FEMALE VS. MALE INFERTILITY
INFERTILITY: IS IT HIM OR ME?
The source of fertility problems is equally divided between men and women. This makes evaluation of the male partner’s fertility equally important, when conception is not occurring. A semen analysis – also known as a sperm count test – can determine if a man’s sperm is plentiful, healthy and viable. While there are a number of mail-in and drug-store sperm kits on the market, couples who are attempting conception will get more accurate and thorough results by having this test performed in a doctor’s office.
A semen analysis measures three major factors of sperm health: the number of sperm, the shape of the sperm, and the movement or “swimming” of the sperm (“sperm motility”). A man’s sperm count is considered normal if his ejaculate contains at least 20 million sperm per millimeter, and if the total number of sperm is at least 250-300 million.
Doctors typically conduct two or three separate sperm analyses, conducted at least seven days apart, and over the course of a few months. This is because sperm counts vary on a daily basis.
If the Man’s Sperm Count is Low
If the man’s sperm count is low, for the first few months, you should try having sex every day that you have egg-white cervical fluid. But if that does not work, you might want to try having sex every other day. Men with low sperm count need more time to produce a higher count of more fertile sperm, which can be achieved by abstinence from ejaculation until your cervical fluid becomes slippery.
Some tips to follow:
- Have sex every day from the day you have wet cervical fluid, until and including the day of the first rise of temperature.
- Have sex every other day from the day you have wet cervical fluid, until and including the day of the first rise of temperature.
- Have sex every other day from the day you have egg-white cervical fluid, until and including the day of the first rise of temperature.
- If you only have 2 days of fertile cervical fluid, abstain the first day and have sex on the Optimal Fertility Day.
If the Man’s Sperm Count is Normal
If, after testing, you find out that the man’s sperm count is normal have sex every day from the day you have wet cervical fluid or a lubricative vaginal sensation, through and including the day of the first rise of temperature.
The closer the intercourse takes place to your Peak day, the higher the chances of conception!
Low Sperm Count Causes
- Varicocele swelling of the veins that drain the testicles
- Infection, injury or scars that block passage of sperm
- Retrograde ejaculation, when the semen enters the bladder
- Medications such as blood pressure alpha blockers
- Antibodies that mistakenly attack sperm
- Tumors | Undescended testicles
- Hormone Deficiency or Imbalance
- Inherited chromosome defects (Klinefelter syndrome)
- Diseases including diabetes, & Celiac disease