A low sperm count does not mean you cannot become a father. At Mother Hospitals & IVF Center, Boduppal, even men with very few or severely abnormal sperm have achieved pregnancy through ICSI — Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection. Dr. E. Prashanthi Reddy, 5,000+ ICSI cycles.
WHO 2021 reference values — what your semen analysis result means
| Grade | Sperm Count | Meaning | Recommended Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | ≥16 million/mL | Within reference range | Natural conception / IUI if indicated |
| Mild Oligospermia | 5–15 million/mL | Mildly low count | IUI + ovulation induction / IVF+ICSI |
| Moderate Oligospermia | 1–5 million/mL | Significantly low count | IVF + ICSI |
| Severe Oligospermia | <1 million/mL | Very few sperm present | ICSI (even 1 sperm is enough) |
| Cryptozoospermia | Only found after centrifugation | Near-absent sperm | ICSI or TESA if no sperm found |
Identifying the cause helps choose the most effective treatment
Personalised step-by-step approach at Mother Hospitals Hyderabad
Full semen analysis (WHO 2021) measuring count, motility, morphology, volume. Hormone panel (FSH, LH, testosterone, prolactin). Results explained in plain language — no confusing reports handed without discussion.
Varicocele repair if varicocele is detected. Hormonal medication if hormones are abnormal. Lifestyle changes — quit smoking, reduce alcohol, avoid scrotal heat. Antioxidant supplements for 3 months (CoQ10, Vitamin C/E, Zinc, L-Carnitine).
For mild oligospermia (5–15 million/mL) with good motility, IUI — placing concentrated sperm inside the uterus — is a lower-cost first step. Usually tried for 2–3 cycles before proceeding to IVF/ICSI.
For moderate or severe oligospermia, ICSI — where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg under high magnification — is the gold-standard treatment. Mother Hospitals has performed 5,000+ ICSI cycles with excellent success rates.
If no sperm are found in the ejaculate (cryptozoospermia progressing to azoospermia), TESA or PESA retrieves sperm directly from the testis or epididymis for use in ICSI. Available at Mother Hospitals as an outpatient day procedure.
In conventional IVF, hundreds of thousands of sperm compete to fertilise an egg — which rules out severe oligospermia patients. ICSI completely bypasses this barrier. A single sperm is selected — the healthiest-looking, best-moving one — and injected directly into the egg under a high-powered microscope.
MBBS · DGO · PG Diploma in ART – Kiel University, Germany · Cosmetic Gynecology Certified (2024)
Founder & Medical Director — Mother Hospitals & IVF Center, Boduppal, Hyderabad
TGMC Reg: 50624 · 19+ Years · 5,000+ IVF & ICSI Cycles
Specialised in ICSI for Male Factor Infertility, Low Sperm Count & Azoospermia