What is the Cause of Low Sperm Count?

What Causes Low Sperm Count?

In order to hopefully treat and prevent recurrence of low sperm count we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors. We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow low sperm count to develop?"

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Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind low sperm count consists of three steps:

Step 1: List the Possible Causative Factors

Identify all disease conditions, lifestyle choices and environmental risk factors that can lead to low sperm count. Here are six possibilities:

Zinc Need
Hemochromatosis
Male Infertility
Hyperthyroidism
Male Hypogonadism
Hypothyroidism

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

Identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

moderate afternoon/evening fatigue

prednisone use

somewhat disturbed sleep

elevated lymphocyte count

significant right lumbar pain

very strong appetite

hypothyroidism in family members

hypothyroidism

fatigue after slight exertion

having elevated TT4 level

elevated TSH

very great unexplained weight gain

... and more than 100 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of low sperm count:

Cause	Probability	Status
Male Infertility	97%	Confirm
Hypothyroidism	54%	Possible
Hyperthyroidism	18%	Unlikely
Hemochromatosis	3%	Ruled out
Male Hypogonadism	0%	Ruled out
Zinc Need	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate having had recent lab tests, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

What is your sperm count?

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ No sperm present
→ Under 30 million (very low)
→ 30 to 100 million (low)
→ Over 100 million (normal)

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate absence of sperm, very low sperm count, low sperm count or normal sperm count, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Hemochromatosis (Iron overload)

Male Infertility (Low Sperm Count)

Male Infertility (Low Sperm Count) also suggests the following possibilities:

Hyperthyroidism

The thyroid gland is responsible for balancing cell metabolism, so when the thyroid gland is not functioning properly, cell metabolism suffers. This causes changes in the production of sperm.

Hypogonadism, Male

Hypothyroidism

The thyroid gland is responsible for balancing cell metabolism, so when the thyroid gland is not functioning properly, cell metabolism suffers. This causes changes in the production of sperm.

Zinc Requirement

Zinc increases sperm count and motility as well as raising testosterone levels when low.

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