One of the main causes of male infertility is a disease such as oligospermia. What is it, for what reasons does it arise, and what are the features of the treatment of this ailment? Oligospermia is a male disease, a characteristic feature of which is a low sperm count (not more than 20 million), in which the process of fertilization of the egg is impossible.
Causes of the disease
There are many different reasons that contribute to the appearance of oligospermia. Among the most common of them are:
- Physical and emotional stress, under the influence of which hormones fail in the male body, which subsequently will certainly affect the qualitative composition of sperm.
- Overheating. Partially affect the decrease in sperm counts are able to take hot baths, visit the sauna, tight, tight underwear.
- Varicocell (vein expansion near the testicles and spermatic cord).
- The negative impact of various environmental and external factors, such as radiation, chemicals, medicines, alcohol.
- Age. Most often, oligospermia is diagnosed in men who have crossed a 40-year threshold.
- Diseases of the male genital organs, as well as serious injuries.
- Diseases that provoke hormonal disorders. The most common of these is hypogonadism, in which testosterone production is significantly reduced.
- Bacterial and infectious genital diseases. So, gonorrhea or chlamydia violate the process of passage through the sperm duct, and bacterial diseases provoke the onset of the inflammatory process in the testes.
If the cause of the disease has not been identified, the diagnosis is idiopathic oligospermia.
Symptomatology
So, oligospermia - what is it, we found out, but how to recognize this ailment? It is interesting that the disease itself does not cause any discomfort to the patient and does not interfere with normal sexual life. Encountering the idea of the presence of this disease can only be the inability to conceive a baby with regular sex without the use of contraception. The diagnosis itself is made after the patient undergoes a thorough examination.
Diagnosis of the disease
The only way to establish the presence of oligospermia is to study a spermogram, with which you can examine sperm counts and reveal a reduced sperm count.
With the normal functioning of the male genitourinary system, 1 ml of seminal fluid should account for more than 25 million sperm. Otherwise, there is a decrease in units of germ cells. According to the developed WHO criteria, 3 degrees of oligospermia are distinguished:
- 1st degree is diagnosed if more than 15 million sperm are contained in 1 ml of fluid;
- A low sperm count or oligospermia of the 2nd degree occurs when 1 ml of sperm counts less than 10 million;
- Critically low level, oligospermia of the 3rd degree - less than 5 million sperm cells were found in 1 ml of fluid.
Forecast
The main question asked by doctors with a diagnosis of oligospermia is: “Is it possible to cure this ailment or are all the methods ineffective?” Experts confidently argue that getting rid of the disease is quite possible, but this is a rather lengthy process associated with taking medications, control tests, medical procedures, the need to follow dietary recommendations, maintaining a lifestyle and marital proximity.
Oligospermia: drug treatment
Most patients, after being diagnosed with oligospermia, are configured to recover from this ailment with medication. However, it must be understood that the effectiveness of drug treatment is not always achieved, since drugs do not always affect the disease.
In the treatment of an ailment such as oligospermia, drugs are prescribed when the onset of the disease is associated with bacterial or viral diseases. The most commonly used medications are:
- the drug "Clomiphene" or "Clomid", blocking the production of estrogen;
- Proxy agent - an active biological supplement;
- testosterone drugs (cypionate, testosterone, enanthate propionate);
- vitamins and antioxidants;
- preparations of a homeopathic composition.
Oligospermia: surgical treatment
If conservative treatment is unsuccessful, other methods come to the rescue. In almost 40% of patients who know firsthand about oligospermia - what it is, the onset of the disease is associated with varicocele - varicose veins in the spermatic cord.
An increase in the number of sperm in semen after a well-conducted operation is observed in approximately 30% of cases, while the rate of successful conception is 15%.
One of the most effective surgical methods for treating oligospermia is an operation called vasoepididyimanastomosis. The reason for its implementation is a direct relationship between a decrease in the number of sperm and existing diseases of the epididymis. The essence of the operation is to remove the area of the vas deferens with its subsequent implantation into the ducts of the epididymis.
Reproductive treatments
In modern times, a lot of methods have been developed, thanks to which you can conceive a child. Reproductive assistive technologies help patients with a wide range of diseases (including oligospermia) that are directly related to fertilization difficulties.
With a disease such as oligospermia, treatment can be carried out using the following methods:
- ICSI, in which the sperm is injected into the egg;
- insemination, characterized by artificial penetration of sperm into the uterine cavity;
- in vitro fertilization (IVF).
With oligospermia of the 1st degree, it is advisable to start treatment with intrauterine injection of sperm. However, if 4 attempts were unsuccessful, then you should seek the help of IVF or ICSI.
When diagnosed with oligospermia, treatment, drugs or surgical procedures should be prescribed exclusively by a specialist. Self-medication in this case is simply impossible.
Oligospermia - what is it and what is it dangerous for, every man should know, and therefore, at the first suspicion, you should visit a doctor, undergo an examination and, if necessary, start treatment.