How low sperm motility causes male infertility & what are the available treatments

Research suggests that 1 in 8 couples face difficulty conceiving out of which one third is attributed to male infertility, one third to female infertility & the rest a combination of both. In such scenario, it is essential to address the problem. As a part of the series, today we will focus upon sperm motility, its contribution to male infertility & what are the preferred treatments to overcome it.

Male infertility can be attributed to a variety of reasons including:

Pre-existing conditions

Hormone disorders

Work conditions especially working in an extremely hot environment

Lifestyle choices such as drug use, alcohol use, tobacco smoking

Previous infections, especially STDs, urinary tract infections or a severe mumps infection after puberty.

Exposure to poisonous chemicals or radiation (most common in cancer survivors.)

Male infertility can be contributed either to the quantity or the quality of the sperm. In case a male partner is producing enough fertile sperm and yet the couple are unable to conceive, one of the probable reasons could be low sperm motility.

Sperm motility basically refers to the ability of the sperm to move efficiently.

There are two kinds of sperm motility, referring to the way the individual sperm swim.

Progressive motility refers to sperm that are swimming in a mostly straight line or large circles.

Non-progressive motility refers to sperm that do not travel in straight lines or that swim in very tight circles.

For the sperm to get through the cervical mucus to fertilize a woman’s egg, they need to have progressive motility of at least 25 micrometers a second.

Poor sperm motility or asthenozoospermia is diagnosed when less than 32 percent of the sperm are able to move efficiently.

Doctors usually advise against the use of substances, taking a break from a hot work environment, regular exercises and other lifestyle changes that are productive for both the quality & quantity of the sperm.

Even after applying these changes for 12 months if the couple is unable to conceive, it would be advisable to seek medical opinion as fertility techniques have come a long way in today’s time to complete a family.

Depending on an individual diagnosis, the fertility specialist can suggest various treatments to overcome the issue of sperm motility.

Some options include:

Intrauterine insemination (IUI): Also known as artificial insemination, the IUI procedure involves sperm being collected and washed. The fastest moving sperm are then inserted into the womb using a fine plastic tube.

In vitro fertilization (IVF): During IVF, the woman is given medication to encourage the production of eggs, which are removed from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm in the laboratory. The resulting embryo is then returned to the womb to develop.

Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): ICSI is the last resort for severe male factors including obstructive azoospermia (absence of sperms in semen), in which sperm may also be retrieved surgically from either the epididymis (PESA) or from the testes (TESA/ TESE/MESA). An azoospermic man can father a child provided sperm is retrieved from his testes.

As every case is unique, at MMC IVF we believe in understanding the patient history in detail thus making the initial consultation the most important step in IVF treatment. The acquired knowledge along with the latest equipments & infrastructure help our fertility specialists in increasing the chances of conceiving even for those with previous pregnancy failures. Our services include treatment in all aspects of assisted conception, gynecology, endoscopic surgery apart from male infertility.

To lead you on the right path of fertility treatment, MMC IVF is offering you an opportunity to consult with a world-class fertility specialists for a one-on-one discussion. All you have to do is make an appointment with us +971 56 136 2512 or write to us at info@mmcivf.com. We will get back to you promptly. The best part is that you can stay at home and talk to our specialists online. In addition, you can request for a second opinion on the diagnosis and treatment you already are on. Reach out to MMC IVF and we will fix an appointment for it.