Right around half of all fertility treatments are due to male factor infertility. Unfortunately, much of the medical research that has been done in the past decades has focused on female factor infertility. Because of this, the treatment options for male infertility problems tend to be fewer in number than treatments for female causes of infertility. The two most common male infertility problems, low sperm motility and low sperm count, tend to get much more attention than the final problem of abnormal sperm. Having said that, there are some treatments, both natural and medical, that can be options for the man with abnormal sperm.

It is important first to understand some things about a man’s sperm. Sperm are classified on three characteristics, including their speed, their number, and their shape. If sperm are abnormally shaped, they are considered abnormal sperm. Abnormal sperm are generally unable to either survive the journey to the fallopian tube, or they are unable to penetrate the surface of the egg when they do reach the fallopian tube. In some rare cases, abnormal sperm may lead to conception, and to a child having certain genetic abnormalities.

One treatment option for abnormal sperm is through the use of herbal or nutritional supplements. Supplements that contain ginseng, vitamin C, lycopene, and zinc have been used for many years to help a man with fertility problems. These supplements are not guaranteed to work, and they won’t necessarily work for everyone, but they may be a less expensive and less involved option for treating the man with abnormal sperm.

Medically, there are a few treatment options for the man with abnormal sperm. The man’s sperm can be collected and then “washed,” and prepared for use in the fertility clinic setting. The man’s sperm can then either be injected into the woman via intrauterine insemination (IUI) or used in a procedure such as IVF (in vitro fertilization). These procedures can vary greatly in their expense as well as in how complicated they are to accomplish.