glove a medicinal plant

What Causes Low Sperm Count?

Sperm quality isn’t necessarily something you think about often. 

However, if you and your partner want to start or expand your family, the number and quality of swimmers you have may be foremost on your mind.

While it only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg, getting there can be rough. The more sperm you have, the better your chances.

Low sperm count, also called oligospermia, is a significant cause of male infertility. Sperm count is considered low if it dips below 15 million sperm per millilitre (ml) of semen, although the average is around 75 million sperm per ml.

Risk factors include obesity or overweight, having experienced trauma or surgery in or around the testicles, and taking certain medications. 

Other things that may put you at risk include exposing your testicles to too much heat or having other medical issues.

Beyond that, there are various causes of low sperm quality, which can be divided into three main categories: medical, environmental, and lifestyle.