Teratozoospermia causes. Male infertility - teratozoospermia

Teratozzospermia is a pathology of the ejaculate, in which the number of abnormal spermatozoa prevails over normal ones. In other words, with teratozoospermia, the sperm of a man contains a large number of spermatozoa with changes in the structure of the head, neck or tail. Such deviations lead to infertility or, in the case of fertilization of the egg, to a missed pregnancy. We will tell you in the article how to identify teratozoospermia, for what reasons the problem appears and how to treat it.

Why is teratozoospermia detected?

Men whose spermogram showed the presence of teratozoospermia are concerned about the question: what is the cause of the problem? In the first place, according to andrologists, is hormonal failure in the body. The problem may arise due to the use of hormonal drugs. Therefore, at risk are men who are actively involved in sports and taking testosterone-containing products to gain muscle mass.

In addition to hormonal factors, teratozoospermia can occur for other reasons.

1. Infectious diseases. Most often, a violation of spermatogenesis occurs due to herpes, sexually transmitted. At risk are men who are promiscuous.
2. Inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system. Teratozoospermia can manifest itself as a complication of prostatitis, orchitis, varicocele.
3. Bad habits. Nicotine and alcohol have a detrimental effect on spermatogenesis, causing various deviations.
4. Stress. This factor plays an insignificant role, however, there are cases when prolonged nervous strain led to a deterioration in sperm counts.
5. Environment. Radiation, prolonged exposure to high air temperature, dirty air, various substances can provoke not only teratozoospermia, but also other changes in the ejaculate.

The exact cause can only be established after a complete examination of the man. Treatment of teratozoospermia is aimed at eliminating the causes of the pathology, therefore, without diagnosis, any therapy will be in vain.

Teratozoospermia is a disease in which a man's seminal fluid contains a lot of sperm. They cannot function normally due to developmental anomalies. In this case, the index of healthy spermatozoa decreases. The disease is the leading cause of male infertility. In this article, you will learn all about what teratozoospermia is: its symptoms and treatment, the main signs and causes of its appearance.

Why men develop teratozoospermia

There are many factors that cause teratozoospermia in men. The most common causes of deviations in the composition of spermatozoa from the norm are as follows.

1. , as well as infectious pathologies of the urinary system. The most dangerous in this regard are herpes,.
2. Varicose veins of the spermatic cord.
3. or their appendages.
4. Violation of the hormonal background (this happens if a man takes drugs for intensive muscle building or hormonal drugs).
5. Some chromosomal or genetic pathologies.
6. Unfavorable lifestyle: smoking or addiction to alcoholic beverages.
7. Living in an ecologically unfriendly environment.
8. Prolonged emotional overload, stress.

Symptoms

With teratozoospermia, a man does not feel any painful manifestations. However, she does not allow him to feel like a father. Even if pregnancy occurs, due to deformed sperm, the fetus is not viable, which is why a woman most often has a miscarriage.

With teratozoospermia, most often there are such types of pathological disorders in the structure and functioning of spermatozoa.

1. head pathology. It can be elongated, too small (globozoospermia) or too large. Atypical anomalies of the sperm head are often found: they can be flattened or bifurcated. Because of this, fertilization cannot occur: if an embryo is formed, then it is not viable, in some cases women develop a missed pregnancy.
2. cervical anomalies. It may be too thick or thin. Such an anomaly does not allow the sperm to fertilize the egg, since the cell cannot reach it.
3. tail anomalies. Again, it may be too thick or too twisted.
4. Sometimes men can develop pyospermia.

Principles of therapy

If a man is diagnosed with asthenoteratozoospermia, getting pregnant naturally is not always possible. The main treatment is to ensure that a woman can become pregnant and give birth to a healthy baby who would not have congenital diseases. Before carrying out therapeutic measures, a man needs.

Attention! If you do not start such a disease and turn to a specialist in time, then it is quite possible to recover and avoid dangerous consequences during pregnancy.

In the treatment of teratozoospermia, it is very important:

• treat acute and chronic infectious pathologies of the genitourinary system;
• treat chronic prostatitis and congestion in the pelvic area by taking antibacterial drugs;
• lead an active lifestyle;
• exclude sexual abstinence, for which you need to establish a regular sex life;
• exercise;
• stop smoking and drinking alcohol.

Important! Treating teratozoospemia is much more difficult if men have genital trauma, testicular atrophy, and chronic orchitis.

Some men do not know what teratozoospermia is and believe that with such a diagnosis they cannot have a healthy child. To increase the likelihood of fertilization and the birth of a healthy child, such measures can be taken.

1. Conducting IVF - in vitro fertilization. Artificial insemination during pregnancy will exclude the birth of a non-viable fetus.
2. Medical therapy. There are no specific drugs against teratospermia, so the doctor recommends that men take dietary supplements - Spermaktina and others.
3. In the presence of pathologies of the genital organs, their treatment begins immediately. All drugs are used only according to indications.
4. According to indications, measures are taken to eliminate varicocele.
5. All hormonal disorders are treated only after the examination. Hormonal drugs can only be taken in strictly defined dosages. With hyperprolactinemia, the appointment of Carbegoline is indicated.
6. Treatment with folk remedies involves a special diet. The menu should include more meat, liver, seafood, nuts, raisins, dried apricots, herbs, onions, garlic, avocados, cabbage.

Prevention of the disease consists in the diagnosis and treatment of STDs, a balanced diet, and the exclusion of bad habits. With the timely detection of the disease and the treatment begun, a man can be cured and he will be able to become a father.

Watch the video:

What is "teratozoospermia" andrologists and reproductologists know. This is a condition in which the number of morphologically defective spermatozoa is increased (more than 50%) in the ejaculate, one of the common causes of male infertility.

Teratozoospermia is diagnosed by semen analysis.

Why there are pathologically altered spermatozoa in the semen - the reason for each patient is different. The prognosis of pregnancy depends on the severity, the ability to eliminate the cause and a number of other factors. In some cases, teratozoospermia is considered idiopathic, i.e. Why is this happening, can not be installed. Teratozoospermia is popularly called the "malformed sperm disease".

Sometimes the disease does not manifest itself in any way and is diagnosed when the partner does not become pregnant, or there are missed pregnancies and miscarriages in the early stages.
Note that defective forms of spermatozoa are present in a small amount in seminal fluid in an absolutely healthy man, and this is not considered a pathology.

Is it possible to get pregnant with teratozoospermia? Yes, some couples succeed, but without examination and treatment, there is a certain risk.

Violation of morphology in teratozoospermia

Table. Classification of indicators of ejaculate

Teratozoospermia and other pathologies

The structure of the sperm

It is known that the sperm cell consists of a head, neck, body and tail. If in any of these parts deformation occurs, we are talking about a violation of morphology.

The worst in terms of prognosis for the treatment and onset of pregnancy is the pathology of the head. Spermatozoa with a defective head can retain a very mobile tail, have rectilinear translational movements and retain the ability to fertilize, only the resulting zygote is either not viable, or the pregnancy is self-terminated against the background of genetic pathology or possible deformities of the embryo.

That is why achieving an independent pregnancy, knowing that there are no normal forms of sperm in the seminal fluid, is a very risky undertaking. The combination of teratozoospermia with asthenospermia and oligospermia significantly reduces the onset of pregnancy.

In these cases, it is safer to resort to assisted reproductive technologies, because repeated miscarriages and miscarriages can lead to partner infertility. For the same reasons, insemination for teratozoospremia is not the best choice.

About what is better for this pathology: IVF, ICSI or something else, we will tell a little later.

So, what does more than 50% of spermatozoa look like with teratozoospermia:

The violation of morphology is manifested in the following:

Anomalies in the structure of the head.
Decrease, increase, bifurcation, absence of an acrosome, any abnormal forms, presence of vacuoles, alteration of chromatin.

Neck changes.
Thickening or, conversely, too thin neck, curvature - the most favorable type of pathology, the chances of independent pregnancy after appropriate treatment are quite high.

tail pathology
Doubling, shortening, absence, broken tail, elongation, too pronounced tortuosity, uneven thickening lead to the fact that spermatozoa do not move towards the egg, but stand still, or make atypical movements, sometimes in the opposite direction. They die after a certain time. Normally, the tail of male germ cells is even.

What is the Teratozoospermia Index (ITI)

Otherwise - the index of multiple defects, the index of multiple anomalies.

To obtain a numerical value, all defects are summed up and divided by the number of morphologically altered spermatozoa. The number is 1 when 1 male gamete has 1 defect, the index can be equal to 3 if there is an anomaly in the development of the head, neck and tail per spermatozoon. Normal values ​​are from 0 to 1.6.

With the help of ITS, the fertilizing ability of sperm is predicted and management tactics are determined.

If the index is greater than 1.6, they speak of a violation of fertility.

Causes of teratozoospermia

Here we will talk, rather, about predisposing factors:

All types of venereal diseases,
Long-term diseases of the male reproductive organs, urogenital tuberculosis.
Conditions requiring surgical correction: varicocele, cryptorchidism.
Genetic diseases, which are characterized by violations in the spermogram.
Exposure to X-rays and ionizing radiation.
Prolonged intoxication of the body associated with the abuse of alcohol, nicotine, drugs.
Contact with harmful substances: aniline dyes, pesticides, salts of heavy metals.
environmental factor.
Viral lesions.
Tumor processes in the male genital organs.
Fermentopathies.

Frequent visits to saunas and baths, wearing tight underwear, trousers.
Taking certain medications that have a negative effect on spermatogenesis.
Undergoing chemotherapy for tumors.
Hormonal disorders, including those due to the use of anabolic steroids.
Diseases of the thyroid gland.
Preference for unhealthy food with a high content of preservatives and dyes.

Much depends on the compensatory capabilities of the body. For some patients, it is enough to remove themselves from stressful situations, stop drinking alcohol, introduce foods enriched with vitamins (especially selenium and zinc) into the diet, as the spermogram records an increase in full-fledged forms of spermatozoa.

The prognosis worsens when not only the male infertility factor is present in the couple, but also the female one.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnosis of teratozoospermia occurs according to the general principle of diagnosing male infertility and includes the following activities:

KLA, OAM, blood sugar.
spermogram with teratozoospermia with the definition of ITZ,
hormonal profile,
MAP test,
special examinations before IVF (EMIS, DNA fragmentation, etc.),
sperm biochemistry,
Ultrasound of the scrotum with doppler, TRUS,
testing for STIs, preferably PCR - diagnostics,
inoculation of biomaterial on flora,
testing for tuberculosis, HIV, syphilis,
MRI, CT, testicular biopsy as needed.
Mandatory consultation of a geneticist with the passage of special screenings.

The examination scheme is selected individually, it is possible to conduct additional tests, this is especially true for couples that are included in the IVF protocol.

Treatment of teratozoospermia

The scheme directly depends on the cause. If teratozoospermia is accompanied by varicocele or cryptorchidism, surgery is performed.

With a confirmed genetic pathology, if there are no normal forms of spermatozoa in the ejaculate, most likely, they will offer to use donor sperm.

All inflammatory diseases are treated with the appointment of antibiotics, taking into account sensitivity, immunomodulators, drugs that stimulate spermatogenesis and local therapy.

Hormonal disorders will require consultation of an andrologist - an endocrinologist.

When the cause of teratozoospermia is not clarified, multivitamin complexes with minerals are used, agents that stimulate spermatogenesis.

The most commonly prescribed drugs:

spermaktin,
Iodomarin,
Vitamins E, A and C,
Folic acid,
Gerimaks with ginseng,
Tykveol,
Verona,
carniton,
Zinc and Selenium - containing complexes, etc.

Very good reviews on the forums from the use of bee products, especially royal jelly and bee pollen, to normalize the qualitative and quantitative composition of sperm. Useful seafood, nuts, dried apricots, raisins, dates, lemons, celery. From protein products, it is useful to include in the diet lean meats, poultry, fish, milk and lactic acid products, eggs, cheese.
You can try herbal medicine.

A decoction of the root of the roots of elecampane improves spermatogenesis.

What assisted reproductive technologies are best used for teratozoospermia

Teratozoospermia and IVF

If, after the treatment, the morphology shows less than 4% of normal sperm according to Kruger, and it happens that even 1%, you should not hope for an independent resolution of the situation.
In the standards approved by WHO for assessing the quality and quantity of sperm, the Kruger assessment is preferred. The norm is a reference concept, it is believed that normal sperm should be from 30 to 85%. If the number of complete gametes is less than 4% in vitro, the probability of fertilization is reduced. This indicator is taken into account before the planned IVF.

ICSI MAX

ICSI is intracytoplasmic (intracellular) injection of sperm into an egg. If there is a risk that fertilization will not occur in vitro, the ICSI MAX method is used for teratozoospermia.

There are absolute and relative indications for this technique.

Absolute:

The number of motile spermatozoa is critically low,
the prevalence of morphologically altered forms,
the presence of only immature germ cells, but there is a possibility of obtaining normal spermatozoa using TESA when puncturing the testicle or epididymis, or isolating normal forms of spermatozoa from the urine when semen is thrown into the bladder,
after cryofreezing, there is a deterioration in morphology,
several failed IVF attempts in history with no penetration into the egg,
immunological infertility with the death of male gametes in the female genital tract.

Relative:

The borderline state of the ejaculate, when all indicators are at the lower limits of the norm.
Infertility is idiopathic (with an unknown cause).
A large number of oocytes obtained after stimulation. This occurs with polycystic changes in the ovaries, while the quality of female germ cells suffers.
After stimulation, oocytes received little. Since rather aggressive preparations are used to avoid a repeated stimulation procedure, the likelihood of pregnancy with ICSI MAX increases.
age factor.
Combined infertility.

MAX - what is it

Literally, the abbreviation stands for "microscopic analysis of the quality of spermatozoa", i.e. quality male gametes are differentiated from unusable ones.

If the sperm does not have morphological abnormalities, the probability that it has the correct set of chromosomes is much higher.

Cell evaluation is performed using state-of-the-art optical equipment. The process takes place in 3 stages:

1. All defective gametes with unsuitable shapes and sizes are rejected in transmitted light.
2. An analysis of the structures of the head takes place, acrosomal pathologies are excluded, chromatin is assessed. The study is carried out using phase contrast.
3. Using modulation contrast, the content of the sperm head is assessed.

All together leads to the fact that even cytological pathologies are cut off, and the spermatozoa selected for ICSI are of the highest quality.

What is PICSI

The technique is similar to ICSI, the selected sperm is additionally tested for the degree of maturity using hyaluronic acid.

Note that even with the most high-tech microscopes, it is impossible to give a visual assessment of the maturity of the germ cell.

IMSI

Before artificial insemination, the spermatozoon is examined at a powerful magnification of 6000 times, while with simple ICSI it is only 400 times.

Morphological parameters are evaluated. In prognostic terms, the pathology of the tail is considered more favorable than the presence of vacuoles in the head. If all gametes with pathology are visualized, it is appropriate to perform MCOME

MSOME- a method for studying the morphological features of spermatozoa, which has been used for several decades.

There is a classification based on morphology:

1. Spermatozoa not suitable for pregnancy.
2. Spermatozoa that contribute to spontaneous abortion.
3. Spermatozoa with a high probability of developing abnormalities.
4. Spermatozoa without morphological pathology.

MSOME allows you to choose the best genetic material, which increases the chances of a successful pregnancy with male factor infertility.

Summing up

Unfortunately, some couples have to go through many trials to become parents. You can not stop on the way to the goal. Medicine does not stand still, with teratozoospermia there are successes after conservative therapy. If the long-awaited pregnancy has not occurred, you can use the methods of assisted reproductive technologies. How exactly will artificial insemination be carried out for you - will be decided by a whole team of specialists - reproductologists.

A woman who dreams of giving birth to a child can run to doctors for years, being treated for miscarriage and missed pregnancies. And at some point the question arises, is not the man to blame for the infertility of the family? It is enough to pass a spermogram to determine how viable the spermatozoa are in the ejaculate, whether there are deviations in their structure.

Teratozoospermia (teratospermia) is a disease in which the amount of defective sperm in the semen is greater than the permissible norm. If a man is diagnosed with teratozoospermia, the causes of the disease may be different. But external provoking factors are considered to be the main ones: lifestyle, working conditions, peculiarities of human nutrition.

What is terazootospermia?

Teratozoospermia is a violation of sperm production, in which the number of pathologically formed spermatozoa significantly exceeds the permissible norm. Some doctors make this diagnosis already with 50% deviations.

Due to the fact that the sperm have a pathological structure, they are not able to fertilize the egg. In the same case, if fertilization with a defective spermatozoon is performed, a woman develops a missed pregnancy or a miscarriage occurs at an early stage.

Possible types of deviations:

1. Wrong head shape. It can be too big, very small, round, awl-like. Normally, the sperm head looks like an elongated smoothed triangle, the size is 2-3 microns. Two heads on one tail are also a pathology.
2. Tail problem. Too short, too long, broken, twisted, spiral flagellum is defective, as are 2-3 tails attached to one head.
3. Atypical structure of the neck. Thickening or thinning of the neck, attachment at a right angle, incorrect curvature are structural pathologies.
4. Cytoplasmic drops: on the neck, head, seals of the flagellum.

The patient had a question, why is teratozoospermia dangerous, what is it? In short, we can say that this is a disease leading to male infertility. Normally, no more than 30% of defective sperm are allowed in the ejaculate. Spermatozoa with pathological changes cannot move, are not able to fertilize the egg, endow the fertilized fetus with genetic deformities.

The reason for the development of pathology

Teratozoospermia is a very common disease. It has already been proven that it is because of this pathology that half of the cases of infertility and miscarriage occur. Factors provoking the development of defects:

1. genetic predisposition. It depends on hereditary diseases in which spermatogenesis and metabolism are disturbed, pathologies develop in the structure of the genitourinary system.
2. Viral infections. These include influenza, mumps, chickenpox, colds, in which the inflammatory process affected the entire human body. The most dangerous is herpes. If these diseases directly provoked teratospermia, treatment necessarily begins with the elimination of the cause of the pathology - taking antiviral drugs.
3. Diseases of the genitourinary system. Prostatitis, epididymitis, orchitis, kidney disease lead to complications.
4. Varicocele. Stagnation in the venous bed, pathological tortuosity of the veins leads to impaired blood supply to the testicles.
5. fermentopathy. A disease in which insufficient quantities are produced of the enzymes required for the production of high-quality sperm.
6. Hormonal disbalance. It can happen if a man takes anabolic steroids.
7. Lifestyle. This includes not only drug addiction, smoking and alcoholism. Sedentary work, eating fatty foods, sitting for a long time playing computer games, taking hot baths, going to a hot sauna, and a bath also have a negative effect on spermatogenesis.
8. Negative environmental impact. Working in difficult conditions, under radiation exposure, in the chemical industry, when a person is constantly exposed to poisonous substances or regularly experiences stress, can lead to complete infertility.

Only about 50% of infertility cases are attributed to diseases and genetic predisposition. What is teratozoospermia in men? Most often, this is a disease that a person “earned” - was fond of alcohol, smoked, refused an active lifestyle.

By what symptoms can the disease be recognized?

Are there any symptoms of this pathology by which a man can learn about the disease? The defectiveness of sperm does not cause any subjective sensations in the patient. A person can live his whole life without worrying about this problem, without suffering and without experiencing discomfort.

The main sign indicating the development of pathology is the absence of pregnancy in partners with regular unprotected intercourse. That is, it turns out that only by the results of fertilization can it be established whether there are atypically formed spermatozoa in the composition of the sperm. Indirect signs of the disease:

• Longer than a year does not occur pregnancy.
• Pregnancies are terminated early.
• Pregnancies freeze, stop developing.
• Pathological processes take place in the fetal egg.

It is possible to establish exactly what is the cause of infertility only with the help of diagnostic methods. How to get pregnant with teratozoospermia and not harm your partner? Only after passing an in-depth examination, eliminating the cause of the disease and restoring normal spermatogenesis.

Diagnostics

Passing a spermogram is the first thing a man who is interested in having a baby should do. The analysis is carried out twice, with an interval of 14 days. It is advisable to take it in different laboratories. What indicators are considered normal?

• The volume is about 2-6 ml.
• The number of spermatozoa is about 40-500 million.
• In 1 ml - about 20-120 million sperm.
• Active sperm - more than a quarter.
• Weak-moving - less than half.
• Correct morphology - more than 50%.
• Leukocytes - 1-2.
• Erythrocytes are absent.

With teratozoospermia, sperm of the correct morphology are less than half. When making a diagnosis, the teratozoospermia index (ITI) is displayed. If the IPV values ​​exceed 1.7, the quality of the sperm is low, the man has little chance of conceiving naturally.

If, according to the spermogram, the patient has teratozoospermia, it is better to start treatment with drugs after an additional examination. A good urologist-andrologist will recommend that the patient undergo:

• Ultrasound of the prostate and scrotum.
• MAR test to study the concentration of antisperm antibodies.
• HBA test for evaluating sperm maturity.
• genetic tests.
• Blood test for hormones.

If you have a sexually transmitted disease, you may need to take other tests that your doctor will prescribe.

Features of treatment

First of all, in the treatment it is required to eliminate the cause of the appearance of defective spermatozoa. If it is inflammation, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial drugs are prescribed. For varicocele in adult men, surgery may be indicated.

Taking medication

To increase the number of normal spermatozoa, vitamin therapy is indicated for a man. It is recommended to take courses:

• folic acid.
• Vitamins E and C.
• succinic acid.
• Vitamin complexes, which include zinc, selenium, iodine.

Biological supplements to improve sperm quality:

• L-carnitine.
• Spermactin.
• Tribestan.
• Gerimaks with ginseng

Sometimes doctors recommend taking. This is necessary if the analysis of the spermogram reveals not only the presence of defective sperm, but also their small number. With an increase in the volume of ejaculate, the number of healthy spermatozoa also increases.

Folk recipes

Is teratozoospermia in men treated with traditional medicine? The recipes below will help improve sperm quality. But the use of these drugs is better to coordinate with your doctor first.

1. Decoction of currant leaves. It must be brewed like tea: 1-2 tbsp. spoons in a glass of boiling water. Drink - morning and evening for three months. Vitamin C, contained in currant leaves, boosts the body's immune forces, helps to normalize regeneration processes.
2. Infusion of plantain leaves, nettle, birch buds. A glass of boiling water brews a mixture consisting of 1 teaspoon of each component. The medicine is taken 3 times a day, before meals, for two weeks.
3. Pumpkin. Fresh pumpkin juice, pumpkin pulp, seeds, even pumpkin porridge have medicinal properties.
4. Immune Blend: Nuts, Honey, Lemon. All components are taken in equal proportions, ground in a meat grinder. The mixture is infused for a day in a cold place, then every day in the morning, on an empty stomach, you need to eat 1 teaspoon of the medicine. The treatment period is not limited.

Remember! Alternative treatment only complements the traditional, not replacing it completely.

Additional measures

Men's nutrition matters a lot.. The diet should be adjusted so that foods containing vitamins that stimulate the development of spermatozoa sprout in the daily diet. Refusal of fatty foods, Coca-Cola, fast food, marinades, mayonnaise will help not only increase the chances of conception, but also improve overall health.

The main thing is to completely change your lifestyle. Reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke and drink less alcohol. Replace the bath and sauna with a cool shower, swimming in the pool. Sitting evenings on the couch - for walks and active sports: running, playing tennis, cycling.

How to treat infertility in men

How to achieve pregnancy if it is not possible to recover?

Artificial insemination with teratozoospermia is not permissible, since in this case defective sperm can fertilize the egg and pregnancy will occur, but the risk of miscarriage or the birth of a child with genetic abnormalities is very high.

With teratozoospermia, IVF is indicated. The embryologist first selects motile spermatozoa that do not have defects from the ejaculate.. In addition, it is possible to perform ICSI - a procedure in which the egg is not extracted from the woman, but is fertilized directly in the ovary by healthy sperm.

If the cause of infertility is only teratozoospermia, IVF and ICSI provide a 99% chance of giving birth to a healthy child.

Is it possible to get pregnant with poor sperm counts

Possible consequences of pathology

Someone believes that since there are no external signs of the disease, then it is not necessary to treat it. It is difficult for someone to part with their usual way of life, and at some point a man decides that he will not treat teratozoospermia. Where it leads?

The general health of the patient will not worsen. He will not feel pain or discomfort. Also, libido or erectile function does not suffer. The only consequence is infertility.. With each passing year, it will become more and more difficult to cure it.. And if at the age of 20 a person can simply drink a course of vitamins, at 40 - you will need to follow a strict diet, take special drugs and completely change your lifestyle.

It should be noted that the treatment of teratozoospermia in men can take a long period of time, but the result is worth it.

Attention, only TODAY!

Many couples who have difficulty conceiving begin to take various tests. Quite often, especially in recent years, the problem is found in men. One of the diseases leading to the formation of male infertility is teratozoospermia.

Some doctors, having seen a confirmed diagnosis, immediately recommend turning to assisted reproduction methods, in particular, in vitro fertilization and its varieties. However, before deciding on extreme measures, it is worth learning more about the insidious disease. How are teratozoospermia and pregnancy related? Let's figure it out in this article.

Disease Definition

Teratozoospermia is a lesion of spermatozoa, which consists in a violation of their morphological structure. Colloquially, it is often referred to as "malformed sperm disease". Spermatozoa containing various genetic errors are not able to form a full-fledged, viable embryo.

The irregular shape of the tail, head, neck, or all together also interferes with the normal process of advancement to the egg. Instead of smoothly sliding in a straight line, the defective spermatozoa move in different directions, backwards, or even remain in place. Most often, teratozoospermia and pregnancy are mutually exclusive concepts.

What is the danger?

The disease can create many obstacles that prevent a woman from becoming pregnant and bearing a child:

• impossibility of pregnancy;
• termination of the life of the embryo in the early stages;
• pathologies of fetal development leading to natural or forced termination of pregnancy;
• extremely high risk of embryo rejection and miscarriage.

Factors for making a conclusion about the presence of the disease

Consider how teratozoospermia and pregnancy are related.

It should be taken into account that in any portion of the male seed submitted for research to compile a spermogram, there will definitely be a certain amount of incorrect spermatozoa. This is a normal situation, moreover, this state of affairs is necessary for the productive fertilization of a partner.

A huge number of sperm simultaneously moving towards the meeting point with the egg is dangerous because they will interfere with each other, crowding and preventing anyone from getting to the desired point. Morphologically erroneous cells can account for up to half of the total. The diagnosis of "teratozoospermia" is made when less than 50% of spermatozoa with the correct structure are present.

Therefore, teratozoospermia and pregnancy cannot exist together.

Morphological disorders during the development of the disease

A normal spermatozoon has a strictly defined size and shape of its constituent parts. The following disorders are considered pathological:

• Changes in the structure of the head - an increase or decrease in volume, bifurcation, the absence of an acrosome - one of the chromosomes, the presence of vacuole cells in the head, unnatural forms.
• A curved, too thin or thick neck is considered the mildest form of teratozoospermia, in which a natural pregnancy and the bearing of a healthy fetus are possible.
• A tail that twists in the wrong direction, elongated or shortened, especially if it is forked or too twisted, does not allow the spermatozoon to reach the final goal, carrying out a chaotic or reverse movement.

Causes of the problem

Many are interested in the question: "Teratozoospermia, what is it?".

The modern world creates more and more risk factors that provoke the appearance of male infertility. The following causes most often correspond to the development of teratozoospermia:

• abuse of drinks containing caffeine, substances that stimulate the release of energy;
• alcohol, drug use, smoking;
• constant overheating of the inguinal region - baths, hot baths, a laptop located on your lap;
• prolonged malnutrition - starvation or overeating, a large amount of fatty, sweet food, smoked meats, marinades, salt;
• daily wearing of too tight underwear and clothes, causing a decrease in the blood supply to the testicles, a lack of oxygen in the cells;
• external factors - polluted habitat, radiation exposure;
• a sedentary lifestyle, especially complicated by the presence of excess weight;
• work associated with constant heavy physical labor or daily stress, overly busy schedule, lack of rest and sleep;
• hereditary disorders caused by a genetic failure fixed in the offspring;
• diseases of the endocrine system, malfunctions of the thyroid gland;
• diseases of the urinary system and genital organs of various etiologies - viral or bacterial in nature, varicose veins of the testicles (varicocele), prostatitis, orchitis, urethritis, neoplasms, both benign and malignant.

In these cases, teratozoospermia is possible. The reasons for the occurrence may be different.

Most of the causes of the disease are provoked by the man himself, refusing to take care of his health. Unfortunately, in Russia the opinion is still widespread, according to which the inability to have children is solely the woman's fault.

reproductive possibilities

What can be the treatment for the diagnosis of teratozoospermia? Who helped? Reviews can be found later in the article.

The conclusion about the presence of teratozoospermia is not always a sentence, meaning the infertility of a man. It is necessary to take into account the number of remaining healthy spermatozoa, the degree of damage to the incorrect ones, as well as other indicators of the spermogram. It is advisable to perform the analysis in as much detail as possible, in which case the field for the final conclusion will expand.

In the presence of 50-80% of morphologically healthy cells, the probability of pregnancy in a natural way remains quite high, but it may take longer to conceive. However, within 2-3 years, a couple usually has a healthy baby. It is worth considering that this is a fairly average figure, the term often increases, sometimes decreases.

Teratozoospermia and IVF

If the disease has affected more than 80-90% of the sperm, an alternative fertilization method - IVF is usually recommended. The advantages lie in the selection of only healthy male germ cells and their guaranteed connection with female eggs in an environment that is as close to natural as possible. After a successful manipulation, several embryos are transferred to the woman's uterus, where further gestation takes place.

Is ICSI a much more effective procedure. The technique is shown for severe male infertility, including when there is teratozoospermia. Treatment and pregnancy are interconnected.

ICSI is successfully performed even if only one normal sperm is found in the ejaculate, which happens quite rarely. From IVF, the difference is only in the method of fertilization of the egg - in this case, the sperm is injected with a thin needle in order to be exactly in the right place.

There are cases when, with a relatively normal number of healthy sperm, pregnancy does not occur. This may be due to the structural features of the woman's body, for example, with the bending of the uterus. In such situations, the artificial insemination procedure is often enough, in which a portion of the ejaculate, specially treated with drugs that improve its quality, is introduced into the uterine cavity during the ovulation cycle - the maturation of the egg.

Treatment effectiveness

How effective is treatment for the diagnosis of teratozoospermia? Who helped?