Have you at some point sat down and wondered why some couples have taken years without having children? Being a woman, I have heard plenty of stories of women being blamed, insulted and mocked childlessness. However deep within me I know that very often it is not the fault of the woman. The truth of the matter many times is with the man and one of the biggest reasons it may be low sperm count. Now take it easy. What it means Before we discuss the causative factors of it, we first need to realize what it means. Low sperm count merely denotes that the man lacks sufficient healthy sperm in the semen. And when his sperm is either few, or too weak, pregnancy is too difficult. But the unpleasant thing is? Most men do not even realize they were facing this issue until years of waiting, quarrels, and tears have gone. Now what is it that causes this painful situation? Below are my eyeglasses. To begin with, the lifestyle most men lead currently is killing them silently. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and the use of even hard drugs kill sperm quicker than you can ever imagine. They can look tough on the outside but his sperm is weak and dying inside. But he believes that he is healthy. But that is not the whole thing. The other silent killer is heat. Yes, heat. It is because the testicles in which sperm is produced are supposed to remain cool. In wearing tight boxers or trousers or even leaving their laptops on their laps, men overheat their testicles. This leads to weak production of sperm. There are even men who are fond of hot baths every night and do not realize that they are killing their future.  [Image Source](https://pixabay.com/illustrations/sperm-fertilization-life-806391/) But yet there is more. Other men are exposed to hazardous chemicals, pesticides, or heavy metals in the work place. Such chemicals gradually kill one by poisoning the body and causing low sperm. Unfortunately, most men come out of such jobs with no clue on the kind of destruction that has taken place within them. And then there is a shocking element of sexually transmitted infections. The tube carrying sperm may be blocked due to chlamydia, gonorrhea among other infections and the testicles may also be damaged. However, due to the lesser propensity of men to take tests, the infections remain concealed and continue to diminish their sperm. Oh, I mustn't leave out stress. Sure, emotional stress. Men have pressures of money, work and family. Stress modifies the hormones which regulate sperm production. Consider a man who is in constant fear, he never sleeps, he is constantly in search of survival, the sperm in his body starts complaining. Worse still, there are men who are abusing steroid drugs in order to appear strong. Such people engage in the use of such drugs to gain body shape, yet what they fail to realize is that steroids close up the natural body sperm producing system. I have witnessed young men all proud of their bodies only to end up crying since they developed the realization that they cannot be able to sire a child. Here we may pause. Do you realize what the sore truth is? Childlessness is common among women and they are usually blamed. Families nag, churches gossip and neighbors smile. But it can be the man who actually sits smoldering in his corner. You know the worst? Lots of men avoid testing. To them it is embarrassing. It is more likely that they bush to other prayer houses blaming the woman instead of counting their own sperm. This ego has ruined a number of marriages. Can you lay the burden of this on me, sister? Just imagine the wife of the family getting up each morning to abuse by her in-laws, when the husband who was much expected to defend her is keeping his secret. She cries at night as she feels bad because she is the cause, when actually she can do nothing about it. However, all is not over. Oligospermia is not necessarily permanent. Certain men can slowly make a recovery when they modify their lifestyles such as quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, consume healthy foods such as vegetables, fruit, and nuts and engage in moderate activities. Others require medical interventions, such as antibiotics to treat signs of infections or operation to unplug sperm ducts. Hormone therapy is required by others. But all this begins with bravery--the boldness of a man and should submit that he must be tried.  [Image Source](https://pixabay.com/illustrations/sperm-sperm-cells-reproduction-7454227/) Well, so what then is the lesson here? Women, do not be fooled. Sometimes barrenness is not the cross of the woman to bear. Women and men have to undergo checks. Men need to get out of pride and tell the truth. The reason is that the sooner the man realizes the better it is to treat. This is painful to write since there are too many women who suffer due to their sins which they never committed. Too many women die and no one even makes a sound where they should be ashamed of shame that is not theirs. The time has now come when to tell the truth is expected. To every man reading this: by protecting your sperm you are protecting your future. And to every woman who reads this knows your value has nothing to do with what others may say. Marriage is a journey of two partners and similarly is fertility. Well, my sister, you leave me with one last message. The next time you come across someone making fun of a lady because she does not have children, stop. Stop being a sheep. What happens if you wonder if it is really the man who is the problem?