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oligospermia
Strictly, oligozoospermia, meaning a reduced number of sperm cells (spermatozoa) in the ejaculate (compared with azoospermia, which means no sperm in the ejaculate). More generally, a decrease in normal, motile sperm, and more or less encompassing laborious terms such as 'asthenozoospermia' (weak motility) and 'teratozoospermia' (abnormal sperm), and even more laborious ones, such as 'oligoasthenoteratozoospermia', which do not reward the effort of concocting them.
Terms that contain "oligospermia" in the definition
endocrine disrupter
A natural or pollutant substance in the environment possibly capable of acting -- alone or in combination with other substances -- as an estrogen or as a blocker of androgens during development of the fetus. Suspected of causing endometriosis and oligospermia in later life.
intracytoplasmic sperm injection
(ICSI) An in vitro fertilisation technique for overcoming infertility due to oligospermia or azoospermia involving sperm microinjection (SMI), in a sperm is injected through the zona pellucida, across the perivitelline space, through the vitelline membrane (the egg cell's membrane), and directly into the substance (or cytoplasm) of the egg itself. Has completely replaced subzonal sperm insertion (SUZI).
MTHFR C677T
A polymorphism affecting the metabolism of folic acid with a number of possible consequences avoidable by increasing dietary supplements to mega-doses (5 mg to 10 mg per day), including promotion of blood coagulation, or thrombophilia, abnormalities of the fetus (birth defects, especially neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly), recurrent miscarriage, an increased chance of heart disease and coronary thrombosis, and in men, possibly contributes to oligospermia and infertility.
subfertility
Infertility that is not 'absolute', or 'complete infertility' -- that is, there is a chance of pregnancy: it is not sterility (these last 3 terms are synonyms) -- but the chance of getting pregnant each month (fecundability or monthly fertility) is reduced. More or less definite causes can include oligospermia, polycystic ovary syndrome and other causes of oligomenorrhea, endometriosis, peritubal adhesions, fibroids (especially submucous fibroids) and increased age, especially of the woman. Synonymous with relative infertility.
varicocele
A varicose vein in the scrotum, which in some cases can increase the temperature of the testis, causing oligospermia; more common on the left side than on the right (because the left testicular vein is longer and more likely to have incompetent valves). One of the few treatable causes of male infertility (the treatment is to tie off the vein), although not all sperm counts improve.