00 AM 2007,  Carl M. Herbert, MD said…

  Sperm counts are usually given as some number of sperm (usually in the millions) per unit of fluid (usually milliliters or cubic centimeters). This is actually a measure of sperm concentration. If this number is less than 20 million/cc, it may be associated with decreased fertility. I say "maybe" because some men do father children with even lower numbers but the odds are decreased. If the sperm count is already above 20-30 million/cc, there is not a reason to try and increase it. If the count is extremely low, less than 5 million/cc, it is quite unlikely that any type of treatment will increase the sperm count. If there are low sperm counts, the man should have a thorough exam by an infertility specialist, usually a urologist with special interest or training, to see if there are medical explanations for the low counts. Based on the particular diagnosis, there may be treatments which can improve the sperm counts. There is no general treatment which can be applied to all men with low sperm counts, which will universally raise the numbers. Some conditions which are associated with low sperm counts are treatable and others are not. If the sperm count is low enough to be associated with infertility and requires treatment, see a good doctor first to obtain a comprehensive evaluation.
  Dr. Carl Herbert

   

• At Mon Apr 23, 01:39:00 PM 2007,  Christie Lee said…

  Hello I am a 22 year old. I have has issues with not getting my menstrual cycle, and have been on birth control. My doctor told me I might be pre-menepausal, I am very athletic but i am concerned my hormone levels are off. I have decided to go off the pill for 2 months and get my hormones checked out. What do you think?

   

• At Mon Apr 23, 06:20:00 PM 2007,  Carl M. Herbert, MD said…

  Dear Christie Lee,
  
  Sounds like you do not get your menstrual periods regularly, if at all. I assume you were placed on oral contraceptives to "regulate" your menstrual periods. Or perhaps you are on oral contraceptives and just not having bleeding episodes on a cyclic basis. Some women on low dose oral contraceptives or those on special kinds of "progesterone only" pills don't have menses. If your doctor is concerned about a possible premenopausal condition, it is a good idea to go off of the oral contraceptives and check your hormones. You will not get an accurate assessment of your ovaries and hormones while you are on the pill. The hormones which regulate ovulation and therefore, menses include FSH, LH, thyroid (TSH), prolactin, and estradiol. The most important is FSH and it will let you know if there is a premenopausal situation. If the FSH is high, greater then 8 mIU/ml, there may be early problems with the ovaries. However, as an athlete, you may have a low FSH which would explain your failure to ovulate and have regular menstrual cycles. As you can tell this is a complex issue but you were correct in stopping the oral contraceptives and planning an evaluation in a month or so. The tests should tell you whether the problem is "bad ovaries at a young age" or some other hormone imbalance which can be corrected. Be sure if you are using the oral contraceptives for "contraception", that you use some form of barrier birth control while you are figuring out this issue.
  
  Dr. Carl Herbert

   

• At Tue Apr 24, 07:48:00 AM 2007,  Christie Lee said…

  Thank you for your response I was told to take a full 2 month cycle off the pill to see if I get my period without it and also that should be enough time for my hormones to be self-regulated and then be able to get them tested. I am not sexually active so that is not a problem for me. I just want to make sure I know what is going on in my body and get the reasons to why I have to be on birth control instead of certain gynocologist just putting me on the meds and not really helping me.
  Thank you for your time.

   

• At Wed May 16, 08:16:00 AM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  i did me & my fiance tests before marriage,and his semen examination showed a count of 4.4 million/ml & motility showing that 50% of them die after the 1st hr.His fluid volume was 1cm.We repeated the test and it was 11.5 million/cc next time.His fluid volume was 1.5 this time.He's 33 yrs old. I really like babies & i love him..I need help is there any hope to increase his count?
  P.S Dr.s said there are no physical problems causing a sperm count decrease
  my email is developmillions@yahoo.com

   

• At Wed May 16, 05:07:00 PM 2007,  Carl M. Herbert, MD said…

  Dear Anonymous,
  Your husband's sperm counts are quite low and would certainly be considered subfertile. If he has had an examination by a urologist with an interest and training in male factor infertility, there is probably little that can be done to correct his count. There are a number of blood tests such as testosterone, FSH, prolactin and TSH which should be checked to insure he has no endocrine abnormalities. If his sperm counts are regularly less than 10 million/cc of ejaculate, he may want to consider genetic tests such as a peripheral karyotype and a special test of the Y chromosome to check for missing DNA called "Y Chromosome Microdeletion Test". If all those tests are normal and the counts continue to be as low as these you presented, he may need to consider IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) to make sure the sperm has a chance to fertilize one or more of you eggs. This technique requires IVF so the eggs can be mechanically fertilized in the laboratory but is very successful. Performing intrauterine inseminations with very low sperm counts is generally not very successful. Check on the internet for more information about "male factor infertility".
  Dr. Carl M. Herbert

   

• At Thu May 17, 11:38:00 PM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  Is there any harm in masturbating two to three times a day everyday? Does the sperm count decrease? And if so, will it regain if complete abstinence is maintained? In how many day can it be regained?

   

• At Sat May 19, 03:42:00 PM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  Dr. Herbert,
  
  I look forward to reading your updates. Please do update soon!

   

• At Mon May 21, 10:35:00 AM 2007,  Carl M. Herbert, MD said…

  Dear Anonymous,
  There is no harm created by masturbating three times in one day. However, in relation to fertility, enough ejaculation over a short time period will temporarily reduce the ejaculate volume and therefore the ejaculate sperm number. How significant an effect frequent ejaculation (masturbation or other)has on fertility depends to some extent on the quality of the baseline semen analysis. If the sperm count is low to start, frequent ejaculation will have a greater negative impact on sperm counts and fertility. Several days of abstinence are usually sufficient to "recharge" the sperm counts in otherwise healthy men.
  Dr. Carl M. Herbert

   

• At Mon May 21, 10:35:00 AM 2007,  Carl M. Herbert, MD said…

  Dear Anonymous,
  There is no harm created by masturbating three times in one day. However, in relation to fertility, enough ejaculation over a short time period will temporarily reduce the ejaculate volume and therefore the ejaculate sperm number. How significant an effect frequent ejaculation (masturbation or other)has on fertility depends to some extent on the quality of the baseline semen analysis. If the sperm count is low to start, frequent ejaculation will have a greater negative impact on sperm counts and fertility. Several days of abstinence are usually sufficient to "recharge" the sperm counts in otherwise healthy men.
  Dr. Carl M. Herbert

   

• At Tue May 22, 10:46:00 AM 2007,  r said…

  What are the implications of and recommendation for:
  
  1. Low semen volume 1.0 mL, and
  2. Low motility - 31.
  
  Many thanks

   

• At Tue May 22, 10:56:00 AM 2007,  r said…

  One other number to add to my previous note of a few minutes ago is that sperm count is 146 MIL/mL.
  
  Thanks again

   

• At Wed May 23, 12:25:00 PM 2007,  Carl M. Herbert, MD said…

  Dear r,
  A semen volume of 1.0 cc is just borderline, not severe relative to the volume needed to be fertile. There is a long list of reasons why a single specimen might have a lower volume, including poor collection (spillage), poor ejaculation secondary to suboptimal collection conditions, recent ejaculation, etc. Before recommending any treatment you should repeat the semen analysis with collection in a comfortable environment (at home if possible) with at least 3 days of prior abstinence. If there is persistant low volume, you can consider unusual issues like retrograde ejaculation where some of the ejaculate goes backwards into the bladder rather than forward out of the penis at the time of orgasm. This can be checked by looking at a urine specimen obtained immediately after the normal collection for a semen analysis. Treatment for low volume can include vitamin E although the true benefit of this is unknown. More commonly we would recommend performing IUI (intrauterine insemination) with washed sperm to insure a good number of motile sperm reach the egg.
  A motility of 31% is also borderline for decreased fertility. I am sure there are many men who have motility in this range but are still fertile. There are many reasons for decreased motility from prolonged time from ejaculation to analysis, to smoking, medications, toxin exposure, etc. If you and your partner are trying to get pregnant and have been unsuccessful to date, further evaluation might be indicated. If you simply had a semen analysis out of curiosity, I would not worry about these numbers. Certainly, you should have a repeat semn analysis before coming to any conclusions and deciding on any form of treatment.
  Dr. Carl M. Herbert

   

• At Thu May 24, 12:05:00 PM 2007,  Carl M. Herbert, MD said…

  One way to assess all the numbers in a semen analysis for normality is to multiply the volume x the concentration x the % motility to get a number which measures the number of million motile sperm in an ejaculate. The result of that multiplication should be greater than 20 million motile sperm/ejaculate. The math on your specimen would be 146 million/ml x 1 ml x 31% motility or 45 million motile sperm which is in the normal range.
  Dr. CArl M. Herbert

   

• At Mon May 28, 12:43:00 AM 2007,  vish said…

  Dear doctor,
  
  I'm in a kind of problem.... I need your help to come out of the mental trauma I'm undergoing.
  I had the problem of mumps about 5 years back bcoz which my one testicle had shrunk... Thinking that in mind I got scrotal scan & semen analysis done... It was found that I had poor count & also that I had varicocele....
  From that day I'm no more a normal human being....
  
  My concerns: thoughts of sterility & reduced libido...
  I'm having acute pain in the testicles...
  give me confidence...
  I'll be ever greatful to you,,,,,
  
  Summary:
  
  In 2001 had right testicular atropy because of mumps.
  In 2006 december diagnosed for varicocele and grade 1 prostate enlargement...
  
  Sperm Analysis: Mild astenospermia
  Testosterone: 233 gd/dl
  I'm facing proble with errection.

   

• At Mon May 28, 09:15:00 PM 2007,  vish said…

  Doctor here is my detailed report...
  Please do help me...
  I'll be evergrateful to you....
  
  Detailed investigation reports:
  
  Harmone analysis:
  Testosterone: 233 gd/dl
  
  
  Semen Analysis:
  Physical Examination:
  Colour: Graywhite
  Quantity: 2ml
  Viscocity: Normal
  Reaction: Alkaline
  Total Spermatozoa Count : 55million
  Active : 3 to 40%
  sluggish: 10 to 20%
  Dead: Rest
  
  Microscopic Examination:
  Pus cells: 2 to 4 cells/hpf
  Epithelial Cells: 1 to 2 cells/hpf
  RBC's: NIL
  
  Liquification: 30mins
  
  Remarks: Sperms appear normal in number and show mild decrease in active motility, many pin headed, immature and swollen neck forms are noted
  
  IMPRESSION: MILD ASTHENOSPERMIA
  
  
  Scrotal Ultrasound:
  Right Testis is small and hypoechoic.
  Left testis is normal in size, position, contours and texture.
  Intra testicular & capsular vascularity are normal.
  Both epididymes are normal in size, contours and texture.
  Both cord regions appear normal.
  
  Mildly dilated venous channels are seen in both the pampiniform plexus with reflux on
  Valsalva in both scrotal and cord regions in both standing and supine postures.
  These veins measure 2.5 to 3.0 mms in diameter.
  
  No evidence of hydrocele.
  
  Testes Measures:
  Rt. 3.1x2.3x1.7cms and 8.3cc
  Lt. 4.1x2.7x3.1cms and 18.3cc
  
  IMPRESSION: SMALL RIGHT TESTIS - ATROPHY(POST MUMPS)
  NORMAL LEFT TESTIS
  BILATERAL GRADE I VARICOCELE - RT>LT

   

• At Fri Jun 08, 08:00:00 AM 2007,  ajay chacharia said…

  Hi,
  
  Pls. answer my query below or refer / provide an email id where i can post my query. Pls. reply at ajay101979@yahoo.co.in
  
  I am of 25 ears of age. When i was a child i remember to had a
  surgery (i think that was for the positioning of the testicles). i have the information
  that my testicle was not in proper position. But since my childhood my
  left testicle is loweer in position as compared to my right testicle. To
  be exact my left testicle is lying at the bottom of the scrotum (bag)
  but the right testicle is just on the top of the bag just near to &
  touching the end of penis. I had never had any problem / pain in that area
  & personally feel that its not a major issue. i don't know what should
  be the exact position. I have been masturbating since long time & never
  felt to have any problem with sperms. Think the sperms come out in
  adequate quantity. Don't know about sperm count, etc. Pls. let me know
  whether the position of my testicles are OK & would not create any problems
  in future in my married life. Also let me know whether too much of
  masturbating affects future sexual life or has any side effects. Whether
  masturbating affects increasing ur tummy (fat)
  
  
  Thanks
  Ajay

   

• At Thu Jun 14, 04:15:00 PM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  Hello,
  
  My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for 5 years now. Still no luck. I am concerned that there is something wtong as far as infertility. Could you provide some advice and which way I should go to handle this.
  
  Thanks in advance!!!!

   

• At Thu Jun 14, 04:19:00 PM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  Hello,
  
  My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for about 5 years now. We have tried the pills even sex more often and does not seem to help. Could you provide some advice and which way I should go as far as accoplishing our goal for a baby?
  
  Thanks in advanced!!!!!

   

• At Thu Jun 14, 08:39:00 PM 2007,  Raquel said…

  I had a tubal done almost 13yrs ago, my husband and I would love to have another baby, we've heard of patients who had a tubal done that they have become pregnant years after, what are the chances of this happening. Right now I am late on my cycle and have had some slight pain around the pelvic area,feels like stretching. I had a physical/pap one month ago and everything was fine.they did US of the ovaries and the tech said if my husband and I could have kids, I was extremely fertil.

   

• At Tue Jun 19, 02:05:00 AM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  is it true that if you have a sperm count of 10 million taht you cannot father a child? what is really normal?

   

• At Sun Jun 24, 10:42:00 AM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  hello doctor
  
  i'm 32 year old man, my wife 23, she is having problem after 3 months baby not growing due to this 2 time aborted, can you advise me about the problem

   

• At Wed Jul 04, 08:06:00 AM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  I am 26 years old women, my husband 38 years old staying abroad. We have been trying to have baby for last two years but no luck. When he came down on vacation we have cunsulted the doctor and she advised to check the semen analysis(sperm)but it's reported the total count is 42.2 million/. then the doctor told that the sperm count is very low and you have to take medicine for three months. We have tried for those months but there is no effect. Please Doctor do me a favor let know the actual proble is what? The detail is given below
  Volume : 1.5ml
  Viscosity : Normal
  Motility: 20% are grade iv Motile
  17% are grade III motile
  7% are grade II motile
  3% are grade I motile
  
  Morthology: 19% are amorphous forms
  9% are pinheaded & small headed forms
  2% are double headed forms
  1% are double tailed forms
  4% are constricted headed forms
  1% are short tailed forms
  rest f them are normal in morthology
  2-3 puscells/HPF
  Celluler debris +
  0-1 epithelial cells/HPF
  S-FUCTOSE: PRESENT NORMAL
  T.COUNT : 42.2 MIL/ML

   

• At Sun Jul 08, 04:40:00 AM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  My husband has recently had a test done and the result looked bad,I would be gratful if you would look at them & explian a bit more, is thier any kind of treament for him?
  semien Sample Volme - 20ml
  total perm count - 12 (10* 6+ml)
  motility grade A -0 , B 0, C 1%.
  non motility - 99%
  sprem abnormal forms 99%
  many thanks

   

• At Sun Jul 08, 04:51:00 AM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  my husband has just done a semen test and results does not look good. i would be gratful if you would be able to look at them.
  semen sampel volume 2.5ml
  total sperm count 12 10* 6+ml
  Motilty grade A 0
  Motilty grade B 0
  Motilty grade C 1%
  Non Motilty 99%
  Sprem Abnnormal 99%

   

• At Wed Jul 11, 06:48:00 AM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  For the past 6 years my husband and I have had a mostly great marriage except that there has been almost no sex. He had some problems earlier with maintaining erections that may have been due to chemical abuse he has long since overcome. He kept blaming the failure to maintain an erection on fear. He stopped masturbating, and eventually we both stopped trying to have sex. He went to his doctor and told him about the erectile disfunction, and the doctor ran some tests showing that indicated that he had low levels of testosterone. After much time talking about it, we have resumed our sex life, without the aid of the perscribed Levitra, and he has been able to ejaculate and maintain erections. This makes it seem likely to me that it was mostly fear causing (part of) the problem. In our very frank discussions he has said he hadn't masturbated for fear of failure for as long as we've been having sexual problems. My question is, how likely is it that his sperm is viable. We do want to work on getting pregnant, but I'm concerned that the lack of turn over of his sperm could be a problem. We have not yet tried fertility testing.

   

• At Thu Jul 12, 10:11:00 PM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  I have a history of ectopic pregnancies (7 to 11) I don't remember the exact number. I have my first in 2000 and had an emergency surgery to remove part of my right tube. I have seen on of the "best" infertility specialist and have gone thru 3 invitro procedures. The first one I got pregnant with the 2 embroyos, but lost them; genetic testing (chromosome) was done and I have "lupus anticoagulant". I take a baby aspirin daily and folic acid. Second invitro (a frozen embroyo) I got pregnant but @ 8 weeks no heart beat, doctor told me the placenta did not develop (I don't believe him). Third invitro two embroyos were transfered and I didn't even get pregant. Doctor told me it could be because emboyos weren't "good" (I thought thats why we have an embroyologist to see if the embroyos are healthy) On all occasions I was told the embroyos were okay. Also, when stimulating the ovaries I don't produce alot, only four to five mature. The doctor wants me to try one more time, but doesn't want me to wait a year.........I have been trying since 06/2006. I am 36 years old, exercise three to four times a week, try to eat healthy, don't drink alchol or smoke, don't do drugs. Any advise? What is going on with me? What should I do?

   

• At Mon Jul 23, 12:40:00 PM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  I know this my sound like a really stupid question, but I was wondering how the amount of semen relates to the amount of sperm? my fiance finally menioned that she thinks I produce a very small amount of semen. I always wanted children, so this may be a problem. Is there any guidelines I could try at home before seeing a specialist?

   

• At Sun Aug 26, 05:32:00 AM 2007,  Rakesh said…

  Dear Sir,
  I want to ask few query regarding pregnancy which was mis abortion within 20days
  i want to know how can i ask pl advice

   

• At Sun Sep 02, 07:18:00 AM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  anonymous 1
  I was born with ahernia and was operatated one once born would this have any affect on sprem count at all
  thank you

   

• At Fri Oct 05, 01:39:00 PM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  my husband and i have tried to concieve a child but with no luck. his sperm count is 18 million is it possible if he does not get fertility medications he wont be able to get me pregnant ?

   

• At Mon Oct 15, 01:52:00 AM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  Hi,
  
  Kindly let me know the anser for the below query in email panicker996@gmail.com
  
  Dear doctor,
  
  I'm in a kind of problem.... I need your help to come out of the mental trauma I'm undergoing.
  I had the problem of mumps about 5 years back bcoz which my one testicle had shrunk... Thinking that in mind I got scrotal scan & semen analysis done... It was found that I had poor count & also that I had varicocele....
  From that day I'm no more a normal human being....
  
  My concerns: thoughts of sterility & reduced libido...
  I'm having acute pain in the testicles...
  give me confidence...
  I'll be ever greatful to you,,,,,
  
  Summary:
  
  In 2001 had right

   

• At Fri Oct 26, 08:32:00 AM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  My daughter -in-law has not been able to conceive. She had a DNC and laprscopic surgery. The GYN found her tubes were blocked and couldn't unblock them. He is now refuring her to a Fertility Spec. Is there hope of unblocking the tubes and her having a baby?

   

• At Fri Oct 26, 08:38:00 AM 2007,  Anonymous said…

  My husband is only 58, but for a few years now he has not been able to ejackulate during intercource. He is able to do this thru masturbation himself. So we have not had sex for a couple of years now becasue of this problem. His doctor doesn't know what the problem could be. He gets an erection, but can't do anything else? Help??

   

• At Mon Dec 03, 08:52:00 AM 2007,  medic24-7 said…

  Hello Dr. Herbert, I am 27 years old and my husband is 39. I have 2 children from a previous marriage, and my husband has 4 children from three different mothers ( i know this sounds terrible but we all make mistakes) anyhow. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for almost a year and a half, but unsuccessful. We really would like to have a child together, but It seems hopeless. I have had a fertility screening and came out fine, but my husband had a semen analysis done, and well even though his count was good, all the other areas were very poor. His molility, morphology, and the liquification process was not good at all. It's been 9 years since my husband had a child, and I was wondering what happened. Is there any hope, and what can cause this problem, and can it be corrected. My husband says that sometimes he gets a pressure and or a crushing sensation in his testicles, but it's not all the time. I guess what I want to know is how can a man go from having 4 children to not being able to have any children at all. If it helps any my husband is a fireman and maybe increased heat or possible chemicals could be to blame? Please help we are desperate.
  thank you for your time
  sincerely
  Misty Gonzales

   

• At Thu May 15, 05:29:00 AM 2008,  joy ify said…

  my husband has not been releasing sperm for the past one year, although he can have erection for as long as 1-2 hrs. what can we do?

   

• At Fri Aug 22, 04:54:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Why do you say that Lech Neyan syndrome is sperm related in light of this from "Institute of Health" article. What is Lesch-Nyhan LNS is an X-linked recessive disease-- the gene is carried by the mother and passed on to her son. LNS is present at birth in baby boys.

   

• At Sun Aug 31, 04:32:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I am 53 years young... 9 years ago I met an awesome 28 year old lady with a couple of kids. (i never had any of my own and she had been snipped--) We had a wonderful 7 years and a very blissful sex-life...many days three times!! I have never been so happy and in so much pain at the same time. Each time we had sex, I would get the feeling that something down there was going to explode, in a bad way. I told my doctor and she had me see a urologist for enlargement of the prostate and a prostate biopsy. every thing is ok there but there is still pain. I can only describe the pain as BLUE BALLS.
  
  Here comes the Question... Could I have a reverse discharge of seman??? Only clear fluid come out and not in great amounts...it depends on the play. And why is there no heavy fluid passed along with the clear fluid...I recently had a prostate rectal exam and the fluid flowed freely??? Hope you can make sense of this...

   

• At Sat Dec 20, 08:09:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Dear Doctor
  Recently i go for Semen Analysis it shows that I hve less count and motility.Please dvise me is it any possibilities to improve my counting and motility
  
  Test Report:
  Volume : 2.5 Ml
  Reaction :ALKALINE
  VISCOSITY NORMAL
  LIQUEFACTION TOME .30 Minutes
  Progressive Motility 20%
  Non Progressive Motility 05%
  Non Motile 75%
  Total Count 16 Millions/CC
  Morphology : Pin head;Giant head;Double head
  Abnormal Form;25%
  PUS CELLLS 4-6 /hpf

   

• At Mon Sep 21, 07:18:00 AM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  hello sir,
  i am rockhardy having an age of 25,i am masturbating from past 10year .in this 10year i have no problem in sperm level.but from 2 day i masturbating 2 or 3 time in an hour,now the problem is that while masturbating for 2nd or 3rd time i'm not ejaculating sperm as in past i do or if ejaculated the sperm level is nearly to nil
  
  is there any question of worry or its ok

   

• At Thu Oct 22, 01:27:00 PM 2009,  san said…

  Dear sir,
  i am 36 year old i ve been informed that my sperm quality is 1% out of 15% please advice me how can i improve quality.

   

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