Hypospermia: What does a low ejaculate volume mean for fertility?

In conversations about male reproductive health, we typically focus on sperm quality: motility, morphology, or count. However, there is a fundamental physical parameter that is often overlooked until difficulties in conceiving arise: semen volume. Hypospermia is the medical condition defined by an unusually low amount of ejaculate. While it is not always synonymous with infertility, it is a signal from the body that requires attention, as seminal plasma fulfills vital functions in protecting and transporting sperm on their journey to the egg.

When is it considered Hypospermia?

According to the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO), a man suffers from hypospermia when his ejaculate volume is less than 1.5 milliliters.

It is important not to confuse it with aspermia (the total absence of ejaculation) or azoospermia (the absence of sperm within the fluid). In hypospermia, semen is expelled, but in a quantity insufficient for reproductive health standards.

Main causes of low seminal volume:

• Partial Retrograde Ejaculation: This occurs when part of the semen, instead of exiting through the urethra, is diverted into the bladder. This can be caused by prostate surgeries, diabetes, or certain medications.

• Obstructions or Genetic Abnormalities: Past infections can obstruct the ejaculatory ducts. Likewise, the congenital absence of the vas deferens or seminal vesicles directly affects volume.

• Hormonal Deficiency: Low testosterone levels can reduce the production of the glands that generate seminal fluid.

• External Factors: Stress, smoking, dehydration, and very short periods of sexual abstinence can also result in an occasional low measurement.

Diagnosis and Fertility

Diagnosis is performed through a semen analysis (seminogram). It is essential that the sample is collected after an abstinence period of between 2 and 7 days for the results to be reliable.

If hypospermia is associated with a low concentration of sperm, the probability of natural pregnancy decreases. This is because seminal fluid acts as a "protective barrier" against vaginal acidity; without sufficient volume, the sperm are left unprotected.

In conclusion, hypospermia is a condition that, though silent, provides valuable information about the male reproductive system. In many cases, it is reversible through lifestyle adjustments, treatment of infections, or minor surgery. In scenarios where the cause is structural, assisted reproduction techniques such as Artificial Insemination or IVF offer effective solutions. The key lies in early diagnosis: a simple laboratory analysis can be the starting point to resolve doubts and chart a clear path toward sexual and reproductive health.