Normal Sperm Count To Get Pregnant


Usually, a pregnancy occurs when an egg, released from either of the ovaries, meets with sperm (a substance present in the ejaculated semen of man) in the fallopian tubes and has transplantation on the uterine wall in a female's body. For this, the health of the egg and sperm needs to be good/optimum. Adequate healthy sperm is essential for the occurrence of a pregnancy.   

As an intended mother or a female willing to conceive, you have numerous queries on reproductive health related to you and your male partner. What is the normal sperm count to get pregnant is one of those queries. 

A normal sperm count ranges from 15 to 200 million sperm a millilitre of sperm. Anything below than 15 million sperm per millilitre of semen is considered as low sperm count that reproductive health experts call oligospermia. Zero or the absence of sperm is azoospermia. Low sperm count or zero sperm can make it hard for you to get pregnant. As an intended mother, you can know the sperm count of your male partner through semen analysis. 

Semen analysis 

Usually, as a couple or male, you are not aware of your sperm abnormalcy. You think your male partner's sperm is abnormal when you have conception issues even if everything is fine at your end. Your doctor confirms it after going through the semen analysis report of your male partner. In general, a semen analysis examines for the following:

  • Number of sperm in a millilitre of semen 
  • Sperm shape
  • Sperm motility or the movement of sperm 

The number, motility, and shape of sperm need to be good or optimal for a conception occurrence. You can understand the semen analysis report of your male partner when you have an idea about the normal ranges of semen analysis report. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), the normal ranges of a semen analysis report:

   

Total sperm count per ejaculation  

39 to 928 million 

Seminal fluid per ejaculation 

1.5 to 7.6 mL

Sperm count 

15 to 259 million per millilitre 

Total motility (progressive and non-progressive) 

40-81% 

Progressive motility 

32-75%

Sperm shape (morphology)

4-48%

 

Importance of sperm count 

When you are trying to conceive a child, healthy sperm is essential for you. The meeting of one egg with one sperm cell is enough to make you pregnant. However, having more healthy sperm increases your conception chance every month. 

Having a good or normal sperm count is crucial for your overall health even if you (male) are not trying to make your female partner pregnant. According to a study of Endocrine Society, males with poor/low sperm count are at a higher risk of an increased BMI and high blood pressure in comparison with men having normal sperm count. Further, it may increase chances for having diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart diseases, and stroke.   

Effect of sperm count on fertility 

Sperm count has a direct link with your fertility. As a female, your conception chance is higher when your male partner has normal sperm count with normal shape and motility. It decreases if your male partner has lower sperm count or no/zero sperm in his seminal fluid. 

How can your partner manage his normal sperm count and health?

A lot of factors (such as diet, bad lifestyle habits, environmental, and professional requirement) affect sperm count. However, your male partner can keep his sperm count and health by making a few changes in his lifestyle and professional life. Here are some steps that can help your partner maintain his normal sperm count and health:

  • A well-balanced and healthy diet 
  • Regular exercise 
  • Stress and body weight management 
  • Safe distance from drinking and smoking 
  • No use of illicit drugs 
  • No extreme chemical and heat exposure 
  • Use of loose and comfortable undergarments 

At FSIVF Centre, we guide couples on how they can maintain their fertility. In the case of male or female infertility, we treat all their issues and help them move ahead in their path of parenthood journey.