If you’re one of the millions of couples grappling with infertility, then you must have encountered the terms “asthenozoospermia” and “teratozoospermia”. These are some of the technical terms that denote esoteric medical conditions. Of these, Asthenoteratozoospermia is a male infertility condition in which a man produces sperms with low motility.
Both “asthenozoospermia” and “teratozoospermia” indicate poor sperm motility and morphology. A diagnosis may leave you dejected, and thinking about whether the condition can be reversed or not. Could you still reproduce? Well, actually, the answer is positive, and astheno-teratozoospermia is treatable.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the symptoms, medical treatments, and diagnostic tests for poor sperm motility and morphology. Read on to learn how to combat astheno-teratozoospermia in your pursuit of having children and for ways to enhance sperm quality if you’re already on the path.
Can Asthenoteratozoospermia Be Cured?
Yes, Asthenoteratozoospermia can be treatable but a complete cure depends on the cause of the condition. Appropriate guidance, medical treatment, lifestyle adjustments could dramatically increase the chances of conception for men suffering from this condition.
You need to explore the treatment methods of various clinics to treat this condition, look at some diagnostic tests, and follow some suggestions on enhancing sperm health.
Symptoms Of Poor Sperm Motility And Morphology
Motility of sperm refers to the ability of movement of sperms, while the morphology of sperm means the shape and structure of the sperm. If the motility and morphology of sperms become poor, then it might decrease the opportunity of reaching and fertilizing an egg.
Therefore, decreasing the chance of conception. Early detection could be helpful. We have enumerated some symptoms of poor sperm motility and morphology.
Inability to Conceive
The most obvious symptom of poor sperm motility and morphology is the inability to conceive. If you and your partner have been trying to conceive a child for a whole year and yet have not succeeded, then male fertility problems are definitely the major cause for the failure to conceive.
Poor Motility
The sperm needs to move in a straight line to the egg in order to fertilize it. Good and healthy sperm swim in a straight line, pushing themselves with the help of their tails through the female reproductive system. Insufficiently motile sperms don’t swim at all or swim around in circles and can’t reach the egg.
Poor Morphology
Abnormally shaped sperms are going to be less functional in the process of penetration of the egg. For a sperm to be functional, it has to be streamlined for proper swimming. Double-headed, crooked, or any such shape of the sperm will cause issues with the swimming of the sperm, which struggles to get through cervical mucus and penetrate the egg itself.
Poor motility and morphology combined could reduce the effectiveness of fertilization. According to StatPearls statistics, male infertility issues are responsible for about 30-40% of the infertility cases. Thus, if you fail to conceive, sperm quality is something that you should consider for testing.
Varicocele:
Varicocele is the most common and the least treated cause of abnormal sperm motility and morphology. A varicocele is an enlarged vein in the scrotum with the testicle, and several varicose veins develop in the loose bag of the skin that holds the testicles. It develops when veins are enlarged and the temperature rises within the area surrounding the testicles.
The testicles must be cool for healthy sperm. Varicocele increases the temperature of the testis, and this, consequently, results in a lower concentration, lower motility, and altered shapes of sperms.
Sometimes, you will never feel any symptoms until a varicocele has swollen enough to be painful, but it may be caught through a routine physical examination or an ultrasound. Fortunately, in the vast majority of cases where it occurs, the repair of a varicocele improves sperm quality, as well.
Miscarriages Repeatedly
Though poor motility and morphology are some of the prevalent causes of infertility or inability to conceive, miscarriage is often treated as a symptom of poor sperm quality. Most of the time, even conception could lead to miscarriages.
However, if you are fortunate enough to conceive, several miscarriages might occur just a few weeks after conception, especially during the early stages of pregnancy, which may be caused by poor sperm health. Here are some of the factors that cause miscarriages:
Abnormal Morphology:
To begin with, the altered shape of the sperm can also result in failure to fertilize the egg in some cases or chromosomally abnormal embryos in others. This could increase the risks of miscarriage.
DNA Fragmentation
Poor quality semen, particularly, abnormally shaped sperm, may result in DNA fragmentation. This can lead to poor embryo development and higher miscarriage rates or failure in implantation.
Although many factors lead to miscarriage, recurrent pregnancy loss is an indicator for the evaluation of the partners’ fertility and the analysis of semen for evaluating if the issue lies in sperm quality.
Hormonal Imbalances
Imbalances in hormones may probably cause problems in the quality of sperm. The hormonal imbalance is evident when the level of testosterone is too low or another hormone found in the body, such as prolactin, becomes imbalanced. Low levels of testosterone may result in lower sperm count, poor motility, and abnormal sperm morphology.
However, it is not all about testosterone. The body’s fertility hormones, including luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), can regulate sperm production. The quality of your sperm will be highly affected by hormonal imbalances.
Common Causes Of Hormonal Imbalances Include
Obesity: Too much fat, especially around the abdominal regions, alters the hormone levels and slows down sperm production.
Stress: Stress increases the hormone – cortisol, which decreases testosterone production and leads to improper motility and morphology of sperms.
Medications: Intake of steroids and a few other specific medications hamper the production of hormones, which in turn, adversely affects sperm.
If you suspect that a hormonal imbalance has been disturbing the sperms, then a blood test will help determine an imbalance. It is recommended to get yourself checked for sperm quality after starting proper treatment like hormone therapy or lifestyle alterations.
Testicular Disorders
Different testicular disorders will have a direct impact on the quality of sperm. Atrophy-shrinking testes or torsion-twisting of the testicle will reduce the production of normal healthy sperms, impairment of motility, and deformation in sperm morphology.
Possible causes of testicular disorders include physical injury, infection, or medical treatments such as chemotherapy. If you had testicular injury or infection in the past, you must have a doctor examine your fertility health – since, at times, the treatment or management of the illness could enhance the quality of the sperm.
Undescended Testicles
Undescended testicles refer to testicles that failed to descend into the scrotum during fetal development, or that migrated there only postnatally . This condition will most likely cause subsequent infertility problems, as a high body temperature affects sperm production.
Men born with undescended testes are more at risk of having a low count and poor motility of sperms, as well as, possibly abnormal morphology. In some instances, even after correction, some boys may continue to experience infertility problems when they grow up.
No Obvious Physical Symptoms
Symptoms of poor sperm motility or morphology do not manifest physically like other issues. You will not feel pain, swelling, or discomfort in any area directly linked to sperm health. This makes it slightly challenging to detect without proper testing.
However, if you are experiencing fertility difficulties, it is essential to take care of your sperm health. Every man with unexplained infertility should discuss having a semen analysis with a doctor because poor sperm quality is the most common cause of male-factor infertility.
Medical Treatments For Astheno-Teratozoospermia:
You are most likely going through a storm of emotions if you just got an astheno-teratozoospermia diagnosis. However, the silver lining here is that there are several medical treatments that a male can undergo in the direction of bettering his sperm’s quality. Thus, offering more hope for conception.
Surgical Treatments (e.g., Varicocele Surgery)
The main cause of astheno-teratozoospermia is varicocele, which causes dilation of the veins of the scrotum that hinders the proper circulation of blood around the testes, resulting in raising the temperature of the testes that consequently leads to the weak production of sperms, low sperm motility, and poor shape.
In this case, surgery, more precisely varicocele surgery, can be the permanent solution for you. It is a pretty good treatment plan for the quality improvement of the sperm. During the process of the operation, the surgeon would ligate the affected veins to restore normal blood flow and reduce the testicular temperature.
Improvements After Surgery:
Improves motility: Due to the proper flow of blood vessels and cooling of the testicles, the sperm is able to swim well.
Improves morphology: Sperm shape improves due to low temperature.
Most men who receive varicocele surgery do witness a marked improvement in sperm concentration, motility, and morphology. This improves the chance of getting pregnant or undergoing assisted reproduction.
Use of Antioxidants and Supplements
Sometimes, just consuming a healthy dose of antioxidants and nutritional supplements does the trick to enhance sperm quality. Oxidative stress is one of the potential health risks to your sperm. Free radicals damage the sperm cells, hence weakening their motility and morphology.
However, there are some antioxidants that may help to neutralize bad molecules and shield your sperm from such destruction. They can help enhance the quality of your sperm. Let’s take a look at some popular supplements for enhancing sperm quality.
Vitamin C and E
These antioxidants help to protect the sperm from oxidative damage and may possibly enhance motility.
Coenzyme Q10
CoQ10 is a quite famous antioxidant which helps to protect sperm cells from damage and provide them sufficient energy to move efficiently, therefore, it helps to improve motility and morphology.
Zinc
Zinc is an extremely important mineral that helps in the formation of sperm. The semen volume, total sperm count, sperm concentration, progressive motility, normal morphology and the serum testosterone level in men with the seminal Zinc deficiency were lower than in men with normal Zinc levels.
L-Carnitine
An amino acid that is proven to raise sperm motility , L-Carnitine helps the sperms move more freely.
Folic acid
Folic acid supplements are generally prescribed in combination with zinc, and patients receiving folic acid can enhance their sperm count and motility.
Even though you may see more profound benefits for sperm quality with daily antioxidant therapy, always ensure to consult a medical provider or any fertility expert before starting any new supplement course.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
If lifestyle modifications, supplements, and even surgery fail in helping you conceive, then you should consider assisted reproductive technologies such as IUI and IVF. These are the fertility-related treatments that involve handling eggs or embryos.
IUI: This is a process in which sperm is washed and concentrated, after which the physician injects it directly inside the uterine cavity of a woman during ovulation. It bypasses some of the adversity given to sperm motility, and hence, makes it easy for the sperm to reach the egg.
IVF: In IVF, eggs are retrieved from the ovaries. Eggs and sperm are fertilized together in a laboratory. The resultant embryo is transferred to the uterus. Typically, IVF is administered after the first line of treatments, such as IUI, have failed or weak motility is coupled with poor morphology.
Results Of IUI And IVF
IUI and IVF increases the probability of fertilization. The procedure bypasses the cervix and allows the sperm to directly penetrate the uterus either through IUI or by generating embryos in a laboratory setting, which is known as IVF. Therefore, the sperm bypasses the challenges of motility or morphology.
The two highly recognized and established techniques, IUI and IVF, have helped millions of conceptions worldwide. Though they are more expensive and emotionally demanding, they can be effective in the treatment of male infertility.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
If the motility and morphology of your sperm are poor, ICSI can be the most effective solution. Basically, this advanced fertility treatment consists of injecting a single sperm directly into the cytoplasm of an egg, and it bypasses any problems with sperm motility or shape.
ICSI is always used when the sperm have poor quality for IVF. For instance, when the sperms have no motility, or they may have shapes that could never be used for the fertilization of the egg. ICSI could be your ray of hope.
How Does It Help?
Since ICSI injects sperm directly into the egg, motility and morphology are no longer considered important. As they are no longer important, there will be no motility and morphology issues.
Even if the count is very low or the motility of the sperm is poor, ICSI can still achieve fertilization as the sperm count doesn’t matter anymore.
Although ICSI is very effective, the application is not usually preferred unless other options, such as IUI or IVF, have failed; and is only used in cases when male factors are very severe.
Diagnostic Tests For Astheno-Teratozoospermia (Semen Analysis)
If you are facing fertility challenges, the first thing that the doctor might recommend for you is doing a semen analysis. Let us look at some diagnostic tests that are used in the evaluation of sperm and the diagnosis of astheno-teratozoospermia. We try to help you understand the process and make your fertility journey more manageable.
Semen Analysis
The first thing you need to do for diagnosing astheno-teratozoospermia is semen analysis. It gives a broad view of your sperm’s health, and it is vital to have an understanding of sperm motility, how well your sperm swims, the morphology, and the shape of your sperm.
What does Semen Analysis Measure?
Here’s what you can get from performing a semen analysis.
Sperm Count: It is the number of sperm per milliliter of semen. A man’s semen is considered healthy if it exceeds 15 million sperm per milliliter.
Motility: Motility is defined as the percentage of sperm that are moving actively. For healthy semen, 40% or more should be motile and progressively moving in a higher percentage.
Morphology: This refers to the shape of the sperm. The WHO recommends that at least 4% of your sperm should appear normal. Lower percentages might lead to teratozoospermia.
Volume: This is semen volume, which indicates how much semen is emitted per ejaculation.
Vitality: It is the percentage of living sperm present in the specimen.
Importance of Semen Analysis:
A semen analysis provides an overall idea of your fertility in the sense of sperm health. In astheno-teratozoospermia, the motility of the sperms will be less than normal, and most sperms will be abnormally shaped. Still, it does not reveal the cause behind these abnormalities. Therefore, other tests may also be required.
Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test
A semen analysis will give you a lot of information on the count, motility, and morphology. However, it doesn’t address DNA integrity. This is where the Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test comes into picture.
This test essentially gives the percentage of ejaculated sperm with damaged DNA, which can affect the ability of sperm to fertilize an egg and lead to poor-quality development of the embryo. High levels of DNA fragmentation also correlate with fertility problems such as astheno-teratozoospermia.
Sometimes, DNA fragmentation could be the problem that affects sperm motility and morphology. There could be instances where the slightly damaged DNA in sperms causes fertility issues.
This test will be able to distinguish sperms with damaged DNA, which contributes to fertility issues. Healthy sperm are supposed to have healthy DNA so that they can fertilize an egg effectively without resistance.
Hormonal Testing
Imbalances in the hormones may also be a great factor in sperm health. So, it is critical to check the hormone levels during diagnosis. The critical hormones to note are:
Testosterone
The hormone responsible for the production of sperm. Low levels usually lead to lower sperm count, motility, and abnormal morphology.
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone or FSH
It helps testes to stimulate the sperm. The test will show a high level of FSH if the testicles are not functioning correctly.
Luteinizing Hormone or LH
It regulates the sperm along with FSH
Prolactin
A high value of hyperprolactinemia can affect testosterone production and, therefore, result in poor sperm quality
This means that in such cases where such hormonal factors are in abnormal balance, it implies that there will be effects on sperm production, motility, and even morphology.
Testing for hormonal imbalances can be useful to identify the potential underlying factors, such as low testosterone or an elevated prolactin level that may contribute to the astheno-teratozoospermia disorder.
Genetic Testing
If there is a suspicion that genetic factors may play a part in astheno-teratozoospermia, your doctor will probably suggest some tests to find out genetic disorders. Other causes of low count, poor motility, and abnormal morphology are certain genetic disorders such as Klinefelter syndrome or Y chromosome microdeletions.
Sometimes, genetic problems contribute to poor-quality sperm. If the cause of poor sperm quality happens to be genetic in origin, you will be given information on the treatments or assisted reproductive treatments such as IVF or ICSI, etc.
Scrotal Ultrasound
It is a non-invasive imaging test and is likely to assist in scanning for possible structural defects within the testicles that might be causing sperm health damage. It’s mainly applied to check for varicocele that causes enlarged veins in the scrotum, testicular atrophy, or infection.
The rise in the scrotal temperature of the testis would have an impact on sperm production and quality. Treatment of conditions like varicocele can result in improvements in sperm count, motility, and morphology. Scrotal ultrasound can help you identify defects in testicles.
Testicular Biopsy
Testicular biopsy will be recommended if other tests are negative. Testicular biopsy is a minor surgical procedure in which a small piece of testicle tissue is taken directly by snipping the sample off with small scissors and will be viewed under the microscope.
A biopsy helps to confirm the existence of sperm within the testes and identify the issues in the development of sperm. When sperm are in place but are not found in the semen, it might indicate a blockage or a problem in sperm transport.
Consult Your Doctor
If you are diagnosed to be suffering from astheno-teratozoospermia or low motility or morphology in sperms, knowing when to visit a doctor would serve you very well. Here’s when you need to consult your doctor:
- If you have been unable to conceive for more than one year, then you must see a fertility doctor. Astheno-teratozoospermia causes infertility. Thus, getting advice early is worth its weight in gold.
- If your sperm count or motility is substantially low, or if the morphology is seriously low, the Semen Analysis will lead your doctor to refer you for additional tests or treatments.
- Medical conditions such as varicocele, hormonal imbalances, and infections worsen astheno-teratozoospermia. A healthcare physician can help diagnose and treat these medical conditions.
- It is better to visit a doctor if you consider using Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). If your sperm quality is severely compromised, then treatments such as IUI, IVF, or ICSI can improve your chances of getting pregnant.
Consulting your doctor early may help you find a solution and improve your fertility success rate.
Tips To Improve Your Sperm Health
The health of the sperm is equally important as the health of an egg for fertility. Whether you have planned to bring up a baby soon or have always wished for a healthy life, it is wise to care for your sperm. Let us see some tips to improve your sperm health:
Diet and Nutrition for Improving Sperm Quality
Your food diet helps with the movement of your sperm. Diverse nutrients will ensure that you have a good count of sperms, better motility, and morphology, which can improve your sperm quality.
Take High Intakes of Antioxidants
Diets rich in antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables, will protect your sperm from oxidative stress. This means a diet of berries, leafy greens, colorful vegetables could help enhance the quality of sperm and its motility also. Fish, flaxseed, and walnuts are rich sources of these omega-3 fatty acids.
Zinc and Folate
Zinc helps in sperm production, and folate helps to enhance the count of sperm. Excellent sources of folate and zinc are beans, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
Limit Processed Foods
Avoid high amounts of processed foods, junk food, and many sweets because they are harmful to your sperm.
If you have a healthy, nutrient-dense diet, then you are giving your sperm a solid foundation for optimal performance.
Avoiding Environmental Toxins and Pollutants
The environment that surrounds us determines our sperm health. All these environmental pollutants and contaminants can easily interfere with sperm development, motility, and DNA integrity.
1.) Avoid Excessive Use Of Pesticides
Buy organic fruits and vegetables as much as possible to avoid contact with these harmful chemicals.
2.) Avoid Endocrine Disruptors
Chemicals found in plastic, especially BPA, contain chemicals that mess with your hormones and even the sperm. So, use BPA-free products, avoid heating plastic containers in the microwave, and switch to glass or stainless steel bottles.
3.) Avoid Heavy Metals
Mercury, lead, and other heavy metals can affect semen quality. Avoid excessive consumption of fish high in mercury, like swordfish and large tuna.
Exercise and Weight Management
Maintaining a healthy weight and being in shape isn’t just a healthy thing to do, but it can also be good for your sperm quality.
1.) Regular Exercise
It improves your blood circulation, reduces your stress level, and keeps your weight under control. You can jog, swim, or cycle. However, do not overdo endurance training, as that will have the opposite effect on the count.
2.) Healthy Weight
Being overweight and obese can cause hormonal imbalances that can affect the production of sperm. Losing excess weight can help you balance the hormones and enable you to maintain healthy sperm.
3.) Avoid Overheating
Running long distances and cycling can make your body hot, which affects the quality of your sperm. Take breaks, and always cool down while exercising.
With regular moderate exercising and normal weight, you would definitely ensure your sperm is in optimal condition.
Stress Reduction and Mental Health Impact
We always heard that stress is bad for your wellbeing in general. What you didn’t know was that it could also influence the quality and count of sperm. Stress may also harm levels of testosterone.
1.) Relax and Unwind
People need time for themselves to relax and manage stress. It may be meditation, yoga, or just a walk in nature. Managing stress can help to improve the quality of your sperm.
2.) Sleep Well
Poor or insufficient sleep will affect different hormones and the production of sperm. Try to sleep for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night so that your body is well-rested and repaired.
3.) Stay Positive
Mental wellbeing matters, too. Depression and anxiety affect the production of sperm, and hence, it is important to manage mental wellbeing as well.
Conclusion
Your sperm health is very important when it comes to fertility. If you have symptoms of various problems with the motility and morphology of your sperm, you need to treat it right away. Though medical treatment is important, you can also change your lifestyle a little bit by following a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and reducing stress. Small changes can make big differences over time.
In this blog, we have seen proper diagnostic tests like semen analysis, followed by proper medical treatments for astheno-teratozoospermia. It has inculcated the idea that there is always a solution for astheno-teratozoospermia. Improvement of sperm health can consequently increase the chances of conception.
Remember, it’s a journey, not a race. And if you stay proactive, get the right professional guidance, and make mindful choices about your wellbeing, you can increase your fertility chances and achieve your family-building goals. Take your first step now!
Astheno-teratozoospermia can be effectively managed with appropriate treatment. Lifestyle changes and medical treatment can enhance sperm motility and increase the chances of conception.
Healthy lifestyle modifications, nutritional supplements, surgeries and weight management are the best treatment for Asthenoteratozoospermia as they can improve the sperm quality naturally.
The sperm maturation time takes around 74 days, so the changes in sperm quality can be seen after three months after making lifestyle changes.
Yes, Astheno-teratozoospermia is genetic. Genetic factors like sperm flagellum defects cause Astheno-teratozoospermia most of the time.
Yes, it can affect the success of IVF. However, IVF can still be successful with abnormal sperm quality.
