Low Sperm Count and Motility

[Nel]

My husband and I have just been told that he has a low number of sperm at 14 million/ml (normal range 24-250) Also, only 4% are swimming moderately.
Does anyone know what this will mean for our chances of conceiving? I'm quite sure we will have to have some form of assisted conception, but I'm not sure of our options. Does anyone know if IUI or IVF might work for us? Thanks Everyone!

[IT_Guru]

So what are the full results and then I can give some pointers.

The WHO number for concentration 20 million/ml and for motility 50% moderate or above (grade a & b) or 25% or more at grade a.

Did you get a Strict morphology done. Also you will want to get another SA done with in one month but more then 7 days from the first.

[Nel]

Thanks for your reply.
Unfortunately the only results I have been given at this time are the one's that I have stated. These are the results of the second semen analysis test, as the first test was also low - 16mil/ml and 5% motility. WHO?
Do these give you any ideas of what treatment we may have? Thanks again!

[IT_Guru]

So at lest you have had two of them done.

Try to not get to attached to what the numbers mean as they can change on a day to day basis. I have a hard time with this and drive my DW crazy with all the research. So what you need to do is get you DH to an Urologist and have him checked from head to toe. The Urologist should check DH's hormones and other blood work to make sure that something simple is not causing this. The other think I would do is start him on some sort of vitamin program. There are many out there and I have posted about some. The only think you want to make sure of is that you are using some sort of Certified vitamin.

So the number that you want to crunch is 20 million motilit. To find that number you need to know the total sperm count, that would be concentration X volume. I would suggest that you get the full work up so you can have a better picture of what you have.

There is a couple of things that can affect motility.
1. How was the sample processed. Meaning did it cool and then they had to warm it back up.
2. Was the sample fully liquified when they started the processes.
3. Was processed within 30 minutes of collection.
4. Amount of time from last ejaculation. Try to keep it as close to 48 hours as you can.

All these things can effect motility just in processing the sample that's not to say that your DH is taking some that could be effecting it too. Also motility is effected after a wash that will perk them up.

If you have the 20 million number there's no reason that you can't try IUI. Most RE's want to see 5 million after the wash for IUI. If not then you might be better off going straight to IVF/ICSI.


Note:
This months journal of andrology talks about how concentration can be 2 times more during BD.
WHO = World Health Org.

[Nel]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. This does give us a better idea of what's going on, as it's about a 6month waiting list for our next consultation. He has started taking 1000mg of vitamin c with zinc, so hopefully this may help. I guess we just have to play the waiting game now.
Thanks for all your help!

[IT_Guru]

wow 6 months of waiting, I thought that our 6 weeks was a long time to get an appointment.

I would look at something like ConceptionXR - Help for Male Infertility, Increase Low Sperm Count