High testosterone with lower sperm count: what does it mean for fertility?

Yael Cooperman, MD - Contributor Avatar

Reviewed by Yael Cooperman, MD, Ro, 

Written by Gina Allegretti, MD 

Yael Cooperman, MD - Contributor Avatar

Reviewed by Yael Cooperman, MD, Ro, 

Written by Gina Allegretti, MD 

last updated: Jun 30, 2022

2 min read

Many people associate the hormone testosterone with male fertility. But what happens when you have normal or high testosterone levels, and your sperm count is still low? Many different factors play into sperm health, not just testosterone levels. If you recently found out you have high testosterone levels but a low sperm count, we’ve covered everything you need to know about what that means for you and your fertility.

Modern Fertility

Fertility hormones shouldn’t be a mystery

Does taking testosterone make you infertile? 

Testosterone is a sex hormone made by the testicles. Normal testosterone levels are important for fertility since testosterone is involved in sperm production, sperm health, and erectile function, but too much may make you infertile. 

It seems logical to think that, since testosterone contributes to fertility, more testosterone will make you more fertile. But it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. When testosterone levels get too high (like in people receiving testosterone shots), the high levels actually work like male birth control and stop sperm production (Patel, 2019; Amory, 1998). 

A WHO (World Health Organization) task force found that men with normal sperm counts who took testosterone developed a condition called azoospermia, or semen without sperm (WHO, 1990). One small study found that 88% of men taking testosterone supplements for infertility developed azoospermia, but when they stopped the testosterone therapy, 65% saw their sperm production recover (Samplaski, 2014). 

What does testosterone do to your body? 

That’s not to say that all testosterone is bad. It’s only a problem when there’s too much or too little of it. Testosterone has many important effects on the body, including (Nassar, 2022): 

  • Makes the penis and testes grow during puberty

  • Stimulates sperm production (spermatogenesis)

  • Increases sex drive (libido)

  • Deepens the voice

  • Helps produce erections

  • Stimulates facial hair and body hair growth

  • Increases muscle mass

  • Stimulates bone growth

  • Increases red blood cell number

Does low testosterone cause infertility? 

Low testosterone levels (hypogonadism) are linked to infertility. Having low testosterone may lead to (Sizar, 2021; Grinspon, 2020): 

Unlike people with normal testosterone levels, people with hypogonadism may benefit from testosterone replacement therapy because their testosterone levels are low (Schmidtova, 2009).

“My husband takes testosterone injections—can I still get pregnant?” 

If your male partner uses testosterone injections, it may affect his sperm count. Testosterone decreases sperm count, and the injectable form has a stronger effect and higher risk of side effects than oral supplements (Crosnoe, 2013). This can make it more difficult to get pregnant. However, it only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg, so a lower sperm count doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t get pregnant. 

If you and your partner haven’t been able to conceive while he has been taking testosterone injections, there are other treatment options to consider. There are assisted reproductive technology methods that can extract sperm directly from the testes (testicular sperm extraction, or TESE) even if it isn’t present in the ejaculate. Intrauterine insemination, ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), and IVF (in vitro fertilization) can allow fertilization to happen even with fewer sperm. 

Speaking to a healthcare provider or fertility specialist is a good first step if you have any questions about fertility. 

DISCLAIMER

If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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  • Crosnoe, L. E., Grober, E., Ohl, D., et al. (2013). Exogenous testosterone: a preventable cause of male infertility. Translational Andrology and Urology , 2 (2), 106–113. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2223-4683.2013.06.01. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4708215/

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Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Current version

June 30, 2022

Written by

Gina Allegretti, MD

Fact checked by

Yael Cooperman, MD


About the medical reviewer

Yael Cooperman is a physician and works as a Senior Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro.