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Causes of Low Sperm Motility

The leading cause of male infertility, low sperm motility is caused when sperm have difficulty swimming forward and penetrating the egg. When fewer than eight million sperm have normal movement, this is considered low sperm motility. Several things can impair the sperm's ability to swim properly, such as nutritional issues, health problems and behaviors that diminish sperm motility.

  1. Nutrition

    • A well-balanced diet can affect the entire body; fertility is no different. Vitamin deficiencies (vitamin C, selenium, zinc and folate, specifically) can cause low motility. Vitamin C helps keep sperm from sticking together. Vitamins B12 and E can also increase sperm activity. Eating healthy or even organic can decrease the intake of chemicals or preservatives.

    Health

    • STDs, like Chlamydia, can reduce fertility by 33% due to antibodies produced by the disease. Some hormonal disorders, like hypothyroidism, can lead to the body producing low-quality sperm with bad mobility. Anabolic steroids are highly destructive to male fertility, and cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana also have a negative impact on motility.

    Behaviors

    • Some sports, like mountain biking, can decrease sperm production and hamper sperm mobility (due to the impounding damage to testes and scrotum). Driving for long periods, hot tubs or working with heat can damage sperm motility.

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