Refers to semen with a low concentration of sperm, commonly associated with male infertility.
Deficient quantity of spermatozoa in the seminal fluid.
Insufficient number of spermatozoa in the semen.
A condition wherein a man’s sperm count is too low to ensure fertilization.
A condition in which there are too few spermatozoa in the semen.
A condition of low sperm count, an infertility problem.
Decreased quantity of sperm in the ejaculate.
An abnormally low concentration of sperm cells in semen, the thick, white fluid expelled from the penis at sexual climax. Men with oligospermia are generally infertile. The condition is caused by a disorder of the testicles or by an obstruction in the passageways leading from them. These disorders include hormonal imbalances and exposure to certain chemicals and medications, X rays, or radioactive materials. Obstructions can result from diseases that inflame and scar the reproductive tract, such as mumps in adolescent or adult men, or as a complication of surgery. Treatment depends on the cause of the condition. Some types of hormonal imbalance can be treated with medication, and in some cases, obstructions can be repaired surgically.
The presence of less than the normal number of spermatozoa in the semen. Normal semen produced on ejaculation usually contains from 20 to 200 million sperm/ml, of which about 80% are motile and morphologically normal. In oligospermia, the sperm usually have poor motility and often include many bizarre and immature forms. Treatment is directed to any underlying cause (such as varicocele).
A less-than-normal number of sperm present in each unit volume of seminal fluid (each ml of semen usually contains 20 million sperm). The condition may be permanent or temporary and is a major cause of infertility in men. It may be caused by orchitis, an undescended testis, or varicocele, and should be investigated.
A transient or enduring insufficiency in the quantity of sperm within the semen is referred to as a shortage of sperm. This state is alternatively termed as oligozoospermia. It can contribute to infertility, particularly when accompanied by other sperm-related abnormalities.
Typically, the semen contains over 20 million sperm per milliliter. A diminished sperm count can result from diverse conditions, including hormonal imbalances, testicular inflammation (orchitis), undescended testicles, and, on occasion, a varicocele (a varicose vein in the scrotum). Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and certain medications can also lead to a reduction in sperm count.
The management of oligospermia involves addressing the root cause. If the underlying issue is a hormone deficiency, gonadotrophin hormones might be prescribed. In cases of fertility problems, intrauterine artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection could be effective options.