Azoospermia: Everything from symptoms to treatments
Do you know what is azoospermia? Is azoospermia common? Are there different types of azoospermia? How will I know if I have azoospermia? What causes azoospermia? Is there any treatment for this?
Azoospermia is a medical term, a medical condition where man has no measurable sperms in his semen. Azoospermia gets one down to male infertility which obstructs a man in getting his partner pregnant. Male and female both are equally responsible for pregnancy. It may show no symptoms but when you fail to conceive then, this can be one of the reasons.
How common is azoospermia?
Azoospermia is found in 8-10% of man suffering from infertility. 1% of total male suffers from infertility. For instance, there are aggregate 1,00,000 male from them 8000-10,000 are suffering from infertility. Out of them, 1000 are suffering from infertility because of azoospermia.
Are there any types of azoospermia?
Yes, it has different types. Azoospermia may keep your testicles in formation of sperm or may b stop them to exit out of your body due to blockage or any damage.
- If you are not producing sperm or producing poor quality of sperm because of the defect in the testicles or due to the other reason then, it is non-obstructive azoospermia
- – Due to the low level of hormones or had any chemotherapy, then in spite of having normal testicles, you may not be able to make sperm i.e., pre-testicular azoospermia
- – When your testicles are damaged due to infection in reproductive tract, cancer, orchitis or any genetic condition, then it keep you from making sperm is known as testicular azoospermia
- When there is blockage along your reproductive tract. In spite of producing sperm, it cannot reach and mix with the semen liquid is known as obstructive azoospermia
- – If you have blockage in your tube, vasectomy, or retrograde ejaculation whereby semen goes backward into the bladder instead of penis during orgasm i.e., post-testicular azoospermia
Symptoms: How will I know If I have azoospermia?
You may feel no symptoms whether you are suffering from infertility due to azoospermia or not. Firstly, in spite of having regular unprotected sex for years, you are unable to conceive. Then you and your partner both have to undergo some prescribed fertility tests. If the female partner has all the reports normal then, whole focus will be shifted to you. You need to provide the sample of semen. From which, sperm will be separated from the semen liquid at the laboratory for detailed inspection. It will be examined under high-powered microscope. So, whatever the reason may be, come forward.
There are possible symptoms of azoospermia such as decrease interest in sexual activity, swelling around testicles, erectile dysfunction, mood swings etc. if you are feeling any of them, then you should go for check-up
Causes of azoospermia:
Various types of azoospermia are the only causes of azoospermia. types are directly related to the causes. There can be 2 major reasons: obstructive and non-obstructive.
Obstructive azoospermia is when testicles are normal and producing sperm but there is blockage along the reproductive tract which occurs due to following reasons,
- – Inguen injury or damage
- – Epididymis blockage
- – Ejaculatory duct blockages
- – Surgeries in pelvic region in past
- – Cyst development
- – Infection
- – Inflammation
- – Cancer or treatments like radiation
- – Vasectomy
- – Fibroids
Non-obstructive azoospermia is when you are producing poor or no sperm due to some reasons,
- – Genetic condition
- – Medications
- – Varicoceles
- – Hormonal imbalance
- – Y chromosome deletion
- – Retrograde ejaculation
Any of the above can cause azoospermia, you need to consult doctor for the further proceedings.
Treatment of azoospermia:
Well, treatments are utterly dependent on the causes. For treating azoospermia, it is very important to consult with doctor at the very first stage. On detecting the cause, he will recommend some treatment options. Different treatments on the basis of different types of azoospermia are discussed below:
- – For obstructive azoospermia: this can be treated by performing minor surgery to unblock the reproductive tract. This is minimally invasive technique.
- – In case of non-obstructive azoospermia: you may not be producing or may be producing poor quality of sperm then you will be given FSH (Follicle- stimulating Hormone), HCG (Human Chronic Gonadotropins) by the way of injections or may be pills of clomiphene, letrozole etc., for stimulation the sex glands to produce the gametes.
- – Sperm retrieval: sperm can be directly retrieved from the testicles by the way of biopsy, IVF (In-vitro fertilization) IUI (Intrauterine Insemination), ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection), TESE/ Micro TESE.
How to prevent azoospermia?
Stiches on time saves nine, its better to take preventions than to suffer. You can prevent azoospermia by following ways,
- – Steer clear of rough games which may damage your testes
- – Try to avoid radiation exposure
- – Consult with doctor before taking any medications
- – Try to avoid steam bath or activities including high temperature
If you are a guy and suffering from infertility then azoospermia can be the reason. If you still have any doubt then, for confirming and consulting, you need to consult with the doctor for the further treatment. Don’t hesitate and don’t procrastinate to consult with our specialist with years of experience at Sneh Hospital. Contact us now! We are just a call away.