Teratozoospermia
If you and your partner are having trouble conceiving, you might have infertility. A fertility specialist doctor can perform some tests in order to evaluate your fertility and determine what is going on. Issues with sperm, known as male factor infertility, account for a lot of cases of infertility, and one of the most common diagnoses is teratozoospermia. Many couples with this condition have to seek infertility treatments in order to help start or grow their family.
What is Teratozoospermia?
Teratozoospermia is a condition in which a man has a high amount of abnormal shaped sperm. Every sperm count has a large percentage of abnormally shaped sperm present, but when this percentage is over 96% of the sample, it is known as teratozoospermia. That is when fertility issues can arise. This condition can be diagnosed by doing a complete semen analysis. This fertility test also examines semen volume and sperm quantity and motility. After your test is completed, a fertility doctor can review your semen analysis results with you and determine your infertility treatment options.
Teratozoospermia Effects
Teratozoospermia can result in infertility because the sperm has a difficult time penetrating and fertilizing the egg. Infertility for whatever reason can also have a profound effect on you and your partner’s relationship health, as fertility issues can be difficult to cope with and exhausting for a couple to face. Therapy is often a wonderful tool to help your relationship and you and your partner individually.
What Causes Teratozoospermia?
Causes of teratozoospermia include:
- Genetics
- Diabetes
- Vasectomies reversals
- Injuries
- Smoking
- Malnutrition
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Cancer treatments
- Age
- Seminal infections
- Testicular problem
Teratozoospermia Treatment
There are a few different options fertility doctors can provide to help treat teratozoospermia. Sometimes, vitamins and antioxidants can help improve the sperm shape. Other times, hormone therapies may be recommended. Patients may also try to naturally increase fertility. This can be accomplished by improving medical conditions like diabetes, malnutrition, and obesity, stopping smoking, wellness treatments, diet changes, as well as a change in exercise and living an overall healthier lifestyle, all of which may increase the percentage of healthy sperm shape and healthy sperm counts.
Other options for teratozoospermia are IUI or intrauterine insemination, where sperm can be deposited at the top of the uterus right at the time of ovulation. Another is in vitro fertilization with ICSI, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. ICSI allows for the healthiest sperm to be selected and injected directly into an egg to optimize the chances of successful fertilization. Lastly, in very severe cases, sperm donation may be recommended to give a couple a healthy baby and the family they’ve been working for.
At Reproductive Health and Wellness Center, we are experts at treating fertility issues. We provide the latest in cutting-edge embryo science by using the latest technologies, and we create innovative fertility plans tailored specifically to each individual. But we’re so much more.
