Male fertility question

Hi Doctor,

I am a 27 yr old male. I recently got my results back from a semen analysis.
The volume was 2ml
The ph was 7.5
the motility was 61.83 percent
the sperm count was 72.03 million mer milliliter
the percentage of normal sperm ( morphology) is only 8.17 percent ( The clinic that I was at set 15 percent normal sperm as the normal count, so I assume it was the strict Kruger test)

Naturally, it is the morphology I am concerned about. I " quit" smoking for the most part in January 2009 a year ago. However, in the last few months I had three 1 week smoking relapses. I drank on average, 2 or so drinks per day.  I was a moderate coffee drinker.I do not take any vitamins. I exercise regularly, but but no means are my exercises too strenuous .I am wondering, based on the results of this test, what chances you think my wife and I have of having a child without artificial insemination. Also, can I expect, with a diligent change in diet and vitamin consumption, as well as completely refraining from smoking and drinking, that my sperm quality will improve? If so how much? And do you have any ideas as to what vitamins might be beneficial to sperm quality?

Thank you.

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
Well, you are on the right track!  Smoking cigarettes or marijuana, and drinking alcohol ( more than one glass per day ) are not good for sperm.  Also, I'm sure you know about boxers and hot tubs.
There is a nutritional supplement called Proxeed which seems to have some benefit and is available on  line.
Remember that it takes 3 months to make sperm, so the changes won;'t take effect for that long.  Also, it only takes one sperm to make a baby, so you have a decent chance.
I have seen some urologists prescribe Clomid for men to improve their sperm count too.
Finally, IUI works by concentrating the normal sperm and giving them the advantage, so don't rule it out--its not terribly expensive, and it doesn;t mean that you can't also try the "natural way"
Good luck!
PS here's a website with some information about semen analysis if you're interested:
http://www.ivf-infertility.com/infertility/investigations/male/semen.php

Good luck!
Dr B

[empadac]

what are the chances of one getting pregant who is on Lamivudine and Phospholipids for Hep B, Viral load of 23,750 and normal liver enzymes.

Can one undertake an IVF with Hep B. Blood work revealed Hep B core antiboeis as positive, HBEag negative and HBEab positive.
Thanks.