Low sperm count

[Miffles]

Since I have PCOS, we are being referred to a fertility specialist. Before the referral can be made, my DH had to have a semen analysis, which we thought was just a box filling exercise.

However, he then had a letter asking him to see the doc about his results. It's not easy for him to get out of work, so rang the doc who told him the sperm count was low and he therefore does need to see him to discuss it more. He has said DH will need to do another SA in 4 weeks and this must be done before the referral can be made.

Firstly, we were not told to "abstain" for 4 days beforehand, so this may be the cause for the low count. Does anyone know how much this affects things?

Also, how much do things like tight underwear really make a difference? Are there things that he can do to improve the count?

And am I being unreasonable to be cross that they're expecting us to wait a further week to the appt to talk and get a pot, then 4 weeks before he's allowed to do it, then another 2 weeks to get results, only to get the referral we ought to get due to my PCOS? And this appointment already has 18 weeks to wait!!

Grrr!!! and concerned too

Thanks peeps!

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Hi Miffles,

Repeated semen analysis is par for the course unfortunately but do bear in mind that one "poor" result is not fully indicative of there being any male factor problems. What you really need to know are the numbers re morphology (forms) and motility (movement).

Think it was poor actually that the result was given to you in such a manner over the phone and is actually not good practice at all. In such cases ideally both of you should attend the surgery to get the result. Presumably as well this is the GPs doing (to my mind GPs should not be asking for semen analysis at all as they get often repeated by the specialists and also this type of problem is outside their remit). I feel that you as a couple should now be referred onto the specialists bearing in mind your PCOS diagnosis.

Sperms are complicated things and there is much about them that is not fully understood.
Simple remedies like taking zinc supplements and wearing looser fitting underpants won't do any harm but are really unlikely to make much if any difference to increasing the overall count.

[BeenBeta]

They told us to abstain 2 days to optmise both quality (freshness) and quantity (count).

Whole lifestyle change can increase sperm count and quality as discussed on this thread a few days ago with some interestng discusison of how illness, alcohol and other lifestyle factors can contribute to low sperm count.

[mslucy]

Booze and fags are the major sperm killers and a poor diet can be a factor as well.

We had a few issues and some simple lifestyle differences made a massive difference.

[Miffles]

Thank you for your responses and advice.

I will be going along to the appt on Friday and insist that a referral is made, like you suggested Attila.

Since my panicked post I have researched some and can see that smoking and poor diet are big factors - but DH has never smoked, is very healthy, exercises and has a couple glasses of wine at the w/e only. This is why we were so surprised by the result. However, I think it has far more to do with the activity the day before the sample....let's say that there would have been the freshness, but not necessarily the quantity required!!