Unfortunately, male infertility is a common problem. And today, people are increasingly interested in questions about why asthenozoospermia occurs, what it is and whether there is an effective treatment for such a disorder. Indeed, according to statistics, about 40% of couples who cannot have children face this pathology.
Asthenozospermia - what is it?
Asthenozoospermia is a disorder in which the number of sperm capable of active and rapid movement is significantly reduced in a man’s sperm. Some sperm lose their ability to move along direct trajectories. Such a violation can be caused by exposure to a variety of factors.
Today it is customary to distinguish three degrees of such changes:
- Quite often, a man is diagnosed with mild asthenozoospermia. What it is? With such a violation, about 50% of sperm cells capable of active and rapid movement are present in the ejaculate. This form gives a pretty good chance of fertilization without any treatment. But still, men are recommended to undergo additional studies to avoid aggravating the situation in the future.
- Asthenozoospermia of the second degree is characterized by a decrease in actively moving sperm - no more than 30-40% of them. Accordingly, the partner's chances of a successful pregnancy are reduced, and therefore treatment is simply necessary.
- The most dangerous is severe asthenozoospermia. What it is? The number of sperm capable of movement is less than 30%. Instead of them, either completely motionless cells or sperm, sluggishly moving like a pendulum, are found in semen samples. The probability of fertilization is extremely low.
It should be noted that any degree of such a pathology cannot be regarded as an absolute cause of infertility, because even in a severe degree, a small number of healthy full-fledged spermatozoa remain.
The main causes of asthenozoospermia
There are many reasons that can affect sperm quality and viability. Here are just the most common ones:
- Genetic pathologies, congenital features affecting the processes of spermatogenesis.
- Frequent exposure to too high or low temperatures, in particular visits to baths and saunas.
- The process of sperm production is also affected by toxins that enter the body. Risk factors include not only living in inappropriate environmental conditions and working in hazardous industries, but also alcohol abuse, smoking and drug use.
- Inflammatory and infectious diseases of the reproductive system (gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, problems with the prostate).
- Long abstinence from sexual intercourse.
- Constant emotional stress, frequent stresses.
How to cure asthenozoospermia?
Since such a violation does not have any external symptoms, it can only be determined by conducting a spermogram - a laboratory study of semen samples. With the results of the tests you need to go to the doctor. Only a specialist can tell why asthenozoospermia arose, what it is.
Treatment depends on the causes of the pathology - first of all, you need to get rid of the underlying disease. For example, with a sexually transmitted disease, antibacterial therapy is used. In addition, the man is strongly recommended to monitor nutrition, abandon bad habits, and avoid stressful situations. Vitamins, zinc preparations and other agents that contribute to the normalization of sperm formation processes are also used.
As a rule, asthenozoospermia is amenable to correction. The only exception is the pathology caused by the genetic mutation - in such cases, an IVF is offered to a couple who wants to have a baby.