Very often I meet couples that show me a normal sperm count analysis and presume that the sperm is not a problem, or vice versa they show me a pathological sperm count which in their opinion is enough to sentence the man to “eternal” infertility. Fortunately or unfortunately this is not the case.
Semen is actually divided into two parts, the sperm and the seminal plasma. Sperm with a small amount of fluid are produced in the testicles and then through the vas deferens duct are led to the seminal vesicles where they are stored, until released with ejaculation.
The released semen had been produced within the last 72 days before ejaculation, a period as long as the cycle of spermatogenesis. Notably all spermatogenesis cycles are not the same. Studies show that a two-day period of increased temperature (fever) is enough to temporarily turn an otherwise fertile man into severely oligospermic or even azoospermic. Semen quality is also affected by the daily living conditions such as extreme fatigue, high or very low temperature. Finally, fertile men with normal counts have some poor cycles of spermatogenesis resulting in the production of a bad sperm count. The conclusion is that no one can sentence a man with a single abnormal sperm count but a thorough history record should be considered for at least the last two months and the sperm count should be repeated two months later in order to draw a clear picture around his fertility.
