Quite possibly.
You may be surprised to know that almost 30% of infertility problems are due to low sperm numbers or quality.
When we investigate infertility in couples we find the problem is often caused by:
- 30% male factors
- 30% female factors
- 30% combined factors
- 10% unexplained
There’s no way of knowing if this is part of the problem until we count your sperm and assess its quality. Simply having ejaculate is not an indication of healthy sperm.
Assessment of sperm usually involves simply a semen sample. However, sperm counts do vary considerably every day and sometimes it is important to repeat the test, or to get a specialist andrology/IVF lab to assess it. It is now also possible to assess the quality of the genetic material in sperm (called DNA fragmentation) which has a big impact on male fertility and a couple’s overall success rate.
Poor sperm quality doesn’t just affect conception; it can lead to miscarriages as well.
Treatment for weak swimmers may include lifestyle changes or fertility treatments such as intra-uterine insemination, IVF or ICSI.
Sperm can also be retrieved surgically (often with just a needle under sedation) in men who have had a vasectomy, or who have no sperm in the ejaculate for other obstructive causes (eg. Carriers of the Cystic fibrosis gene), or for unkown causes.’
It is also important to remember that, whatever the sperm count, it is only half the picture! A full fertility assessment of the female partner is essential whenever trying to interpret a semen analysis, or when considering any medications, lifestyle changes or other fertility treatments.