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 disease? Oligospermia is a male disease characterized by a low sperm count (less than 20 million), in which the process of fertilization of the egg is impossible.
Causes of disease
There are many different causes that contribute to the appearance of oligospermia. Some of the more common ones include:
- Physical and emotional stress, under the influence of which hormones fail in the male body, which will subsequently affect the quality of sperm.
- Overheating. Taking hot baths, visiting a sauna, tight, tight-fitting underwear can partially affect the decrease in sperm count.
- Varicocella (dilated veins near the testicles and spermatic cord).
- The negative impact of various environmental and external factors such as radiation, chemicals, drugs, alcohol.
- Age. Most often, oligospermia is diagnosed in men over the age of 40.
- Diseases of the male genital organs, as well as serious injuries.
- Diseases that provoke hormonal disorders. The most common of these is considered hypogonadism, in which testosterone production is significantly reduced.
- Bacterial and infectious sexual diseases. So, gonorrhea or chlamydia disrupt the process of passing through the sperm duct, and bacterial diseases provoke the onset of an inflammatory process in the testicles.
If the cause of the disease has not been identified, the diagnosis is "idiopathic oligospermia".
Symptomatics
So, oligospermia - what is it, we found out, but how to recognize this ailment? Interestingly, the disease itself does not cause any discomfort to the patient and does not interfere with a normal sexual life. Only the inability to conceive a baby with regular sex without the use of contraceptives can suggest the idea of the presence of this disease. The diagnosis itself is made after the patient undergoes a thorough examination.
Diagnosis of disease
The only way to establish the presence of oligospermia is to study the spermogram, which can be used to examine sperm parameters and identify 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 spermatozoa. Otherwise, there isdecrease in units of germ cells. According to the developed WHO criteria, there are 3 degrees of oligospermia:
- 1st degree is diagnosed if 1 ml of liquid contains more than 15 million spermatozoa;
- Low sperm count or grade 2 oligospermia occurs when there are less than 10 million sperm per ml;
- Critically low level, grade 3 oligospermia - less than 5 million spermatozoa were found in 1 ml of fluid.
Forecast
The main question that patients diagnosed with oligospermia ask doctors is: “Is it possible to cure this disease or are all methods ineffective?” Experts confidently say 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 recommendations for nutrition, lifestyle and marital intimacy.
Oligospermia: drug treatment
Most patients, after being diagnosed with oligospermia, are determined to be cured of this disease with the help of medicines. 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 such an ailment as oligospermia, drugs are prescribed when the appearance of the disease is associated with bacterial or viral diseases. The most commonly used medications are:
- drug "Clomiphene" or"Clomid", blocking the production of estrogen;
- Means "Proksid" - active-biological additive;
- drugs of the testosterone group (cypionate, testosterone, propionate enanthate);
- vitamins and antioxidants;
- homeopathic preparations.
Oligospermia: surgical treatment
If conservative treatment is unsuccessful, other methods come to the rescue. 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.
Increase in the number of sperm in semen after a well-performed operation is observed in approximately 30% of cases, while the success rate is 15%.
One of the most effective surgical treatments for oligospermia is an operation called vasoepididymoanastomosis. The reason for its implementation is a direct relationship between a decrease in the number of spermatozoa and existing diseases of the epididymis. The essence of the operation is to remove the zone 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. Assisted reproductive technologies help patients with a variety of conditions (including oligospermia) directly related to fertility problems.
With thisdisease, such as oligospermia, treatment can be carried out using the following methods:
- ICSI, in which the introduction of the sperm into the egg;
- insemination, characterized by the artificial penetration of spermatozoa into the uterine cavity;
- in vitro fertilization (IVF).
In case of oligospermia of the 1st degree, it is advisable to start treatment with intrauterine injections of spermatozoa. However, if 4 attempts were unsuccessful, then you should resort to IVF or ICSI.
When oligospermia is diagnosed, treatment, drugs or surgical procedures should be prescribed exclusively by a specialist. Self-treatment in this case is simply impossible.
Oligospermia - what it is and how dangerous it is, every man should know, and therefore, at the first suspicion, it is worth visiting a doctor, undergoing an examination and, if necessary, starting treatment.
