Infertility is becoming a serious issue nowadays, and many people, men and women alike, are affected by it. Most times, when a couple can’t seem to get pregnant, the blame would fall on the woman.
But what most people fail to realize is that men can also have fertility issues. It is completely normal and can occur to any man. One such issue that can cause male infertility is teratozoospermia.
So, what is teratozoospermia? How is it caused, and what treatment options are available for it? Let’s discuss it in detail in this article.
What is Teratozoospermia or Teratospermia?
Teratozoospermia or teratospermia is a condition in which a man has a high number of abnormally shaped sperm in his semen (more than 80–90%). This can affect his fertility and decrease the chances of fertilization and pregnancy.
A sperm is considered morphologically healthy when,
- The head is oval-shaped,
- The mid-section is right below the head and is thicker than the tail and
- The tail is thin, long, and can move freely.
If a man’s sperm does not have these morphological features, he has teratozoospermia. This condition can be diagnosed by collecting a semen sample and conducting a semen analysis.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a man is considered to have teratozoospermia if more than 96% of sperm from the semen have abnormal morphology.
Kruger brought forward another theory. According to Kruger’s criteria, a man is considered to have teratozoospermia if he has less than 15% abnormal sperm. These sperm won’t be able to swim and reach the egg for fertilization. Thus, the man is considered infertile.
Types of Teratospermia
Teratospermia can be classified into two categories:
- Teratospermia depending on the severity of the condition
- Teratospermia depending on the sperm abnormality.
Doctors make a thorough diagnosis of the sperm morphology (head, body, and tail) before determining what category the abnormality comes under. Let’s take a closer look at the types of teratospermia based on the severity and abnormality of the condition.
Types Depending on the Condition
This category is based on the severity of the condition. The percentage of abnormal sperm in the semen sample determines which type the condition comes under.
Mild teratozoospermia
A man is considered to have a mild case of teratozoospermia when he has at least 10–14% normal sperm in his semen sample. He still has a chance of fertilizing the egg and achieving a normal pregnancy.
Moderate teratozoospermia
Moderate teratozoospermia is when the semen has only around 5–9% normal sperm. Chances of normal pregnancy are low here, and the man has to opt for artificial methods like IVF (In vitro fertilization) and ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) for pregnancy.
Severe teratozoospermia
This is when the percentage of normal sperm in the semen is less than 5%. There are no chances of natural pregnancy at this stage. Men have to opt for IVF or ICSI.
In most cases, Fertility Doctor opt for IMSI (Intracytoplasmic Morphologically-selected Sperm Injection) to select a good-quality sperm for fertilization.
Types Depending on Sperm Abnormality
Below are the types of teratozoospermia when the man has other complications along with abnormal sperm morphology.
Astheno Teratozoospermia
This condition is a combination of asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. Asthenozoospermia is a condition where the man has lower sperm motility.
Astheno teratozoospermia is when the man has both abnormal sperm morphology and less sperm motility.
Oligo Astheno Teratozoospermia
This condition is more severe than the previous one. It is a combination of oligospermia, asthenozoospermia, and teratozoospermia. Oligospermia is a condition where the man has a lower sperm count.
A man with oligo astheno teratozoospermia suffers from poor sperm morphology, motility, and low sperm count.
What Causes Teratozoospermia?
The exact cause of teratozoospermia has not yet been found. However, there are some factors that might have played a role in abnormal sperm production. Below are some factors that can affect sperm morphology.
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatments men take to cure cancer or other conditions can alter the morphology of the sperm. Doctors usually recommend semen cryopreservation before starting the treatments.
- Certain drugs like testosterone, FSH, and GnRH can interfere with sperm maturation and affect their morphology.
- Unhealthy lifestyle habits like smoking, alcohol, unhealthy diet, malnutrition, drugs, tight clothes, etc., can also interfere with healthy sperm production.
- The condition can also be caused by health conditions like diabetes and genetic or chromosomal disorders.
- Varicocele, a condition where the veins around the scrotum are swollen, can also lead to abnormal sperm morphology.
- If a man suffered any injury in the genital areas or had a vasectomy surgery earlier, he could have teratozoospermia.
Teratozoospermia Treatment
Though the condition seems severe, most of the causes can be treated with timely medical assistance and modifications in lifestyle. However, some serious causes, like genetic issues and serious injuries, can be a bit difficult to treat.
Here are some treatments men with teratozoospermia can undergo to treat the condition.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle
Avoiding unhealthy habits and adopting a healthy lifestyle can go a long way in helping you treat teratozoospermia. Following a healthy diet, doing regular exercises, and engaging in yoga and other relaxing activities are some of the best ways to improve your lifestyle.
Taking nutritional supplements
Men can add some nutritional supplements like omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin E, L-carnitine, and antioxidants to their diet to improve their fertility.
Undergo ARTs (Assisted Reproductive Technologies)
Conclusion
Men need not be too concerned about teratozoospermia unless it is severe. Today’s technological developments and treatment methods have made it possible for men and women with different fertility problems to achieve their dream of parenthood.
It is crucial for men to visit a fertility hospital and diagnose the root cause of their fertility issues. They can discuss with doctors for ICSI Treatment if you are having issues like Sperm Motility.
Yes, women can get pregnant even when their partner has teratozoospermia. If their condition is mild, natural conception is possible. Couples should visit a fertility doctor to undergo treatments like IUI, IVF, ICSI, and IMSI if they have moderate or severe teratozoospermia.
Teratozoospermia is the condition where the semen has high levels of morphologically abnormal sperm than normal sperm. This lowers the chances of successful fertilization and pregnancy as the sperm won’t be able to swim to the egg. So, yes, sometimes teratozoospermia can be a serious issue.
Teratozoospermia does not cause serious issues like Down Syndrome. However, an abnormal sperm can cause issues like implantation failure, increase the risk of miscarriage, cause genetic abnormalities, etc.
