From the moment we reach puberty, hormones begin to play a highly significant role in our health. In men, this means an increase in testosterone, which is central to both sexual maturity and maintaining several bodily functions we seldom think about — for example, bone strength, muscle development, and making red blood cells.
Testosterone is essential to sexual function, and reproduction or sensual pleasure is impossible without it. Many medical problems can cause problems with testosterone levels, but other issues, including taking some prescription and recreational drugs, can also lead to complications like low testosterone (Low T).
Let’s explore the effects of these drugs on your sperm count and what can be done to manage the problems that come with it. Drs. Craig Herman and Steven Kester and the dedicated medical staff at Urology Center of Florida are here to help Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and South Florida residents treat many issues, including those that come with Low T.
Also referred to as oligospermia, this issue often only arises when you’re trying to start a family or experience symptoms. Sperm levels are measured in amounts of sperm per milliliter of semen, and in healthy males that’s usually 200 million sperm per 1 milliliter. If you have a low sperm count, the range is at or below 15 million sperm per 1 milliliter.
Severe cases can go as low as 5 million sperm per milliliter, but regardless of how low a sperm count is, signs like decreased facial and body hair, erectile dysfunction, low libido (sex drive), or pain, swelling, or a noticeable lump on the testicles can occur.
Medications prescribed by your doctor can cause a low sperm count, as can recreational drugs. Among them:
Alpha blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, which are used to help with symptoms of an enlarged prostate, can lower sperm levels. So can selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs — prescribed for depression — opioids and chemotherapy drugs.
Additionally, use of testosterone replacement therapy and ketoconazole can negatively affect sperm production.
Chronic use of cocaine and/or methamphetamines, as well as alcohol abuse, can contribute to lower testosterone levels. Marijuana is still being researched, with some results indicating fertility issues and others presenting conflicting data.
Low sperm count can be managed, depending on the cause. Blockages that cause reproductive issues can be surgically repaired; medications can treat infections or other conditions; and hormone therapies can be changed or stopped if necessary. Lifestyle changes and counseling can help alongside these treatments.
If prescribed drugs are found to cause fertility issues, they can be replaced or given in lower doses. Recreational drugs can become addictive; if this happens, rehabilitation may be necessary.
Low sperm count and the effect it has on your life can feel humiliating, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Call or message our office in Pompano Beach, Florida, today for help.
