For most men, sperm count is not something we really think about. Male fertility really only comes up as a subject when you and your partner are trying to get pregnant, but beyond that, it's not often a topic of concern health wise.

However, there are warnings that could tip you off to a low sperm count earlier on. Let's investigate how you can recognize those symptoms and heed some medical advice to potentially benefit your swimmers in the long run.

You May Have Noticed...

If you have found that your sex drive is waning, and you are struggling to keep it up, there's a possibility you may be dealing with a low sperm count. Patients struggling with male infertility may also notice swelling and inflammation around their testicles that may leave the region tender. 

If you have noticed less facial or body hair developing, this could be due to an underlying hormone imbalance and reduced testosterone levels that are affecting sperm production.

The use of a medical symptom checker can, not only help guide you towards the possible underlying conditions of a lower sperm count, but can even point to possible discoveries within your health that may be creating these issues. Some symptom checkers actually provide access to studies and clinical trials that even some medical experts and members of your care team may not know about.

Check with your doctor.

If you notice those immediate symptoms or are planning to try getting pregnant with your partner, it is recommended that you reach out to your primary care physician. Your doctor will conduct a physical exam, as well as go over your medical history. They may recommend blood tests to check your testosterone level and the levels of other hormones, as well as a semen analysis.

A semen analysis is not that much different from a urine or blood sample, but yes, there's certainly the awkward feeling of ejaculating into a cup. These tests will check for motility and morphology, or shape, of the sperm. From there, a doctor may direct you to a fertility specialist like Cryos International for a better understanding and closer look into ways to reinvigorate sperm count.

In some scenarios, specialists may recommend hormone replacement therapies to boost sperm function in infertile men. Certain medications, like steroids and testosterone, can actually be to blame for infertility.

These treatments can boost sperm production in a significant way, similarly to how vagifem generic provides local estrogen therapy for women treating the menopausal changes around the vagina. This is commonly related to an estrogen deficiency, whereas there are therapeutic categories of medications that are designed to help boost sperm fertility.

Changes You Can Make

While reliance on prescription drugs or fertility treatment may have to come into play for issues with a lower sperm count, there are ways to increase your sperm count without the need for medical intervention and treatments.

Experts have found that certain lifestyle changes help to increase sperm count. For example, marijuana smokers have seen a drastic drop in their sperm motility. In addition, limiting activities like time in the hot tub or steamer environments like a sauna can help to boost semen volume. Heavy drinking and tobacco smoking have also been linked to reduced sperm counts.

As simple as it may sound, exercise and a healthy diet are actually among the quickest fixes possible to help in the creation of new sperm. Overall, homeostasis is the best to make sure all cylinders are running. In some cases, vitamin C, zinc, and other supplements have also been shown to help in boosting sperm production. The road to better sexual performance can start as early as now.