Understanding Male Infertility: Key Sperm Conditions Explained by Dr. Samuel Gyedu Owusu

Male infertility is often associated with issues related to sperm, as explained by Dr. Samuel Gyedu Owusu, a medical doctor at St. Anthony’s Catholic Hospital in Dzodze, Volta Region. Despite common assumptions that infertility is primarily a female issue, research shows that both males and females equally contribute to infertility cases, each accounting for about 45% of the cases.

Dr. Gyedu Owusu, in an interview with gender advocate and journalist Emelia Naa Ayeley Aryee, highlights several sperm-related conditions that can lead to infertility in men.

Oligospermia

Oligospermia, commonly known as low sperm count, refers to a condition where the number of sperm in a man’s semen is insufficient to impregnate a woman. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a healthy sperm count as between 15-200 million sperm per millimeter of semen. A count below 15 million significantly reduces the chances of conception. Dr. Owusu advises that lifestyle changes and medications can sometimes help, but in severe cases, intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be necessary.

Teratospermia

Teratospermia involves abnormal sperm morphology, where the shape and size of the sperm are altered. This condition can result in sperm with missing parts such as heads, tails, or midsections, or even sperm with two heads. These abnormalities prevent the sperm from effectively fertilizing an egg, thus leading to infertility.

Astheneszospermia

Astheneszospermia is characterized by poor sperm motility. Sperm are supposed to swim directly towards the egg in the fallopian tube. However, in this condition, sperm either cannot swim at all or swim in erratic directions, reducing the likelihood of fertilization.

Aspermia

Aspermia, often referred to as a "dry orgasm," occurs when a man ejaculates with little to no semen. One cause of aspermia is retrograde ejaculation, where semen enters the bladder instead of exiting through the penis. This condition can also be triggered by excessive drug use or prostate surgery, both of which prevent semen from being available to carry sperm for fertilization.

Azoospermia

Azoospermia is the complete absence of sperm in the semen. In this condition, a man may ejaculate a normal amount of fluid, but no sperm is present, making fertilization impossible.

Causes of Sperm Defects

Dr. Gyedu Owusu identifies several factors that can lead to sperm defects, including poor diet, the use of certain medications, and exposure to harmful chemicals, particularly in industrial areas. Treatments like chemotherapy can also have toxic effects on sperm, leading to infertility.

He also highlights that men who have had mumps, testicular infections, or testicular cancer are at an increased risk of infertility, as these conditions can negatively affect sperm production. Additionally, lifestyle factors such as wearing tight clothing and exposing the testicles to heat can impair sperm quality.

Boosting Male Fertility

To enhance fertility, Dr. Gyedu Owusu recommends a healthy diet rich in green leafy vegetables, legumes, fruits, and omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon and sardines. He advises reducing the intake of meat, sugar, fizzy drinks, and junk food, while also avoiding alcohol and smoking.

Dr. Owusu emphasizes the importance of couples seeking medical advice if pregnancy has not been achieved after one year of unprotected sex, or after six months for women aged 35 and above. He also urges men to participate actively in fertility assessments alongside their partners.

"Men should avail themselves for semen analyses. Sometimes, they sit back and watch only the women go because they assume they are fine. But that is not the case. Most of the time, the women come, you examine them and they are fine, but the men won’t come. To defeat infertility, both partners should be examined together,” Dr. Owusu advised.