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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Low sperm count means that the fluid (semen) you ejaculate during an orgasm contains fewer sperm than normal. A low sperm count is also called oligospermia (ol-ih-go-SPUR-me-uh). A complete absence of sperm is called azoospermia. Your sperm count is considered lower than normal if you have fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen.

Having a low sperm count decreases the odds that one of your sperm will fertilize your partner's egg, resulting in pregnancy. Nonetheless, many men who have a low sperm count are still able to father a child.

Symptoms

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References
  1. Agarwal A, et al. Assessing sperm function. Urology Clinics of North America. 2008;35: 157.
  2. McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2012. 51st ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=1. Accessed July 20, 2012.
  3. Patel ZP, et al. Male factor assessment in infertility. Medical Clinics of North America. 2011;95:223.
  4. Swerdloff RF, et al. Evaluation of male infertility. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed July 19, 2012.
  5. European Association of Urology Guidelines on Male Infertility: The 2012 Update. Arnhem, Netherlands: European Association of Urology. http://www.uroweb.org/guidelines/online-guidelines. Accessed July 20, 2012.
  6. The optimal evaluation of the infertile male: AUA best practice statement. Linthicum, Md.: American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. http://www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=23921&search=male+infertility. Accessed July 19, 2012.
  7. Swerdloff RF, et al. Causes of male infertility. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed July 19, 2012.
  8. Wang C, et al. Treatment of male infertility. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed July 19, 2012.
  9. Loughlin KR. Changes in male fertility in the last two decades. Urology Clinics of North America. 2012;39:33.
  10. Asplund C, et al. Genitourinary problems in bicyclists. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 2007;6:333.
  11. Frey KA. Male reproductive health and infertility. Primary Care Clinics Office Practice. 2010;37:643.
  12. Showell MG, et al. Antioxidants for male subfertility. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007411.pub2/abstract. Accessed July 23, 2012.
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  14. Trost LW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 9, 2012.
  15. De Celis R, et al. Semen quality of workers occupationally exposed to hydrocarbons. Fertility and Sterility. 2000;73:221.
  16. Swan SH. Semen quality in fertile US men in relation to geographical area and pesticide exposure exposed to hydrocarbons. International Journal of Andrology. 2006;26:62.
  17. El-Helaly M, et al. Workplace exposures and male infertility - A case control study. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health 2010;23:331.
  18. Murphy LE, et al. Folate and vitamin B12 in idiopathic male infertility. Asian Journal of Andrology. 2011;13:856.
  19. Lenzi A, et al. Use of carnitine therapy in selected cases of male factor infertility: A double-blind crossover trial. Fertility and Sterility. 2003;79:292.
  20. Ross C, et al. A systematic review of the effect of oral antioxidants on male infertility. Reproductive BioMedicine Online. 2010;20:711.
  21. Menezeo Y, et al. Antioxidants to reduce sperm DNA fragmentation: An unexpected adverse effect. Reproductive BioMedicine Online. 2007;14:418.
  22. Misell LM et al. A stable isotope/mass spectrometric method for measuring the kinetics of human spermatogenesis in vivo. Journal of Urology. 2006;175:242.
DS01049 Sept. 22, 2012

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