The words, ‘low sperm count’ and ‘no sperm’, are very frightening terms for many men and couples alike, especially when there is a history of infertility. But what do they mean?
Oligozoospermia or ‘low sperm count’ refers to semen with low concentration of sperm cells. It is commonly associated with male infertility.
Based on a recent World Health Organisation criteria, an ejaculate with a concentration of less than 15 million sperm/ml of semen is termed oilgozoospermia.
There are also different classes of oligozoospermia (mild to severe). Mild refers to a concentration of 10 million to 15million sperm/ml while moderate is between five million and 10 million sperm/ml and severe is 15 million sperm/ml.
Azoospermia (no sperm) refers to complete absence of sperm in an ejaculate. It is a well-known cause of male-factor infertility.
Cryptozoospermia applies to a situation in which sperm cannot be seen in a fresh semen sample but later found after an extensive centrifugation and microscopic search.
In our society, the burden is placed more on the female partner when it comes to conception. When a couple can’t conceive after a year, the society automatically blames the woman. This assumption is often false. As a matter of fact, male infertility accounts for about 40 per cent of infertile couples. About seven per cent of men are said to be infertile. But a lot of men with fertility problems are reluctant to come for further testing and treatment.
The good news is that a diagnosis of oligozoospermia or azoospermia is not the ‘end of the road’. These conditions can be treated and a lot of men have benefitted from various treatment options. Furthermore, it has been observed that the success rate for the treatment of infertility is higher when both spouses face the issue and attend the clinic together like in the developed countries.
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