Introduction to Teratozoospermia:-
There are several factors due to which one may suffer from infertility. One of them might be the cause of teratozoospermia. Infertility doesn’t occur only in females but also in men as well. Both the females and males are equally getting affected by it.
In this article, we will help you understand teratospermia’s meaning, causes, symptoms, and treatment. Also, it will be knowing whether it can be cured completely or not.
What is Teratozoospermia or Teratospermia?
Teratozoospermia, also known as teratospermia, is a male infertility condition in which the majority of a man’s sperm cells are abnormally shaped, also called abnormal morphology.
A healthy sperm cell or a good morphology should have the following features that are given below:
- Oval shaped head
- Neck right below the head and above the tail
- Long tail to swim and fertilize eggs
- The total length of a healthy sperm should be around 50 micrometers.
If you see characteristics like a double head, neck piece defect, or short tails rather than the above ones, these are indications of this condition, which further causes infertility.
What are the Types of Teratozoospermia?
The types of teratospermia are classified into several types based on the specific abnormalities in sperm cells. Those are given below:
1. Mild Teratozoospermia:
Mild teratospermia is a condition in which there is a small percentage of sperm that are abnormally shaped or structured. Although there is no universally defined number generally who have less than 14% normal sperm cells those men will fall under this category. Men with this condition still have a chance to have a natural pregnancy even though they experience reduced fertility.
2. Severe Teratospermia:
As the name suggests, in the case of severe ones, there is a large number of abnormal morphology and only less than 1% of normal sperm in the semen sample. In this condition, there’s almost zero percent chance of having a natural conception. Treatment under Assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF and ICSI are often recommended by infertility doctors to have a successful conception.
3. Astheno Teratozoospermia:
The astheno one is a condition that is the combination of two factors- asthenozoospermia and teratospermia. It means that not only the majority of sperm cells are abnormal but also low motility. Due to these conditions, the ability of sperm to reach and fertilize the eggs is affected. There are no chances of natural conception, they need to choose a fertility treatment like ICSI or IMSI.
4. Oligo Astheno Teratozoospermia:
This complex condition is also a combination of several factors such as oligospermia, asthenospermia, and teratospermia. These factors prove to be the biggest hurdle to having a natural pregnancy because of having abnormal morphology, low motility, and low sperm count as well as leading to severe fertility challenges. Infertility treatment like IMSI needs to be done.
What are the Causes of Teratozoospermia?
Many factors can lead to this condition. These factors affect sperm production which further leads to abnormal sperm morphology.
- Infection in testicles: Due to the inflammation or infection in the testicles, sperm production and morphology can be affected.
- Genetic Factors: It can also be caused due to genetic problems like mutations or inherited conditions.
- Medical Conditions: The swelling of scrotal veins can affect the testicles and sperm morphology.
- Chemotherapy: Radiation therapy treatments like chemotherapy and others can affect spermatogenesis.
- Drugs: Sperm morphology can be affected due to drugs like testosterone, GnRH, and FSH.
- Environment Influences: Exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, chemicals, and radiation leads to this condition.
- Unhealthy Lifestyle: Eating junk foods, smoking, alcohol or other harmful substances affects the reproductive system and sperm morphology.
Symptoms of Teratozoospermia:-
Teratospermia is a condition that doesn’t present with noticeable symptoms. The only way to know it is through semen analysis, which evaluates the sperm’s shape under a microscope. Most of the time this condition is discovered during fertility testing or when couples face difficulty conceiving.
Does Teratozoospermia Affect Fertility?
1. Sperm Morphology and Conception:
The shape of sperm (sperm morphology) plays an important role in conception. Abnormal sperm may have difficulty swimming through the female reproduction tract and fertilizing the eggs.
2. Impact on Natural Pregnancy:
In the case of mild and moderate ones, there are still chances to get a natural pregnancy. But in case of severe ones, infertility treatment under assisted reproductive technologies (ART) is often required.
How Origyn IVF Will Help Your Journey:-
Getting the right treatment and support is a must when it comes to fertility issues like teratozoospermia. Origyn Fertility and IVF provide specialized services to cure the challenges posed by abnormal sperm morphology.
1. Diagnostic Procedure:-
According to Oriygn IVF, it is really important to know about the root cause. They offer a detailed semen analysis to assess sperm morphology, count, and motility. With the help of this in-depth diagnosis, their fertility specialists develop a treatment plan just for you.
- Advanced sperm testing & semen analysis
- Genetic Testing
- Hormonal profiling
2. Customized Treatment Plans:-
Every infertility case is unique, that’s why to tackle these conditions it is important to have a treatment plan that is just for you. As mentioned above with the help of tests Origyn IVF makes customized treatment plans for each of their customers.
a) Lifestyle Modification:
The first approach of fertility specialists of Origyn IVF for teratozoospermia is often lifestyle modification. They encourage you to make positive lifestyle changes in your life such as eating healthy, doing exercise, reducing stress, and quitting bad habits like smoke. These changes will help in enhancing sperm health.
b) Hormonal & Medical Treatment:
It is recommended by Origyn IVF to target hormone therapies if there is an imbalance of hormones which will help to regulate and optimize sperm production. They also help in tackling any underlying infections or medical conditions that are affecting sperm shape.
3. Treatments for Teratozoospermia:-
A). Assisted Reproductive Technologies:
For men who are suffering from severe cases, natural pregnancy can be difficult. That’s why it is recommended to get infertility treatment through ART.
a) In Vitro Fertilization (IVF):
The most famous treatment for men who are suffering from this condition is IVF. During the IVF process eggs are retrieved and fertilized outside using the male partner’s sperm. After fertilization of eggs, the best-quality embryos are selected and transferred to the uterus.
- Origyn IVF treatment has a high success rate in IVF even in cases of moderate and severe ones.
- Minimize the hurdles that were caused by abnormal sperm morphology.
b) Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection:
ICSI is considered one of the most effective treatments for teratozoospermia and Origyn excels in this advanced procedure. The ICSI process bypasses the problem related to sperm morphology as well as motility, increasing the chance of successful conception.
- Sperm are directly injected
- Overcomes sperm abnormalities
- Recommended by Origyn IVF for men with low sperm morphology
4. Support and Counseling Throughout Your Journey:-
The journey of fertility can be an emotional roller coaster ride, and Origyn IVF understands this. That’s why they always stand with their patients giving them emotional support and the guidance they need to help them in their journey towards parenthood. Whether you need someone to talk to or just counseling related to the process they will always help you and treat you like their family.
5. Success Stories of Many Couples:-
Origyn IVF has countless couples who were suffering from teratozoospermia in fulfilling their dreams of becoming parents. Whether you are suffering from mild or severe they have continuously proven themselves that their personalized approach works. Many couples have fulfilled their dream of building their own families thanks to the proper guidance, support, and care of Origyn IVF.
Conclusion:-
This condition can be challenging but it doesn’t need to be a roadblock on your journey to parenthood. With Origyn’s expert care, advanced technology, and customized treatment plans, you can overcome this hurdle and start your own family. Their fertility specialist team and staff are dedicated and compassionate to helping you at every step from diagnosis to conception.
FAQs:-
Q1) Is conception possible if the male partner has teratozoospermia?
- Yes, natural pregnancy is possible if the male partner has a mild or moderate condition but a severe one needs fertility treatment.
Q2) Can this condition be cured?
- No, this condition cannot be cured completely but the sperm quality can be improved leading to higher chances of conception with the help of fertility treatments.
Q3) Is teratospermia a common condition in men?
- It is a relatively common condition that affects a significant number of men with fertility issues though a diagnosis test like semen analysis is required.
Q4) Is IVF treatment successful with teratospermia?
- Yes, IVF combined with ICSI has shown incredible results to be a successful option for men with this condition.
Q5) Which treatment is best for this condition?
- Mild one may respond well by just following some lifestyle changes
- Moderate or Severe ones may require ART procedures such as IVF or ICSI.
About The Author:-
Dr. Rashmi Sharma:
Dr. Rashmi Sharma, founder and director of Origyn Fertility & IVF, and a well-known IVF specialist and Gynaecologist with over 25 years of experience. Holding the degree of MBBS and MD from the institute of medical sciences, Banaras Hindu University, and additional qualifications in reproductive medicine from Kiel University, Germany. She is the Joint Secretary of the Indian Fertility Society and has chaired several national conferences on infertility.
Dr Rashmi is known for her compassionate care and specializes in handling complex infertility cases, especially those with multiple IVF failures. Origyn IVF has received the “Best IVF Clinic in Delhi” at the Global Health Excellence Awards and Dr. Rashmi received “Best IVF Specialist, North India” as well as the “Medical Excellence Award”.
To gain more in-depth knowledge of teratospermia you can watch the Origyn IVF video.
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