Low sperm count

Up to a fifth of young men find themselves with a low sperm count, defined as fewer than 15 million sperm per millilitre of semen.

A low sperm count or poor sperm quality is the cause of infertility in about 20% of couples with fertility problems in the UK, and a contributory factor in a further 25% of couples.

This page offers advice for people who think they, or their partner, may have a low sperm count, known medically as oligozoospermia. It explains the causes of a low sperm count, how you get this problem properly diagnosed, and the treatment options available.

Getting diagnosed

If you have not managed to conceive after one year of trying for a baby, you should see your GP. They will be able to carry out fertility investigations including a semen test to check the quality and quantity of your (or your partner's) sperm.

About one in 10 men will have an abnormal result on the first semen test but this does not always mean they have a 'true' abnormality. So, if the results of the first semen test are abnormal, the test should be repeated.

Ideally, this repeat test should be done three months after the first, but if it looks as though your sperm count is very low or you have no sperm at all, it should be repeated as soon as possible.

What causes a low sperm count?

Often, no cause can be found for a low sperm count. However, it has been associated with several genetic and non-genetic conditions, including:

a hormone imbalance such as hypogonadism, where the testes produce few or no hormones – this often has an identifiable cause, such as Klinefelter syndrome (see below)
an inherited genetic problem such as Klinefelter syndrome
undescended testicles
a structural problem with the male genital tract – for example, the tubes that carry sperm can be damaged and blocked by illness or injury
a genital infection such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or prostatitis (infection of the prostate gland)
previous surgery to the scrotum or surrounding area
varicoceles (dilated veins within the testicles)
certain medication, including testosterone replacement therapy, long-term anabolic steroid use, cancer medications (chemotherapy), some antibiotics and some ulcer medications
exposure to chemicals such as pesticides
using drugs, such as marijuana

Treatment options

If you or your partner have been diagnosed with a low sperm count, there are a few treatment options available.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg to fertilise it. The fertilised egg (embryo) is then transferred to the woman’s womb. Find out more about ICSI on the Human Fertilisation & Embryo Authority website.

You should be offered ICSI if you have been trying to conceive naturally with your partner for at least two years and you have either:

few or no sperm in your semen
poor quality sperm

Before you consider ICSI, your healthcare team should offer both of you appropriate tests and discuss the results and their implications with you. They should also consider whether a genetic problem is involved in your fertility issues.

Some men have a fertility problem as a result of a gene abnormality on their Y chromosome (the male sex chromosome). However, unless this is suspected, you do not normally need tests for this before having ICSI.

If you or your healthcare team know or suspect that you have a specific gene defect they should offer you appropriate genetic counselling and tests.

Gonadotrophin drugs

If you have very low levels of gonadotrophin hormones (which stimulate the production of sperm) you should be offered treatment with gonadotrophin drugs to improve your fertility.

However, if no cause has been found for your abnormal sperm count, you will not be offered hormone-based drugs as they are not known to improve fertility.

Donor insemination

Donor insemination means using sperm donated anonymously by another man. As a couple, you may wish to consider using donor insemination as an alternative to ICSI.

Donor insemination may also be considered if the man has a genetic disorder that could be passed on to any children.

It can be used as part of IVF if necessary. The clinic where you are treated should follow the British Andrology Society guidelines on selecting and screening sperm donors.

If you are considering donor insemination, you should be offered independent counselling as a couple about the implications for you and any potential children.