What is oligospermia and how can a man treat a disease?

When a couple cannot conceive a child, in some cases the problem lies in the health of the man. Most often this is due to the pathological state of the sperm. Oligospermia is a disease resulting in a decrease in the number of sperm in the semen. 18% of men who have been diagnosed with infertility are diagnosed with this.

What is oligospermia in men?

In medicine, several forms of changes in the state of the ejaculate are distinguished, when conception is difficult or impossible. This:

• Normozoospermia. Sperm count is normal, but fluid viscosity may change;
• Asthenozoospermia. Decreased sperm motility;
• Oligospermia. Pathology in which the sperm count is below normal.

Oligospermia in men was initially set with a low number of ejaculated ejaculate, but recently the same term has been called oligozoospermia - the state of semen when it contains a low sperm count.

It is important to know that the number of sperm in semen varies throughout life. For a successful conception, a certain sufficient number is required. At lower rates, oligospermia is diagnosed.

Medical statistics can only take into account data obtained from patients. Therefore, at the moment it is not known how many men actually suffer from oligospermia: those who do not strive for procreation can lead a full life without knowing about the disease.

Reasons

According to medical experts, the causes of oligospermia in most cases are complex. Fertility can be influenced by various combinations of factors, the main ones being:

• Postponed bacterial and infectious diseases, complicated by a decrease in viable sperm cells. Usually these are untreated pathologies that turn into a chronic form: pyelonephritis, cystitis, chronic inflammatory processes in the organs of the genitourinary system;
• Sexually transmitted infections;
• Hormonal imbalance due to stress, physical overload, thyroid dysfunction, long-term drug treatment;
• Genetic propensity;
• Congenital malformations and developmental disorders;
• Natural changes caused by age;
• Chronic prostate inflammation;
• Diseases of the veins in the testicular area;
• Injuries to genital tissues;
• Benign and malignant neoplasms;
• Unsuccessful surgery.

External reasons provoking oligospermia are:

• Constant wearing of tight clothing and underwear, which disrupts blood supply and impairs the supply of cells that form sperm cells;
• Prolonged exposure to heat, overheating due to excessively warm clothing, addiction to hot baths;
• Lack of protein, vitamin complexes and mineral compounds in the diet;
• Being overweight, resulting in an increased amount of adipose tissue that disrupts the normal ratio of female to male hormones;
• Increased physical activity, causing chronic overwork in men;
• Work in hazardous work, inhalation of toxic fumes, regular exposure;
• Increased sexual activity;
• Excess alcohol on a regular basis, smoking for decades, using drugs.

Degrees

Severity is determined by classifying oligospermia at stage. The basis for separation is the concentration of active sperm cells per unit volume of ejaculate.

Doctors distinguish the following degrees of oligospermia:

• First degree. This is the initial stage when the situation requires constant monitoring and medical supervision. 35-50 million sperm cells are diagnosed, and the chance of successful fertilization is about 60%;
• Second degree. The number of germ cells is reduced to 15-35 million, and the probability of conception is 10-15%;
• Third degree. It is diagnosed in the presence of 10-15 million sperm, pregnancy is possible in 1-2%;
• Fourth degree. The most severe stage of oligospermia, when only 5 million or less germ cells are fixed in the ejaculate. This means that natural fertilization at this stage is excluded. IVF is offered as an alternative. Treatment consists of surgery.

Up to 15 million healthy sperm - the diagnosis is made, more - no, the man is considered healthy and can have children.

Symptoms and signs

It is impossible to recognize oligospermia by symptoms. If the preceding diseases usually have a straightened clinical picture, then the very change in the composition of the semen does not cause any inconvenience to the man.

It is possible to suspect a pathology after several unsuccessful attempts to have a child. Oligospermia is diagnosed only after diagnostic examinations, when a man goes to the clinic with alleged infertility. That is why, after the transfer of pathologies that provoke an ailment, it is important to pass tests for the composition of sperm, which allows you to seize the disease even in the first degree.

The main diagnostic measure for suspected oligospermia is spermogram. A reliable result is provided by 3 factors:

• Compliance with the rules of preparation for the examination;
• Sample examination within 20 minutes after receipt;
• Submission of biomaterial twice with an interval of several days.

The first point is expressed in the following measures:

• Abstaining from all types of sexual activity for at least 72 hours, and preferably a week;
• Refusal to visit beaches, solariums, saunas;
• Taking only those medications that are necessary to maintain life;
• Eliminate the possibility of hypothermia;
• Minimizing stress;
• Refusal of alcoholic beverages.

If the spermogram data confirm the likelihood of oligospermia, it is necessary:

• Get an andrologist consultation;
• Have an abdominal ultrasound scan;
• Donate blood for general and biochemical analysis. Additional research may also be required depending on current medical conditions;
• Complete genetic research;
• Pass tests to detect the presence of genital infections.

The data obtained after a comprehensive diagnosis helps to identify the severity of oligospermia and to choose an individual treatment tactics.

Treatment of oligospermia

It is important for men to remember that when diagnosed with oligospermia, treatment can take a long time, and also require not only taking medications, but also lifestyle adjustments.

It is important to devote more time to sports and change the diet towards a healthy lifestyle, this is the only way to overcome the disease.

General information

Treatment of oligospermia is based on the identified cause of the disease and the severity of the pathology. The main task is to eliminate the factor that caused the decrease in the number of sperm in the semen. For treatment, a set of measures is provided, including taking medications, vitamins, as well as diet and recommendations for physical activity.

The conservative method is used in most cases, however, grade 4 or oligospermia caused by venous pathology requires surgical intervention. In the course of the surgical operation, the area that impedes the passage of seminal fluid is eliminated. According to statistics, the procedure successfully copes even with an advanced stage of the disease.

With hormonal causes of oligospermia, the emphasis in treatment is on restoring the ratio of hormones. Oral tablets or testosterone injections are given.

Preparations

The basis of oligospermia treatment is medication. Medicines are selected taking into account the causes of the disease, the presence of concomitant diseases and the general condition of the man.

The main groups of drugs:

• Antibiotics. Aimed at treating infections in the male body;
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Relieve inflammation and reduce painful symptoms;
• Antiviral agents. Combat disorders caused by viral activity;
• Antioxidants. Eliminate toxins and toxic substances from the body;
• Vitamin complexes. With oligospermia, it is necessary that the patient receive sufficient amounts of B vitamins, tocopherol, ascorbic acid selenium and zinc;
• Supplements. Complex herbal remedies containing compounds beneficial for reproductive function;

For an ailment caused by hormonal imbalance, it is recommended:

• Drugs that increase testosterone levels. Enanthate, Propionate;
• Antiestrogenic drugs. Tamoxifen, Clomiphene.

Folk remedies

The use of folk remedies in the fight against oligospermia is an auxiliary method that allows you to speed up the process of restoring reproductive function and further strengthen the body. It is important to discuss the appropriateness of this approach with your doctor before starting to use the "old-fashioned" methods.

Recipes for agents that accelerate the treatment of oligospermia and effectively deal with the cause of the disease:

• Rosehip flower syrup. Prepare sugar syrup from 700 g of sugar and a liter of preheated water. With the composition, pour the petals of red rosehip flowers in a volume of 1 cup, add 3 g of citric acid to a boil. Drink 15 ml three times a day;
• Sage infusion. You will need 10 g of fresh plant leaves. Pour boiling water over them and leave for 30 minutes. The reception scheme is the same;
• Vinca tincture.Place 7 tablespoons of dry leaves in a glass container and pour 0.5 liters of high quality vodka. Leave for 10 days in a bright room. Take a teaspoon 3 times a day;
• Baked onions. Bake or boil an onion. Eat 100 g before meals in the morning and evening;
• Carrot milk. Grate a tablespoon of carrots and pour in 2/3 cup of warmed milk. Drink a portion half an hour before going to bed;
• Cognac cocktail. Mix 200 ml of brandy with the same amount of honey. Add the juice of 4 lemons and 3 egg yolks. Stir well. Take m tablespoon once a day;
• Elderberry tea. Pour 2 tablespoons of elderberry flowers into 500 ml of boiling water and leave on a steam bath for half an hour. Strain, add honey, drink during the day;
• Daffodil root decoction. Grind the raw materials, pour a tablespoon of 300 ml of freshly boiled water. Heat for half an hour in a water bath. Cool, filter through cheesecloth, drink 50 ml each before breakfast, lunch and dinner;
• Healing baths. Shown in autumn and winter. Add plantain infusion to a warm bath. The latter is prepared as follows: chop 50 g of dried leaves, stir in a liter of boiling water and leave for 40 minutes. After drain. The duration of the procedure is no more than a quarter of an hour.

Beekeeping products are effective for restoring the quality of ejaculate. Naturopaths recommend chewing 3 g of bee bread every day or sucking a teaspoon of royal jelly (on an empty stomach).

Nutrition

Correction of the daily diet significantly increases the chances of successful fertilization and getting rid of the manifestations and causes that caused oligospermia. Add to your diet:

• Lean meat;
• Seafood;
• Eggs;
• Beans;
• Various types of nuts;
• Greens, vegetables, fruits;
• Sea fish;
• Yellow

Exercise

Since physical overload is one of the causes of oligospermia, exercise should be done in moderation. However, it is strongly discouraged to completely abandon stress and switch to a sedentary lifestyle. Low physical activity causes congestion in the small pelvis, which negatively affects a man's health, erectile function and fertility.

It is recommended to do exercises for 15 minutes in addition to treatment every morning. It is useful to visit the pool or yoga classes 2-3 times a week. It is also important to set aside time for walks. At this time, the body is saturated with oxygen, and walking improves blood circulation and metabolic processes.

Influence of oligospermia on pregnancy

Oligospermia does not exclude the possibility of conception in the first and second degrees. The third stage leaves almost no chance of becoming parents, although cases of fertilization have been recorded. At an advanced stage, natural pregnancy is impossible.

However, even with stage 4 oligospermia, a man can become a father thanks to modern reproductive technologies. IVF is possible in the presence of viable sperm. For the procedure, a biomaterial is taken with the help of a puncture, with which the egg is fertilized.

Can it be cured?

Oligospermia is treatable successfully. If conservative therapy does not work, surgery will help.

It is impossible to cure a disease when it is caused by the following reasons:

• Missing testicles;
• Testicular underdevelopment;
• The presence of genetic mutations.

If oligospermia is caused by these factors, no treatment is prescribed. In addition to being unable to become a father, a man, as a rule, does not experience any discomfort and can continue to live a normal life.