What is Low Sperm Motility?

If you’re reading this, you’ve likely been doing some research on what low sperm motility means. Maybe your partner was recently diagnosed with and you’re wondering how this will impact your ability to get pregnant naturally, or maybe you just want to know more about it in general. Let’s talk about it in terminology we can all understand. 

Low sperm motility, also known as asthenozoospermia, refers to sperm that have reduced ability to move efficiently. Sperm motility is crucial for fertility because sperm must swim through the female reproductive tract to reach and fertilize the egg. When motility is low, the sperm may struggle to reach the egg, which significantly reduces the chances of successful fertilization. The complications of low sperm motility include: 

Reduced Ability to Reach the Egg

• Sperm need to swim through the cervix, the uterus, and into the fallopian tubes where fertilization typically occurs. Low motility means that sperm may not have the strength or speed to make this journey, leading to a lower chance of encountering and fertilizing an egg.

Lower Chances of Natural Conception

• Since sperm with low motility are less effective at reaching the egg, the chances of conception through natural intercourse are reduced. In some cases, sperm might not reach the egg at all, leading to infertility.

Potential for Long-term Fertility Issues

• While low sperm motility can sometimes be temporary (due to factors like stress, illness, or diet), if it's persistent, it can indicate an underlying issue, such as a hormonal imbalance, varicocele (enlarged veins in the scrotum), or other reproductive system problems. These issues may contribute to long-term fertility problems.

Increased Need for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)

• In cases of significantly reduced sperm motility, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be recommended. IVF, combined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), involves directly injecting a sperm cell into an egg, bypassing the motility issue.

Increased Time to Conceive

• Even with low motility, some couples may still conceive naturally, but it often takes longer. In these cases, using a conception cup like Ovarium, tracking ovulation cycles and optimizing conditions for sperm delivery (e.g., sexual activity at the right time) may help.

Factors That Can Affect Sperm Motility

Several factors can contribute to low sperm motility, including:

• Lifestyle (e.g., smoking, excessive alcohol, poor diet)

• Health conditions (e.g., diabetes, infections, hormonal imbalances)

• Environmental factors (e.g., exposure to heat, toxins, or chemicals)

• Age (Sperm motility tends to decline with age)

Treatment Options

Treatment for low sperm motility depends on the underlying cause. Some common approaches include:

• Lifestyle changes (e.g., diet improvement, quitting smoking, managing stress)

• Medical treatments (e.g., hormone therapy, antibiotics if infections are present)

• Surgical interventions (e.g., varicocele repair)

• Home Products (conception cups and fertility supplements like Ovarium)

• Assisted reproduction (IUI, IVF/ICSI)

• FDA Cleared Fertility Friendly Lube (like Ovarium, creates optimal environment to help sperm swim to the egg)

Low sperm motility does not mean pregnancy is unattainable. There are many treatment options to help combat low sperm motility and achieve healthy conception.