What is teratozoospermia in men, how to treat it, is it possible to get pregnant?

A young man is physiologically healthy, sexually active - but his partner does not get pregnant. After a medical examination and passing the necessary tests, he was diagnosed with teratozoospermia. What does this mean in men? The word is unfamiliar, therefore frightening. Disease, sentence? Don't panic ahead of time. As the proverb says: "You need to know the enemy by sight", so we will "get acquainted".

What is it?

From the school curriculum, the fact is known that conception (pregnancy) involves the combination of the reproductive particles of the "male" and "female". But everything is not so simple - the biological material must be healthy and active. With any deviation from the norm, fertilization will be difficult or even impossible.

In the semen of every man, even a healthy man, there are "defective" sperm. That is, they have an abnormal structure, lacking mobility. If their number is insignificant, then this is considered normal. However, when the content of pathological sperm in the ejaculate exceeds more than 50% of the total, this condition is called teratozoospermia.

Causes of teratozoospermia in men

Experts note that the nature of the occurrence of abnormal abnormalities in the main component of sperm is not fully understood. But they name the predisposing factors:

• All sexually transmitted diseases, especially in advanced state;
• Hormonal imbalance caused by prolonged use of hormonal drugs;
• Foci of viral and infectious lesions;
• Genetic and chromosomal abnormalities. There is a hypothesis that teratozoospermia can be inherited;
• Severe pathologies of the pelvic organs, for example, urogenital tuberculosis, malignant tumors and chemotherapy courses against them;
• Poor environmental situation;
• Harmful effects of toxins;
• Wearing tight, tight underwear;
• Frequent overheating of the body;
• Injuries to the penis, testicles;
• Incorrect diet.

In addition, doctors say that certain provocative diseases can become the cause of teratozoospermia. These include: orchitis, prostatitis, epididymitis, varicocele.

Symptoms and signs

Teratozoospermia refers to insidious conditions. It is impossible to recognize it by its external features. The man is not even aware of the deviation that has appeared, he looks quite healthy, does not experience discomfort and pain. He has no erection problems. Even by the appearance of the released semen, it is impossible to assume that the shape of the spermatozoa has changed.

The only "symptom" of the disease is unsuccessful attempts to conceive.

Teratozoospermia Index (ITZ): what tests to take, diagnostics

To determine the degree of deformation of the sex cells in the patient, a full medical examination is prescribed in the form of tests:

• hormonal profile;
• MAP test (antiglobulin);
• testing for HIV, tuberculosis;
• and main spermogram.

If necessary (if required by the andrologist / urologist), a testicular biopsy is prescribed.

Also important to consider:

After verification, ASI is identified. What does this abbreviation mean? The teratozoospermia index is a numerical indicator of the abnormalities present in the seed. Each reproductive cell consists of several parts. Any of them can undergo abnormal changes. In especially difficult cases, deformation is observed in several or all parts at once. To calculate the index, you need to summarize all the available morphological defects and divide by the number of morphologically altered spermatozoa.

The indicator is considered to be the norm - less than 1.6. The higher the number, the lower the chance of fertilization.

Peculiarities of treatment

The main concern of a man with a diagnosis arises: is the disease being treated? All measures aimed at treating teratozoospermia depend on the causes that provoked its appearance. The course of therapeutic measures is built taking into account the severity of morphological changes in the ejaculate, the patient's age and the presence of concomitant diseases.

If cryptorchidism or varicocele is a predisposing factor, you cannot do without surgery. For viral, infectious diseases, antibiotics are prescribed. In the event of teratozoospermia on the background of erectile dysfunction, restoration of the vascular system and hormonal balance will be required.

Drugs for teratozoospermia

To eliminate pathological disorders, it is recommended to take vitamin complexes and dietary supplements (Predstalicin, Libido Drive, Potencialex).The following drugs are also prescribed:

• "Klostilbegit";
• "Folacin";
• Karniton;
• "Yodomarin";
• "Succinic acid";
• "Spermactin";
• "Pumpkin".

It is he who will determine the daily dosage and duration of the entire course. Strong drugs (for hormone replacement therapy and restoration of vascular tone), as well as antibiotics, cannot be taken on their own, this can aggravate the situation. The doctor will also give specific names, since the choice should be based on the individual characteristics of the man's situation.

Folk remedies for teratozoospermia

Used to improve the quality of sperm and traditional medicine recipes. But it should be borne in mind that they are only auxiliary and are used only in combination with drug therapy. Whether it is possible for a patient to apply treatment with folk remedies is decided by the attending physician. In a positive case, the following recipes will help to treat teratozoospermia:

Additional tips and tricks

It is possible to speak about the success of treatment only after the implementation of a general strengthening of the body, the organization of a correct lifestyle, working conditions.

A man needs to reconsider his diet, enriching it with fresh vegetables, foods rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, give up bad habits.

Is conception possible: the odds

At the initial stages of the development of "ugly sperm disease", when the index of indicators of abnormal changes is low, the chances of getting pregnant are quite high. And the earlier, as the pathology develops, the higher they are. Are gradually reduced to a minimum.

If the reproductive cell loses its mobility, then natural conception is excluded. This condition qualifies as asthenozoospermia (one of the complications). Against its background, other sperm lesions can be recorded, for example, leukospermia.

The disorder is provoked by inflammatory processes in the reproductive organs and is characterized by an increased content of leukocytes in the ejaculate. The result is a partial or complete loss of motor activity of sperm particles.

Teratozoospermia and pregnancy: consequences for the child

In the case when morphological changes have not touched the tail of the sperm, it does not lose the ability to move. Therefore, it will not be difficult for him to get to the egg. But the question is: will such a pregnancy be successful? Experts note that the worst option for full fertilization is the pathology of the head of the reproductive cell. More often, the result is the non-viability of the zygote. If the husband has a similar deviation in the quality of sperm, then the subsequent fading of the pregnancy, its self-termination, is possible.

The greatest risk of such conception lies in the development of various genetic abnormalities and unpredictable consequences for the child.

Combining the concepts of teratozoospermia and pregnancy is difficult, sometimes almost impossible. As an alternative to the couple, it is suggested to use the ICSI technique, otherwise insemination is the method of intracellular injection. The method consists in introducing semen into the cervix.

Consequences and complications of the disease

For a long time, teratozoospermia remains unnoticed, so no treatment is undertaken. In this case, the deformation of the semen continues and entails negative consequences, in the end, resulting in infertility. Complications are also caused by those diseases that have become provocateurs of morphological disorders and they consist in a weakening of erectile function, a decrease in libido, the development of chronic forms of genitourinary pathologies.

Prevention

To reduce the risk of teratozoospermia, you need to take precautions. Recommended:

• undergo regular medical examinations;
• treat any disease in a timely manner;
• lead an active lifestyle;
• strengthen the immune system;
• do not neglect contraception;
• avoid injury to the intimate area;
• monitor nutrition;
• do not wear tight underwear.

And remember: the deformation of ejaculate particles is not a sentence. But no medicine can cope with the disease without the efforts of the patient himself.