Treatments for low sperm count (Oligospermia < 15 Million sperm per millilitre of semen).
If you or your partner has been diagnosed with a low sperm count, there are several options available.
Keep trying
Your doctor may initially suggest trying to conceive naturally for a little longer. Many couples conceive within the second year of trying.
You can help maximise your chances of conceiving by:
Read more about
how to improve your chances of becoming a dad.
IVF
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) may be an option if you have a slightly low sperm count and you've been trying to conceive naturally with your partner for at least two years.
During IVF, an egg is removed from the woman's ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The fertilised egg is then returned to the woman's womb to grow and develop.
Read more about
IVF.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a type of IVF technique, in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg to fertilise it. The fertilised egg is then transferred to the woman's womb.
ICSI may be offered if you've 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 having ICSI, you and your partner will need to have an assessment to ensure the treatment is appropriate.
This will involve questions about your medical and sexual history, and screening tests to check for infections or genetic problems that could affect your baby and the chances of ICSI working.
The Human Fertilisation & Embryo Authority (HFEA) has
more information about ICSI.
Donor insemination
Donor insemination means using sperm donated by another man.
You may wish to consider using donor insemination as an alternative to ICSI, particularly 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.
If you're considering donor insemination, you should be offered counselling as a couple about the implications for you and your children.
Read more about
what you need to know about using a sperm donor.
Gonadotrophin medication
If you have very low levels of gonadotrophin hormones (which stimulate the production of sperm), you should be offered treatment with gonadotrophin medication to improve your fertility.
But if no cause has been found for your abnormal sperm count, you will not be offered hormone-based medicines as they are not known to improve fertility in these cases.
SOURCE: NHS