Hypospermia
Encyclopedia
Hypospermia is the medical term when a man has an unusually low ejaculate (or semen
) volume, it is the logical opposite of Hyperspermia
. It should not be confused with Oligospermia
, which means low sperm
count.
Normal ejaculate when a man is not drained from prior sex and is suitably aroused
, is around 1 - 5.6 ml, although this varies greatly with mood, physical condition and sexual activity. Of this, around 1% by volume only is sperm cells. Hypospermia would only usually be a factor in infertility
if the two conditions (hypospermia and oligospermia
)are combined. The U.S. based National Institutes of Health defines hypospermia as a semen volume lower than 2 mL on at least two semen analyses.
The presence of high levels of fructose
(a sugar
) is normal in the semen and this comes almost entirely from the prostate. The seminal vesicles, major contributors to ejaculate volume, render semen pH basic. Thus, low fructose may indicate problems in the prostatic pathway, while low semen pH may indicate problems related to the seminal vesicles. Obstruction of the seminal vesicles result in low semen volumes since they normally produce 70% of the seminal plasma. On the other hand, low fructose levels suggest an obstruction in the prostatic pathway.
Semen
Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
) volume, it is the logical opposite of Hyperspermia
Hyperspermia
Hyperspermia is the medical term for when a male has an abnormally large ejaculate volume. It's the opposite of hypospermia. It is generally defined in humans when the ejaculate is over 5ml. Hyperspermia may be related to below-average sperm concentration levels....
. It should not be confused with Oligospermia
Oligospermia
Oligospermia, also oligozoospermia, refers to semen with a low concentration of sperm and is a common finding in male infertility. Often semen with a decreased sperm concentration may also show significant abnormalities in sperm morphology and motility...
, which means low sperm
Spermatozoon
A spermatozoon is a motile sperm cell, or moving form of the haploid cell that is the male gamete. A spermatozoon joins an ovum to form a zygote...
count.
Normal ejaculate when a man is not drained from prior sex and is suitably aroused
Arousal
Arousal is a physiological and psychological state of being awake or reactive to stimuli. It involves the activation of the reticular activating system in the brain stem, the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure and a condition of...
, is around 1 - 5.6 ml, although this varies greatly with mood, physical condition and sexual activity. Of this, around 1% by volume only is sperm cells. Hypospermia would only usually be a factor in infertility
Infertility
Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term...
if the two conditions (hypospermia and oligospermia
Oligospermia
Oligospermia, also oligozoospermia, refers to semen with a low concentration of sperm and is a common finding in male infertility. Often semen with a decreased sperm concentration may also show significant abnormalities in sperm morphology and motility...
)are combined. The U.S. based National Institutes of Health defines hypospermia as a semen volume lower than 2 mL on at least two semen analyses.
The presence of high levels of fructose
Fructose
Fructose, or fruit sugar, is a simple monosaccharide found in many plants. It is one of the three dietary monosaccharides, along with glucose and galactose, that are absorbed directly into the bloodstream during digestion. Fructose was discovered by French chemist Augustin-Pierre Dubrunfaut in 1847...
(a sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
) is normal in the semen and this comes almost entirely from the prostate. The seminal vesicles, major contributors to ejaculate volume, render semen pH basic. Thus, low fructose may indicate problems in the prostatic pathway, while low semen pH may indicate problems related to the seminal vesicles. Obstruction of the seminal vesicles result in low semen volumes since they normally produce 70% of the seminal plasma. On the other hand, low fructose levels suggest an obstruction in the prostatic pathway.