Poor sperm motility: causes, treatment

The article was professionally consulted by Dr. Nguyen Ba Hung - Gynecologist - Reproductive Support Center - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

Ejaculated sperm needs to travel through a woman's reproductive tract to reach and fertilize an egg, so sperm motility is very important. Poor sperm motility is the cause of male infertility.

According to WHO, about 15-20% of couples worldwide are experiencing infertility. In which, the cause of infertility due to the wife accounts for about 40-50%; due to the combination of factors of husband and wife is 20% and the cause of infertility due to male factors accounts for 30-40%. Besides the common causes such as low sperm count in semen, sperm abnormalities, poor sperm motility is one of the important causes affecting male fertility.
According to the latest WHO classification, men's sperm is divided into three types of motility, which are:
Progressive motility: sperm move forward in a straight line or in large circles. Motility in place: motile sperm does not follow forward translation, but swims in small circles or moves slightly in place,... Immobilization: Sperm lie still and do not move. To be able to pass through a woman's cervical mucus and fertilize an egg, sperm needs to move forward with a sperm movement speed of at least 25 micrometers per second. Men's sperm motility was assessed as poor when the percentage of progressive spermatozoa was less than 32%.

There are many causes that can cause slow sperm movement in men such as:
Testicles are damaged due to causes such as: infection; testicular cancer ; testicles damaged by surgery or trauma; Congenital defects in testes;... Varicocele is a dilated condition of the veins in the scrotum, which is a common cause of decreased sperm production and decreased sperm quality. Specifically, low sperm count is poor sperm motility (weak sperm), malformed sperm. Increase the viscosity of semen, increase the viscosity of the sperm, making it difficult for the sperm to swim quickly. Lifestyle and environmental factors can greatly affect sperm motility. Studies have shown that smoking can slow sperm movement, especially when smoking more than 10 cigarettes a day, drinking a lot of alcohol, frequent saunas... all can make sperm weaker. . Certain occupations that require prolonged sitting, such as driving, painting, etc., may be associated with an increased risk of infertility. Long-term use of drugs such as anabolic steroids, some herbal remedies, marijuana, and cocaine can also cause a decrease in sperm count and motility. Due to genetics However, there are also many cases of men with slow sperm movement but the cause cannot be explained.

To assess the speed of sperm movement, your doctor will order a semen analysis, which is a simple test but extremely useful in assessing fertility in men.
Semen samples are usually taken at a doctor's office. There will be a separate room where men will masturbate and ejaculate into a sterile container. Men can also collect semen samples at home by ejaculating into a special condom provided by a doctor, absolutely do not use regular condoms because they often contain lubricants and spermicides. spermatozoa will affect the quality of semen samples. If taking a semen sample at home, it is necessary to store the sample at a temperature close to body temperature (37 degrees) and bring the sample to the laboratory within a short time (no more than 1 hour) to prevent sperm from being inactivated.

For accurate semen analysis results, men will be asked to abstain from sex for 2-7 days before sampling. Because if you ejaculate too often, it can cause low sperm count and density. However, if you don't ejaculate for too long (>7 days), it will increase the proportion of old, weak, and inactive sperm in the semen, and the analysis results will be less accurate.
To accurately determine the status of male sperm, a semen analysis is usually performed at least twice. Semen samples may be taken 2 to 4 weeks apart. If the percentage of good motile sperm in the samples is less than 32%, the diagnosis can be made of a man with poor sperm motility.

Lifestyle changes can help increase sperm motility in men. Men need to eat fresh and nutritious foods, need to give up alcohol, tobacco and other stimulants such as alcohol, marijuana, amphetamine... if the couple is trying to conceive. In addition, it is necessary to exercise regularly to improve fitness, maintain an appropriate weight, lose weight if you are overweight and limit exposure to mobile phones.
If men have damaged testicles or have diseases that affect fertility, they should be actively treated under the guidance of a doctor. Mild varicocele can be treated medically, in severe cases, microsurgery can be selected for surgical treatment, limiting embolization because of the high risk of X-ray infection...
Supplementing with certain nutrients can also help improve sperm motility such as: L-arginine, L-carnitin, Lycopene, Selenium, vitamin E, vitamin C, CoQ10, Zinc....A study showed that supplementing with 200 micrograms of selenium and 400 units of vitamin E for at least 100 consecutive days increased sperm motility by 52%. However, the supplement of nutrients should be done under the direction and supervision of the doctor, the patient should not do it himself.
Too high a scrotal temperature can reduce sperm quality, so men should choose underwear that fits, cools, and avoids the intimate area being too hot. Take frequent breaks if working in a hot environment. If the nature of the job requires sitting for a long time, men should occasionally get up, move around, exercise will be good for male reproductive health.

If poor sperm motility prevents a couple from getting pregnant naturally within 3-6 months after active treatment and lifestyle changes, the doctor can advise on methods of support. assisted reproduction such as:
Intrauterine insemination (IUI): the husband's sperm is washed, healthy, motile sperm are selected to be injected directly into the wife's uterus after stimulation eggs and ovulation injections. In vitro fertilization (IVF): the wife is given medication to stimulate the production of eggs, which are removed from the ovaries and fertilized with the husband's sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryo is then returned to the uterus for development. If the husband's sperm is too weak to be used, the couple can choose donor sperm to perform IVF. When trying to conceive for more than 12 months without success, couples should go to reputable medical facilities for examination and treatment. Early, proper treatment can help couples improve fertility and have children of their own.
At Vinmec International General Hospital, we are applying the Basic Pre-Marriage Examination Package and the Advanced Pre-Marriage Examination Package including semen analysis for men. The test is performed by a team of experienced doctors and nurses with modern equipment, fully ensuring the safety and privacy of customers, and will help assess fertility, sperm mobility, and sperm motility. infection, and early detection of causes can lead to infertility, infertility. From there, the doctors will advise and treat you to have the best reproductive health.
In particular, at Vinmec Fertility Support Center, many assisted reproductive techniques have also been performed with methods of sperm injection into the uterus and in vitro fertilization to bring optimal results, pregnant women are Currently, assisted reproductive techniques at Vinmec are monitored throughout pregnancy and labor. Thanks to that, many little angels were born at Vinmec in the boundless happiness of parents.
Gynecologist Nguyen Ba Hung is a professional, dedicated and responsible doctor with more than 15 years of experience in the treatment of male diseases, infertility - infertility as well as sexually transmitted diseases. . Dr. Hung is always highly appreciated for his expertise not only from domestic and foreign colleagues but also always receives the trust of both Vietnamese and foreign patients because of his understanding and enthusiasm. your city.

Reference sources: healthline.com, medicalnewstoday.com