If the couple can not conceive a child for a long time, both partners should be examined by a doctor. Unfortunately, the frequency of male infertility due to various changes in the composition of seminal fluid has recently increased. One of the common problems is oligospermia - a decrease in sperm count.
Material Content:
What is oligospermia
The term "oligospermia" refers to a decrease in the volume of ejaculate. However, this violation should be considered simultaneously with oligozoospermia, since the number of viable spermatozoa decreases due to the small amount of seminal fluid.
Oligospermia can be suspected on its own - just correctly assess the volume of the ejaculate. In a healthy man, 2.5 to 5.5 ml of fluid is released during ejaculation. The amount of ejaculate less than 2 ml indicates the presence of pathology.
For self-diagnosis, you can use an ordinary teaspoon. If sperm occupies less than half of it, this is an occasion to consult a doctor and undergo an examination.
Oligospermia can be caused by various reasons and is not a sentence. Quite often, such a violation can be cured, thereby increasing the man's chances of fatherhood.
Causes of pathology
The causes of oligospermia can be divided into physiological and pathological. The first include:
- prolonged abstinence;
- severe stress;
- poor nutrition.
Too long a lack of ejaculation can lead to a decrease in ejaculate volume. Doctors recommend that an adult man have sex at least 3 times a week.If there is no sexual partner for a very long time, you can resort to preventive masturbation, otherwise the activity of the testes will begin to decline.
A decrease in sperm count may be due to severe stress. This phenomenon is also observed with severe physical overwork and lack of sleep.
Among the most common causes, doctors note nutrition. Frequent skipping meals, snacks on the go or a strict diet to reduce weight - all this can negatively affect men's health. It is also important deficiency of selenium and zinc, because it is these trace elements that regulate the functioning of the organs of the reproductive system.
The pathological causes of oligospermia include the following diseases:
- inflammation of the prostate gland;
- inflammation of the testicle and its appendages;
- genital injuries.
With prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate), the composition of the seminal fluid changes due to changes in the secretion of the gland. This substance plays a very important role in conception, because it is thanks to it that the acidity of the vagina changes in such a way as to ensure unhindered access of the sperm to the egg. As a result of the inflammatory process, the secretion of the prostate does not mix with seminal fluid, since it does not leave the organ. As a result, the amount of ejaculate is reduced by almost half.
With inflammation of the testicles, the seminal fluid is produced in a much smaller volume, and in some cases, mobile sperm can be completely absent in it. The same thing happens against the background of severe injuries of the scrotum.
Symptoms of the disease
Oligospermia is not an independent disease, therefore, it does not have specific symptoms, in addition to reducing the amount of ejaculate.
It is only possible to identify pathology independently by experience, by measuring the amount of ejaculate. In the case of the development of oligospermia against the background of prostatitis, problems arise with urination. Inflammation in the testicles is accompanied by pain and general malaise, and it is impossible to not notice the scrotal injury due to severe pain syndrome.
Diagnostic measures
Having figured out how oligospermia manifests itself and what it is, you need to see a doctor. The urologist will help determine the causes of the development of the disorder, as well as establish the primary disease, which entailed a decrease in the amount of seminal fluid.
As a rule, a man needs a general examination, examination of the prostate (palpation) and ultrasound of the testicles. This is enough to exclude the main diseases of the male genitourinary system. A spermogram is always performed, because in addition to the volume of the ejaculate, an important criterion is the number of motile sperm.
Based on the results of the examinations, the doctor will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe therapy.
Treatment methods
The treatment of oligospermia depends on the causes of this disorder. If no pathologies were detected during the examination, preventive measures are prescribed:
- day mode change;
- balanced diet;
- rejection of bad habits;
- normalization of sleep;
- intake of vitamins and dietary supplements for men.
It is imperative to provide the body with vitamins and minerals. In addition to special drugs, you should introduce more foods that are beneficial to men's health in the diet. These include sources of selenium and zinc - pumpkin seeds, broccoli, legumes, walnuts.
And it is also important to learn how to deal with stress and normalize sleep. In the presence of neuropsychiatric disorders caused by prolonged exposure to stress, the doctor may recommend light sedatives.
When the problem is caused by inflammatory diseases of the prostate and testicles, drug therapy is mandatory. As a rule, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunostimulants are used for treatment. There is no universal treatment regimen; it is selected by the doctor individually for each man.
Oligospermia and the possibility of conception
The answer to the question of whether it is possible to become pregnant with oligospermia depends on the specifics of the pathology. If the spermogram showed a sufficient number of sperm cells despite a decrease in seminal fluid volume, pregnancy is quite possible.
In the case when oligospermia is accompanied by oligozoospermia, that is, the death of sperm, a man needs long-term treatment for the possibility of conception.
However, most couples face the inability to get pregnant before visiting a doctor. Taking special fortifying drugs and dietary supplements that improve sperm motility gives a good result. The only exceptions are cases of congenital malformations of the testicles, in which spermatozoa are completely absent in the seminal fluid.
Forecast and Prevention
The prognosis depends on the causes of the development of the disorder and associated diseases. In the vast majority of cases, it is favorable, provided that the patient consults the doctor on time and does not leave the problem unattended.
Men with a similar ailment that has arisen against the background of stress or abstinence have a high chance of becoming a father, fertilization is possible after a course of maintenance therapy.
Prevention of oligospermia consists in a careful attitude to one's own health. A person needs to eat properly, avoid overwork and stress, and have regular sex. It is important to prevent a decrease in immunity, because against this background, the risk of developing inflammatory diseases increases. For men over 40, doctors recommend taking vitamins for reproductive health every year.
