Does Erectile Dysfunction Affect Sperm Count?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) does not directly cause infertility, but it can certainly affect a person's ability to conceive a child. The simple answer to the question is no, ED does not affect sperm count. A low sperm count, also known as oligospermia (ol-Ih-go-spur-me-uh), is when the semen ejaculated during an orgasm contains fewer sperm cells than normal. This reduces the chances of one of the sperm cells fertilizing an egg and resulting in pregnancy.

However, many men with a low sperm count can still father a child.The main sign of a low sperm count is the inability to conceive a child. There may be no other obvious signs or symptoms. In some cases, an underlying problem such as an inherited chromosomal abnormality, hormonal imbalance, dilation of the testicular veins, or a condition that blocks the passage of sperm can cause signs and symptoms. However, the cause of the low sperm count is often not identified.Normal sexual and reproductive functions are highly dependent on neurological mechanisms.

Neurological defects in men can cause infertility through erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction and abnormalities. Major conditions that contribute to these symptoms include pelvic and retroperitoneal surgery, diabetes, congenital spinal abnormalities, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. Erectile dysfunction can be controlled by a range of increasingly invasive treatments, including medications, injection therapy and the surgical insertion of a penile implant.Retrograde ejaculation is controlled with medications to reverse the condition in mild cases and in the bladder (collection of semen after ejaculation) in more severe cases. Aejaculation can also be controlled with medication in mild cases, while in more severe cases, assisted ejaculation techniques such as vibratory stimulation of the penis and electroejaculation are used.

If these measures fail, surgical sperm removal may be attempted. Some men with spinal cord injuries and their partners can perform ejaculation with vibratory penile stimulation at home, followed by home insemination if circumstances and sperm quality are appropriate.The other options always require assisted reproductive techniques such as intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection. The method of choice largely depends on the number of motile sperm in the ejaculate.Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction (ED), refers to difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection. This can make it difficult or impossible to have sex.

Infertility, also called infertility, refers to the inability to produce or release sperm. With these underlying mechanisms, PTX can improve both sperm quality and erectile function in infertile men with erectile dysfunction at the same time.The effect of combined treatment with sildenafil citrate and pentoxifylline in treating erectile dysfunction has been studied. Ejaculatory dysfunction can take different forms such as premature ejaculation, retrograde ejaculation, anejaculation and delayed ejaculation.This activates the cyclic adenosine monophosphate system and causes calcium flow, smooth muscle relaxation and an erectile response. This can be done immediately after extraction or the sperm can be cryopreserved and used later.Forest graphs without synthesis results are shown in complementary figures S1—S4 to clearly present the effect of PTX on improving erectile function and sperm parameters between included studies.In addition, in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination (in which sperm are injected directly into the cervix or uterus) are procedures used to achieve conception when infertility is a problem.It could be speculated that azoospermic men who are aware that sexual intercourse cannot lead to pregnancy experience depressive symptoms and somatic anxiety related to decreased sexual desire and orgasmic function together with erectile dysfunction.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) induces a disruption of the nerve supply responsible for erectile function and ejaculation which commonly causes erectile dysfunction and anejaculation.

Bridget Lauby
Bridget Lauby

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