In a family expansion or parenthood plan, both males and females are equally responsible. If your female partner is not conceiving even after timed, frequent, and unprotected sex, both of you are respossible for it. And you have confirmation after meeting a doctor at a IVF clinic in Mangaluru or your local city and going through the results of a few recommended tests. After knowing your fault (for example – sperm problem), you should get it treated and move ahead in your parenthood journey.
What is sperm?
Sperm is a part of your semen that you ejaculate through your openis duing physical intimacy with your female partner or masterbation. Sperm with high motility and count helps a female conceive after having physical intimacy without the use of any contraceptive methods.
Sperm motility
Sperm motility refers to the ability of your sperm to move freely. Sperm movement is crucial for fertility and pregnancy. Sperm needs to reach your female partner’s fallopian tube and uterus through her vagina for the fertilisation of eggs.
Sperm motility is of two types – progressive and non-progressive sperm motility. The first refers to the sperm that swim in a large circle or move in a straight line. On the other hand, the last refers to the sperm that travel in very tight circles and don’t move in a straight line.
Sperm needs to have a motility of 25 micrometres a second to reach cervical mucus for the fertilisation of a female’s eggs.
How does sperm motility affect fertility?
As per an estimate, approximately 60-80 million couples have infertility in the world. The rates are different for each country. In the USA alone, 10 in 100 couples face fertility issues. As per several medical research papers, males and females are equally responsible for not having a baby. Male infertility refers to a situation in which he is unable to make his female partner conceive. It is around 40-50% of all infertility cases and affects approximately 7% of men.
Male infertility is the outcome of abnormalities in the semen. And most common semen deficiencies are as follows:
- Oligospermia or low sperm count
- Poor sperm motility
- Teratospermia or abnormal sperm shape
Causes of low/poor sperm motility
The causes of low sperm motility differ from one person to another. And some cases are hard to explain. Any damage to testicles, the production and store house of sperm, affects sperm quality. Common causes of testicle damage are as follows:
- Infection
- Testicular surgery
- An issue a man is born with
- Testicular cancer
- Undescended testicles
- Injury
In addition, long use of anabolic steroids, cocaine, and cannabis can affect the quantity and increase the quality of your sperm. It can affect its motility too.
Diagnosis and treatment
Semen analysis is the only way to diagnose sperm motility and allied things such as count, concentration, and function. Your doctor will ask to come with a collection of your semen through physical intimacy with your female partner or masterbation. In some cases, you need to masterbate in the washroom of a fertility clinic for sample collection. After collecting the sample, you need to produce it to the lab technician for analysis within an hour of collection. Possible treatments to make your female partner pregnant are as follows:
- Sperm donor
- IUI
- IVF
How to improve your sperm motility
A few changes in your lifestyle can help you improve your sperm motility, count, and concentration, making it better. Here are some useful steps you should take in addition to the prescribed medications:
- Quit smoking
- Maintain a safe distance from alcoholic beverages, amphetamines, cannabis, and opiates
- Have a healthy body weight and try to keep your BMI around 20
- Put loose-fitting undergarments on
- Avoid placing your laptop on your thigh for an hour or more hours
- Take regular breaks if you work extreme weather conditions such as hot workplace
- Avoid having a comfortable and luxurious life. Instead, be physically active
Final words
Being fertile is crucial for your parenthood or family expansion plan. To succeed in the plan, you need to find and treat the cause obstructing you. On male part, you should work to improve your sperm motility, count, and concentration. With time, you will be able to make your female partner conceive and will have a healthy baby.