DR ABAYOMI AJAYI
Yes, you can become pregnant if your spouse has male infertility, as long as they can get some sperm. Just because he has male infertility, it doesn’t mean he’ll never be able to have a biological child. Having a low sperm count can significantly make it more difficult to conceive naturally, and although it only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg, the journey getting there can be a tough one! So, the more sperm your partner has, the better, but it is possible to get pregnant if your partner has low sperm count, even with no treatment.
It is known that in Nigeria, about 1 in 5 of infertile couples conceive after two years, and 33 percent conceive after four years. Men with severe low sperm count can still produce a pregnancy within two years with no treatment at all. Many infertile couples conceive after two years without therapy, and fewer after four years. Male factor infertility is a typical problem but conception itself is a complex process with numerous hurdles. Fortunately, if your partner suffers from male infertility, you and your partner can still have biological children. Treatment can increase your chances, and options are available.
The first step to treating male infertility is finding out what is likely causing it. If you have been unsuccessful in your attempts to conceive, it is time to work with a fertility clinic near you. You and your partner can increase your chances of conception by talking to a healthcare provider. You could consider trying assisted reproductive therapies like IVF using donor sperm. As long as a man produces some amount of sperm, there’s a chance he could get a woman pregnant. In fact, some couples dealing with low sperm counts or abnormal sperm are still able to conceive without any additional interventions. But others might need help in the form of fertility treatments. If you and your partner haven’t been able to get pregnant after trying for a year, consult with your doctors.
A low sperm count, also called oligospermia, is where a man has fewer than 15 million sperm per milli-litre of semen, while the average is around 75 million sperm per millilitre of semen. This condition is often a major cause of male infertility. There are many reasons why a man might have a low sperm count, and in some cases, it may not be obvious as to what’s causing the problem. Some common risk factors can include being obese, having experienced trauma or surgery in or around the testicles, and taking certain medications that can interfere with sperm production.
