Low sperm count query

[dazza33]

Hi rich,
Have read through a lot of threads and am impressed with the feedback you offer others. My wife and I are trying to concieve and I had a SA done. The first test was in my own home and taken to a lab.
results:

vol - 2ml
sperm concentration - 3 million
motility - rapid 35%,Slow 10%, non pro 10%, non mot 40%

Was a bit shocked at first but thought low result due to nerves, uncomfortable etc. I had a subsequent test performed this time I did it at fertility lab. So far I only called and the result was a good volume but only 0.5 count!! So now really uncertain.

Could I ask, in the threads you mention 40% increase in sperm count over 3 months with zinc/folic acid supplement and more over 6mths. Do you have a link to the source of this as I like reading articles myself. Is that increase occur even with regular sex?
I have started zinc 22mg, vitamin c 1000mg and co-enzyme q10. Will look around for folic as well.
I drink 1 /week and dont smoke. Take regular exercise(bike riding) and have 2-3 coffees a day. Do I need to cut back on caffee intake? Also I always thought boxers vs briefs was more urban legend. Is it the contriction or increase in temperature of briefs? What do you recommend.
Sorry for the long winded post.
But thanks
Dazza

[rich]

Dear Dazza,

The studies on the Zinc and Folic acid were done in both Belgium and France and checking the EU sites can give you the results. Boxers are not urban legend as it is heat which causes te problem. Sperm need a temp in that area of 93-95 degrees F and temps going higher cause problems. Actually having sex causes the production of sperm so don't worry you are not going to live like a monk for 6 months. It is a complex process where the ejaculation causes a change in body chemistry which in turn causes the call for more sperm to be made. Since I don't know where you are, can you get a multi vitamin/mineral as this will be cheaper than getting individual products.

Ask what you need.

rich

[dazza33]

Thanks for such a quick reply. Sorry I am in sydney australia.
I am unfamiliar with what EU means, Is it like medline.

I noticed the vitamin C had 40% ascorbic acid but the rest in other ascorbates that are vit c equivalents to make 1g(hope that makes sense). Should I try and seek out 100% ascorbic only?

I have located a multi-vit which has 500mcg of folic acid and other goodies. Also just asking is caffee in moderation ok?

I think I might invest in newer looser underwear as I've had mine far too long....

Would be interested in knowing all the follow-up posters your get. Has many men started at say 3million and over 12mth worked it up to 60million. Is this unrealistic or each individual is different, hard to tell. I know it's also about improving the motility of what you get as it takes only one.

Also I had a SA that was 3 weeks after my first one. In some posts you mention 90 days wait. The conditions of the test were only to abstaine for maximum of 4 days without ejaculation. Could that be why my second result was extremely low.

Thanks again
Keep it real!

[rich]

Dear Dazza,

The ascorbates are a form of buffered vitamin C as straight acid form is known to upset many peoples stomachs. Don't concern yourself with that.

The EU is the European Union, sorry about that mate. The University of Brussels and the University of Paris did the studies and has been reconfirmed by many other institutions. I would give the sites but my old computer hard drive crashed and you know the results. You could try the Society of Reproduction and Sexuality which publishes articles dealing with these types of studies and Medical societies dealing with Urology and Fertility.

Coffee in moderation is fine. In certain situations such as IVF, to increase the speed of the sperm drinking drinking Espresso or a couple of cups of very strong coffee is advised about 2 hours beforehand.

I can't say how many posters thru the years had dramatic improvements as each had a unique situation. I'll explain. If the problem was in lack or scarcity of vitamins/minerals the result is dramatic. Sperm production is limited by lack of Zinc,Selenium,Folic acid,Carnitine. So if a shortage occurs sperm production is limited. Sperm production only goes to 65% of what it can do if a shortage of Manganese is present and the other items are plentiful. To make Testosterone you need Iron,Zinc and vitamin B-12 in adequate amounts. So the approach is a shotgun effect, get all the vitamins/minerals up to norm and increase certain keys ones for their effects as science at this point doesn't have any ideas what the other items do to the body and fertility. Semen contains various vitamins/minerals and whether your viewpoint is evolution or creation, they are there for a reason. I do get happy father's day notices from time to time but to give you a number I can't.

I work on the 40% increase of 3 months use and that 40% is like compound interest meaning 1 becomes 1.4 which becomes 1.96 which becomes 2.75 which becomes 3.84 and so on and so on. While this is a conservative approach to numbers and growth, it does work so men having borderline counts can become fertile in short order and those with low counts can become fertile in as short of time as possible. This technique works in approx 85% of men as hereity issues can't be dealt with if you weren't born with sufficient base cells to make sperm. Improvement isn't just the count but morphing and motility. You could have a billion sperm but if they didn't move or have screwed up shapes you are going nowhere. So we try to improve all categories.

The 90 day wait is to see what you produce. a S/A is a picture of the past as it takes 90 days to make a sperm and energize it and the previous made sperm take time to get out of the system. So if you start taking the vits today, it would take 3 months for the effects to show in the analysis. Back to back S/A are done to confirm the results meaning the result was bad and we are confirming that nothing went wrong in the first test.

Ask what you need.

rich

[dazza33]

Hi Rich,
Have been away from the forums but found my old post. My wife and I have tried 2 unsuccessful IVF cycles (ICSI) since my last post. My sperm count measured at these times remained at 2-2.5 million/ml. After taking many supplements I have tried to explore other areas. This year I started seeing a hormone specialist and got blood tests done. These are the results.

Taken 13-2-2010
Cortisol - 147 nmol/L (138-650) measured 8am
DHEAS - 8.4 umol/L (2.5-13.0)
FSH 20.6 U/L (1.5-13.0)
Free Testosterone 55.2 pmol/L (43-138)

Taken 10-4-2010
Cortisol - 215 nmol/L (100-690) measured 8am
DHEAS - 14.9 umol/L (2.5-13.0)
FSH 16.5 U/L (1.5-13.0)
Free Testosterone 37.6 pmol/L (43-138)

Taken 26-6-2010
Cortisol - 428 nmol/L (138-650) measured 8am
DHEAS - 14.0 umol/L (2.5-13.0)
FSH 17.6 U/L (1.5-13.0)
Free Testosterone 35.9 pmol/L (43-138)
Testosterone 12.9 nmol/L (9.5-28.0)

My Cortisol was low and was supplemented Adrenotone (metagenics) which seems to have significantly elevated my readings. I have a bit more morning alertness.
My free testosterone has been declining but am uncertain if it is meant to fluctuate?
DHEAS has gone up and as of my prescription to DHEA 40mg/day
The one I am most concerned about is the FSH. From what I read it needs to be reduced in order for the signal from the pituitary gland to say "start increasing sperm production" I was hoping for you thoughts and advice.
Also they only measured the reproductive testosterone once so don't know if it's come up or down.

I also had an examination that revealed my left testicle is half the size of my right. Not sure what that means?

My goal is of course to elevate my sperm.

Thanks for time and advice

[rich]

Dear Dazza,

I'll try and explain this stuff to you so it makes sense. Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone and is a Testosterone antagonist. This is why many men who had severe stress such as a parent dying or some other traumatic happening have their sperm counts go down as Cortisol neutralizes free T as your levels have shown. So what you are doing is a balancing act trying to get one level in line while keeping everything else in range. The FSH going high is caused by free T dropping. FSH is the command to produce but if the free T in the Testes is not available then nothing happens and the command raises again. Testosterone may vary but once it is seen to be in the normal range you have to do something drastic to cause it to come out of the range.
You will also notice the DHEA going up. One of the things about high DHEA is that the excess is made into Estrogen another binder of free T .

Ask what you need.

rich

[dazza33]

Thanks Rich,
It has helped to make it a bit clearer in the sense the hormones are in sync with each other and it requires correct balancing.
I am in a quandary as I am taking prescribed DHEA 40mg/day. This seems to show up on the second blood test. It seems to stay at the upper range and I was hoping that taking 50mg or greater in men might start seeing estrogen production. Should I discontinue?
I forgot to add that I also am taking prescribed testosterone cream. It's applies 1ml daily to inner thigh. Would this help elevate my free T's. As I imagine it absorbs into the blood stream.

Is it unreasonable to think if I get these balanced hormones right my sperm might start to increase?
I also plan to have another blood test/semen analysis mid August. Fingers crossed!

[rich]

Dear Dazza,

The question of what to take or not take is a question between you and the doctor. You are paying him good money not confederate dollars and I do not know what exactly he is trying to do. Yes sperm count will go up when the hormones are right and the necessary sperm factory structure is present.

Some minor changes I can do with the vits, supplements and herbs so as to get something slightly out of whack back functioning but when you go to the drugs, you are in the big leagues. I can help with the questions to ask but my medical bakground is not that deep as that doctor in his field.

Ask what you need.

rich