A low sperm count is less than 20 million / cm3 of semen.  Low sperm count can be caused by several factors including hormonal changes, medications, drug use, alcohol use, excessive caffeine, smoking, testicular injury, and testicular overheating.

Men with a low sperm count should consider having sex every other day over the fertile period to ensure a sufficient number of sperm.  More Science...

Poor motility means less than 50% of sperm can swim in a straight line.  If sperm do not move forward and at a reasonable rate, conception is much less likely to occur.

Low sperm mobility can be caused by hormonal changes, medications, drug use, alcohol use, excessive caffeine, smoking, and testicular injury. Sperm motility can also be reduced by temperature. If the temperature of the testicles is too high, sperm motility is reduced. This can be caused by hot tubs, saunas, heated waterbeds, or even the wearing of tight underwear and tight pants.

Men with low sperm motility Consider having sex every other day over the fertile period to ensure a sufficient number of good sperm. More Science...

Having a high number of sperm that are not shaped correctly can affect fertility. Exposure to chemicals and heavy metals can cause abnormal sperm.

Men with poor sperm morphology should consider having sex every other day over the fertile period to ensure a sufficient number of good sperm.  More Science...

A microscopic examination can determine if sperm are clumping together (agglutinating). This clumping prevents them from swimming through the cervical mucus to the egg and attaching if they get there.  This finding may indicate a problem with sperm antibodies or the presence of a bacterial infection.

Sperm clumping is not visible to the naked eye and should not be confused with lumpy ejaculate.  The visible ejaculate is a combination of material from the testes, prostate, and seminal vesicles. The latter two are known as the sex accessory glands in the male. At the time of ejaculation, the seminal fluid is a gel. It will normally liquefy within 5 to 30 minutes. During the process of liquidation, the ejaculate may appear lumpy.  As long as any coagulated sperm liquifys within an hour of ejaculation, this is not abnormal and should not be considered a pathological situation.

Semen that does not liquify within an hour of ejaculation affects fertility because the sperm becomes trapped in the jelly-like semen.  Since the prostate gland secretes the chemical required for liquifaction, semen that does not liquify can be caused by a prostate infection.  More Science...

There have been documented cases of sexually active men and women that can develop "sperm antibodies" that can impair sperm functions. In these instances, the solution is almost always assisted reproduction such as IVF or IUI. More Science...

When the vein that supplies the testicle is enlarged, it is known as a varicocele. A varicocele can cause the testicles to be slightly warmer than normal, affecting sperm count and motility. Whilst a varicocele can generally be corrected through urological surgery, studies have shown little improvement in sperm quality post operation. More Science...

Damage to the testicles can be caused by a sports related injury.  A trauma to the scrotum sack can affect fertility. More Science...

Chromosomal abnormalities can prevent proper embryo growth. More Science...

Semen is an organic fluid that contains the microscopic sperm.  The volume of semen in an ejaculate can influence a man's fertility.  If the volume is too small (<1 ml), there may not be enough fluid to bring the sperm in contact with a woman's cervix and the sperm is more likely to be exposed to the acid, sperm-killing environment of the vagina.  A low semen quantity can be caused by an infection that is easily treated with antibiotics.  When semen volume cannot be increased, IUI provides excellent results by delivering concentrated sperm to the womb.

When semen quantity is high (> 3.5 ml), sperm concentration may be too low.  Because the first portion of their ejaculate is richest in sperm, withdrawing after the first ejaculate may help.  Alternatively, IUI would be recommended.  More Science...

Whilst vigorous training programs should be avoided, regular and moderate exercise helps maintain a healthy body weight, helps control stress, and helps to maintain a healthy overall body.   More Science...

Being over or underweight can affect estrogen and testosterone levels. More Science...

Vigorous exercise, hot tubs, and saunas raise the body temperature and may reduce sperm count. More Science...

Research suggests that smoking can lower sperm counts. More Science...

Whilst a good, healthy diet is no substitute for vitamin pill popping, taking vitamin supplements helps to ensure the best quality sperm.  Zinc and Selenium are both essential to sperm production and should be taken as a supplement.  Read our Supplements - For Him section to find out more.  More Science...

When there is more semen than sperm, getting past the cervix is clearly a problem, since most sperm is in the first few drops of ejaculate. Men with poor sperm volume or viscosity are encouraged to withdraw from the vagina just after ejaculation starts. More Science...