Those trying to have a baby may find it difficult for a number of reasons. It is not uncommon as 12 to 13 percent of couples have trouble getting pregnant. One of those reasons could be a low or damaged sperm count. HGH and sperm count Is there any relationship when it comes to infertility?
Low Sperm Count
Low or damaged sperm account for 30 percent of fertility problems. Low sperm count is defined as a lower than normal sperm in semen. Normal is considered 15 million per milliliter of semen. Having a low sperm count doesn’t mean you will never be a father, but it does make it harder to get pregnant.
Symptoms of low sperm count include sexual function problems, low sex drive, a lump or swelling in testicles, and a decrease in the body or facial hair.
The issues are considered together but are really two separate issues. Several things that can influence sperm count include varicocele, infection, retrograde ejaculation, and anti-sperm antibodies.
Varicocele is when veins swell to the point that it drains the testicle and is the most common reason for male infertility. The root cause of varicocele is unknown, but some studies indicate it is related to testicular temperature regulation. This condition also contributes to reduced sperm quality as well. It can be corrected with surgery.
Retrograde ejaculation is when semen goes into the bladder rather than out the penis tip during orgasm. This can happen because of diabetes, bladder surgery, prostate or urethra procedures, or spinal injuries. It can also is related to some medications.
Antibodies that attack sperm come from the immune system and misidentify sperm as foreign invaders, so it tries to destroy them.
Other problems affecting sperm count include undescended testicles, tube defects that prevent sperm transport, and hormone imbalances.
The trio of hormone producers that help sperm production is the pituitary, testicles, and hypothalamus, all of which play a role in growth hormone production and distribution. Changes in these things and problems with the thyroid and adrenal gland could hamper sperm production.
Damaged Sperm
Sperm damage is defined in a couple of ways. It can be damaged in motility or movement or structure. Motility is measured by how fast sperm move to an egg. The normal statistic is for at least 50 percent of sperm to move.
The structure is how sperm are shaped. Typical sperm have long tails and egg-shaped heads. The tails are used to swim to the egg. Normal-shaped sperm have a better time in reaching the egg.
Damaged sperm can happen for any number of reasons according WebMD.
Some of those may be:
Free radicals
Disease
Medical treatments
Past drug or alcohol abuse
Smoking
Bad diet
Low T
Low testosterone is one of the most common sperm count and quality problems. Medical research shows that 25 percent of men over 30 have low testosterone. It further suggests that one out of 20 have clinical medical conditions linked to low T. Low t can cause not only inadequate sperm but can also be a root factor in low libido.
Low T is defined as 300 nanograms per deciliter of total testosterone and free testosterone, which amounts to less than 5 nanograms per deciliter.
Other Hormones and Low T
Testosterone doesn’t produce all on its own. Other hormones are involved in both production of testosterone and properly functioning organs, including sexual organs. One of those helpful hormones is the human growth hormone (HGH). This hormone, produced by the pituitary gland and stored in the hypothalamus, helps all the body’s major organs function correctly.
HGH starts in high production during youth. It is the primary element that promotes growth, development of muscle, and reproductive hormone levels like testosterone. HGH starts declining in production as people hit middle age. This can lead to aging symptoms like fatigue, a lessened sex drive, more wrinkles, a decrease in muscle, and a loss of concentration.
Although this is normal for those after age 40, some younger adults experience an unnatural decrease in growth hormone production. This decrease could be linked to low T problems since HGH is linked to properly functioning organs, normal testosterone production, and increased libido.
Getting HGH Treatments
Those who have an unnatural decrease in human growth hormone production and low T can see if getting hormone replacement therapy is the right option for them. You may find that therapy that includes growth hormone injections could help boost your testosterone levels.
The first thing to do is to see your doctor for a blood test. A blood test is the clearest way to determine if a hormone deficiency could be related to a lower testosterone level. Your doctor will review the blood test results and craft a customized plan for you based on your needs.
Once your doctor gives you a prescription for HGH therapy, you can go to a specialist who will administer the therapy and monitor your progress. This will include regular blood tests and tests for bone density, organ functioning, and testosterone production.
You will need to commit to human growth hormone therapy for years to achieve good results. Those going on HGH therapy will likely stay on it all their lives.