Some Reasons and Solutions to Decreased Sperm Volume, Count, and Motility
The current trend in male health has, worryingly, been towards decreasing sperm volume and sperm count.
This makes the male factor today quite significant in conception.
Historically, our forefathers certainly seemed to have no problem in producing vast amounts of healthy and vital sperm, and in impregnating their wives and siring offspring.
The drop in birth rates in many different countries has been due in part to this physiological phenomenon happening in many developed countries.
How, then, can we increase sperm production, and thus also improve male fertility? What are the reasons behind this trend? We may speculate that it is due to the increased stress in the modern lifestyle, or the chemicals and other substances in our food, or pollution, but it is hard to say with certainty.
In any case, certain factors may still be identified that surely affect male fertility.
By considering these factors, we may also determine possible solutions and improvements.
One factor is sperm count, which simply is the number of sperm cells per ejaculation.
The average value is about 50 million, and any figure lower than this can be considered as causing a decrease in fertility.
Sperm motility, on the other hand, refers to the rapidity and dynamism of the sperm's motion.
In practical terms, a healthy level of motility is usually defined to be any figure above 50% active sperm cells, and 25% moving quickly in the same direction.
Having a high sperm count may count for less if the cells are not motile enough.
The cells must be active and dynamic to be able to successfully navigate the cervical canal and go into the uterus and fallopian tubes to meet the egg cell.
Sperm morphology is another factor that doctors look at to determine male reproductive health.
This simply refers to the gross physical shape of the sperm cells, and doctors believe that half or more of the sperm cells in a sample should have slightly curving tails and oval heads.
Finally, sperm or semen volume is another important factor in improving the success rate of conception.
Not enough ejaculate would hinder the journey of the sperm cells into the female reproductive system.
This makes the male factor today quite significant in conception.
Historically, our forefathers certainly seemed to have no problem in producing vast amounts of healthy and vital sperm, and in impregnating their wives and siring offspring.
The drop in birth rates in many different countries has been due in part to this physiological phenomenon happening in many developed countries.
How, then, can we increase sperm production, and thus also improve male fertility? What are the reasons behind this trend? We may speculate that it is due to the increased stress in the modern lifestyle, or the chemicals and other substances in our food, or pollution, but it is hard to say with certainty.
In any case, certain factors may still be identified that surely affect male fertility.
By considering these factors, we may also determine possible solutions and improvements.
One factor is sperm count, which simply is the number of sperm cells per ejaculation.
The average value is about 50 million, and any figure lower than this can be considered as causing a decrease in fertility.
Sperm motility, on the other hand, refers to the rapidity and dynamism of the sperm's motion.
In practical terms, a healthy level of motility is usually defined to be any figure above 50% active sperm cells, and 25% moving quickly in the same direction.
Having a high sperm count may count for less if the cells are not motile enough.
The cells must be active and dynamic to be able to successfully navigate the cervical canal and go into the uterus and fallopian tubes to meet the egg cell.
Sperm morphology is another factor that doctors look at to determine male reproductive health.
This simply refers to the gross physical shape of the sperm cells, and doctors believe that half or more of the sperm cells in a sample should have slightly curving tails and oval heads.
Finally, sperm or semen volume is another important factor in improving the success rate of conception.
Not enough ejaculate would hinder the journey of the sperm cells into the female reproductive system.
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