Teratozoospermia: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
What is Teratozoospermia?
Teratozoospermia is when a large number of sperm in a semen sample have abnormal shapes or structures. The abnormalities are typically found in the head, midpiece, or tail of the sperm. This can make it difficult for them to swim to and fuse with an egg. This, then, eventually causes male fertility problems.
Who is at Risk for Teratozoospermia?
Any man can get teratozoospermia. However, the risk might be higher for men who have family members with it. Or the men who have gone through chemotherapy, had injuries in their pelvic area, or have undergone certain surgeries. Also, health problems like diabetes and unhealthy habits could increase the chances of developing teratozoospermia.
What are the Types of Teratozoospermia?
The type of teratozoospermia is decided depending on the severity of the issue. It also depends on the presence of other sperm issues.
- Mild Teratozoospermia: This condition happens when 10% – 14% of the sperm are normal. The rest are abnormally shaped sperm. However, sometimes you can still have a baby naturally. Also, assisted reproduction may help if there are additional fertility challenges.
- Moderate Teratozoospermia: It means only a few sperm (about 5% to 9%) look normal. Getting pregnant naturally is tough here, so doctors often suggest help like IVF-ICSI. IVF stands for in vitro fertilization. ICSI means Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, where doctors inject a single sperm into the egg.
- Severe Teratozoospermia: This is when almost all sperm (96% or more) have abnormal sperm morphology. It’s very difficult to get pregnant naturally, and they might need to use assisted reproductive technologies. For example, IMSI (Intracytoplasmic Morphologically-selected Sperm Injection), where they pick the best-looking sperm to inject.
- Astheno Teratozoospermia: Sometimes, the oddly shaped sperm have motility problems as well. That means it can’t swim well. This is called astheno-teratozoospermia. There’s no simple fix to this, but healthy habits and treatment options like ICSI or IMSI can help.
- Oligo Teratozoospermia: This is the most serious type. This means there is a low sperm count, poor motility, and the sperm has an abnormal shape. Getting pregnant naturally is very unlikely, so they usually need help with advanced fertility treatments.
What are the Symptoms and Causes of Teratozoospermia?
Teratozoospermia usually doesn’t have any evident signs that you can see or feel. For most men, the first clue is that they’ve been trying to have a baby for a while but keep failing. That’s when doctors often do a semen analysis. This test can show if a large number of sperm have unusual shapes. Since such sperm can not do the job of fertilizing the egg, infertility becomes the main way to discover them.
Common Causes of Teratozoospermia:
- Hormonal Imbalances
If the body’s messengers, like testosterone, aren’t balanced, it can disrupt sperm development. Doctors can sometimes cure this with medicine or more hormones.
- Varicocele
Here, the veins in the scrotum become swollen. This can make the testicles too warm, which is not good for producing healthy sperm. Sometimes, surgery can help to fix this issue.
- Genetic Factors
Medical conditions passed down in families can lead to issues with sperm production.
- Cryptorchidism (Undescended Testicles)
If the testicles don’t drop down properly before birth, it can cause problems with sperm quality and shape later on.
- Infections
Catching STDs (Sexually transmitted diseases) or other infections in the reproductive parts can hurt the sperm and change their shape.
- Lifestyle Factors
Things we do every day can also matter. Smoking, drinking too much, using drugs, eating poorly, or being overweight are some examples. Exposing the testicles to too much heat can affect sperm and make them misshapen. Therefore, it is best to avoid hot tubs to avoid male infertility.
What is the Diagnosis of Teratozoospermia?
The main way to find out is through a semen analysis, which is like a check-up for sperm. They examine the number of sperm, their shape, and how well they move. If a lot of the sperm (more than 96%) have weird shapes, that’s when they say it’s teratozoospermia.
One test might not be enough, so doctors often repeat the test to be sure. Once they know it’s teratozoospermia, the doctor will likely ask about your family history and lifestyle. They might enquire about your health history. This is done in order to figure out why it’s happening and what is the best way to help.
What is the Treatment of Teratozoospermia?
Treatment depends on how bad it is and the causes of teratozoospermia. Lifestyle changes, a healthy diet, and supplements like vitamin C, E, and selenium can improve sperm quality. Fertility treatments such as IUI, IVF, and ICSI help in conception. In some cases, hormonal therapy or surgery may be needed. Genetic causes can be trickier to treat.
Final Takeaway
If stress, injury to the testicles, or drug use has caused teratozoospermia, then it can be easily cured. Some lifestyle changes and medicine might help fix it. Sometimes, special treatments like IVF are used. Taking care of your mental health and talking to someone can also lower stress. It’s important to see fertility specialists for the right tests and help. For those seeking support on their journey to parenthood, clinics like Archish IVF offer treatments such as IVF.
FAQs
Yes, it can affect fertility. Sperm shape matters for getting pregnant. If they aren't the proper shape, it can be a challenge. Natural conception might be more complex in such conditions.
Sometimes, yes, treatment can help teratozoospermia. If the cause is hormones, infections, or a varicocele, things can often get better. But if it's due to genes or past medical treatments, a full cure might not be possible. Even then, healthy habits and fertility treatments can still increase the chances of having a baby.
Yes, you can improve the shape of sperm. Eat healthy foods and exercise regularly. Stop smoking and drinking, and try to lower your stress.
It's quite common. Many men worldwide have it.
Yes, IVF can often work for men with teratozoospermia. This is especially true when doctors combine it with ICSI.
Even with teratozoospermia, many men can still become fathers. Fertility treatments like IUI, IVF, or ICSI give real hope. It's all about finding the right support and treatment plan.