Frequently asked fertility questions

MY PARTNER HAS BEEN TOLD HE HAS A LOW SPERM COUNT - HELP!

About 30 % of men are sub-fertile and at least 2 % are infertile, so you are not alone! Also, a man's sperm count can vary dramatically, so it is important to have at least two semen analyses done.

What is normally tested in a semen analysis?

• Concentration (sperm/millilitre): 20 million sperm or more per millilitre is normal
• Morphology (sperm shape; normal structure associated with sperm health): 30% of the sperm should have a normal form/appearance
• Motility (or mobility): 50% of sperm still active after two hours
• Volume (total volume of ejaculate) - 3 millilitres or anything in the 2 to 6 ml range is considered normal
• Total motile count: the number of moving sperm in the entire ejaculate. This is calculated by multiplying the volume by the concentration by the motility. A count of at least 40 million is normal
• Semen fluid tests to check the colour, viscosity (thickness) and the time until the specimen liquefies
• He may also be offered a MAR (mixed antiglobulin reaction) test, which looks for the presence of any antisperm antibodies that could prevent conception from happening.

Some factors that can affect sperm quality

• Heat - try to avoid hot baths, saunas, jacuzzis, excessive exercise, and wear loose fitting underclothes.
• Very frequent intercourse - ejaculating 2 to 3 times a day
• Smoking or taking recreational drugs
• Drinking excessive alcohol
• Varicocele - which is a condition where there are varicose veins around the testicle and vas deferens.
• Illness in the last 3 months that caused a fever
• Medicinal drugs, especially steroids
• Injury to the testes
• Hormonal imbalance