Azoospermia Natural Treatment: Obstructive & Non-Obstructive
Do you have azoospermia ( No-Sperm Count ) and are you looking for the azoospermia natural treatment? Well don’t worry because in this article we have discussed it in detail.
After a year of attempting to conceive with unprotected intercourse, couples are termed infertile. It’s difficult to cross the invisible line into the realm of infertility. Aside from feeling bombarded with pregnancy announcements, you may be concerned about your health and unsure what to do next.
Not alone. Infertility affects 12–13 couples out of 100. Up to 50% of these instances are due to male-factor infertility. Azoospermia is a condition when there are no sperm in the sperm. Azerospermia affects roughly 1% of males and causes 10% to 15% of infertility cases.
What is Azoospermia?
An absence of sperm (a-zoo-SPER-mee-ah) is the root cause of male infertility. When a man’s ejaculate (semen) has no sperm in it, azoospermia is present.
Sperm are typically produced by a man’s testicles, which are located in the scrotum. Sperm cells in the male reproductive system swim through the circulatory system to meet other fluids to form semen. Ejaculated sperm is called semen and it is a thick, white fluid.
Five to ten percent of guys who undergo infertility testing are found to have the disorder known as azoospermia. This condition may exist at birth or it may manifest itself later in life.
When it comes to azoospermia therapy and sperm collection, Stanford Health Care is unrivalled. To help our patients conceive again, we tailor treatment plans to them as individuals.
No sperm count
Here’s a basic primer on how the human body works: The testicles are where sperm is produced. It goes through the reproductive tract and combines with the seminal duct fluid. The sperm and this fluid combine to form semen, which is the thick, white ejaculate that emerges from the penis.
The sperm is removed from the equation in azoospermia. You may have ejaculate, but it is devoid of sperm. You may be acquainted with the phrase “low sperm count,” but azoospermia is also known as “no sperm count.”
Azoospermia is classified into three types:
Pre-testicular azoospermia (non-obstructive) is caused by a decrease in the synthesis of the hormones necessary for sperm production.
Non-obstructive testicular azoospermia is caused by any abnormalities in the function or structure of the testicles.
Because sperm production is not hindered, it is diminished in this kind of azoospermia. A guy can’t produce enough sperm for a significant number to show up in his sperm.
Although nonobstructive azoospermia remains challenging to treat, recent medical advances—including those pioneered by our scientists and others—have made it feasible to help restore sperm to the sperm in certain cases.
Post-testicular azoospermia (obstructive) is caused by ejaculation issues induced by a blockage in the reproductive system.
As the name implies, “obstructive azoospermia” describes a situation in which sperm production is normal but neither testicle can access the oviduct. This means that the sperm is completely devoid of any sperm. A person’s health problems on either side of the scrotum may be unrelated.
What are the symptoms of azoospermia?
You may not have any symptoms or even be aware that you have azoospermia until your attempts to conceive fail. Any additional indications or symptoms you have may be due to underlying reasons such as hormone imbalances or hereditary chromosomal disorders.
Otherwise, other symptoms might include:
Erectile dysfunction caused by a lack of sex a bulge, swelling, or pain around the testicles a loss of hair on the face or body
Causes of Non-Obstructive Azoospermia
Variables in Heredity
Several inherited factors in male infertility can lead to non-obstructive azoospermia. Examples include karyotypic anomalies and Y-chromosome microdeletions. Having an extra X chromosome in a male causes the most common karyotypic aberration known as Klinefelter Syndrome. In up to 10% of cases of non-obstructive azoospermia, the cause is a genetic abnormality that manifests itself in low sperm count.
Hormonal Caused Non-obstructive Azoospermia
The production of sperm requires stimulation of the testicles by pituitary hormones. A lack or deficiency of these hormones prevents normal sperm production. Hormones necessary for sperm production may have been altered in men who use or have used steroids.
Radiation and Toxins
Sperm count declines can be brought on by exposure to toxins including heavy metals, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Because of this, sperm banking is recommended before a patient undergoes chemo or radiation therapy.
Medications
There’s some evidence that some medications can reduce sperm count. Supplementing with testosterone, for instance, might disrupt sexual maturation in a way that is not physiologically normal.
Varicoceles
Scrotal varicoceles, or enlarged varicose veins, can potentially interfere with sperm production. Because of the pooling of blood in the scrotum caused by varicoceles, sperm production is diminished.
Causes Of Obstructive Azoospermia
Causes of obstructive azoospermia include, but are not limited to, issues with the ductal system and ejaculatory dysfunction. Examples include the following:
Neurological damage from surgery, diabetes, or spinal cord injury if the ducts are ligated (tied), as in a vasectomy, blockages due to trauma or infection, or if the ducts are absent due to congenital conditions like CABVD (congenital absence of the vas deferens), which is associated with cystic fibrosis mutations in the ejaculatory process.
How is azoospermia diagnosed?
A semen analysis is the most simple approach to determine whether you have azoospermia. Your doctor will instruct you to ejaculate into a cup and send the specimen to a lab for analysis. If no viable sperm is found in the ejaculate, you may have azoospermia.
In addition to a physical exam, your doctor will want to know about your medical history. They could inquire about:
- Your reproductive history (whether or not you’ve had children)
- Your family tree (like cystic fibrosis or fertility issues)
- Diseases you had as a kid various operations or procedures to the pelvic region or reproductive tract history of infections, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Past or present radiation or chemotherapy exposure prior or current medication usage any suspected drug or alcohol abuse
- Recent sickness characterised by fever
- Recent exposure to extreme temperatures
Other diagnostic techniques that might be used include:
- Hormone levels or genetic disorders are assessed via blood testing.
- Ultrasound to see the scrotum and other regions of the reproductive system brain imaging to search for hypothalamic or pituitary gland abnormalities biopsies to test sperm production more closely.
What are the medical treatments for azoospermia?
Obstructive azoospermia may be treated by reconnecting or repairing the tubes or ducts that are preventing sperm flow. This might include surgery or other treatments. If the underlying reason is poor hormone production, hormonal therapies and medicines may be beneficial.
Medical therapy for non-obstructive azoospermia may or may not be effective. However, there is some good news: you may still be able to have a biological kid through in vitro fertilisation or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
How? A small needle might be used by your doctor to harvest sperm from the testes. This retrieval may also take place during a biopsy. Even if you just have a few sperm in your testicles, this technique may work.
If you select this path, it is critical to get genetic counselling to understand the underlying reason and how it may affect any biological offspring.
Azoospermia Natural Treatment
Home remedies for sperm production may or may not be effective in the case of azoospermia. While low sperm count may react favourably to specific herbs and dietary modifications, sperm that is lacking due to an obstruction or hereditary issue may not (if at all).
That’s not to say that taking care of oneself by eating a well-balanced diet, getting enough of rest, drinking lots of fluids, and managing stress can’t help. Aside from caring for your overall health, consider working closely with your doctor to discover what natural therapies, if any, may be beneficial in your circumstance.
Attempts to make:
- Consume a diet rich in complete, nutrient-dense meals to promote sperm production.
- Regular exercise is essential. This may aid in the increase of Trusted Source testosterone levels.
- To reduce stress, try yoga or meditation. Cortisol (stress hormone) may have an effect on testosterone synthesis.
- Ask your doctor about herbs and supplements like Tribulus terrestrisTrusted Source, black seed, Coenzyme Q10, folic acid, horse chestnut, L-carnitine, Panax ginseng, and zinc that may help with male fertility.
Sperm Blockage Treatment
Tubes in the reproductive system can be unblocked surgically or reconnected if they were never properly formed at birth.
Our doctors are experts in the delicate techniques required to restore normal sperm flow after obstructive azoospermia treatment. You may learn more about obstructive azoospermia by conducting research about the condition. If you’re not a candidate for surgical reconstruction, or if you just don’t want to have it done, you always have other options. Our lab is equipped to harvest sperm professionally if you have:
Testicles
- The tube called the epididymis is located nearby and is where sperm are created.
- The vas deferens is the last stop on the journey of a sperm through the male reproductive system.
- In our IVF procedures, we use donor sperm (IVF). Get schooled on the ins and outs of sperm harvesting.
- Our specialists are available to sit down with you and discuss your options if you’re having trouble making a
- Decision. Should that become necessary, microsurgery or endoscopic surgery can be conducted.
Non-obstructive Azoospermia Treatment
Our state-of-the-art treatments may help some men with nonobstructive azoospermia have their eggs fertilised naturally, allowing them to become parents without the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART).
Although many of our patients have insufficient sperm production to transmit via their reproductive systems, we have found sperm production in small areas in several of their testicles.
Our success in sperm extraction may be attributed to the years of practise we’ve put in and the knowledge we’ve gained.
Your doctor will ask you about your specific issue before making therapy recommendations. Some men may find relief simply by making adjustments to their way of life, switching medications, or beginning to prevent exposure to harmful drugs.
Your reproductive system is also fairly resilient, even after undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy; your body only needs time to recover from the treatment.
On the other hand, we may suggest a more direct approach. In any case, your sperm count won’t significantly increase for another two to three months after that.
Replacement Hormone Therapy
Some men with nonobstructive azoospermia may benefit from hormone treatment, which, depending on the man’s current hormone levels, may encourage sperm production or improve the likelihood of sperm recovery during sperm extraction and retrieval. The following list details these hormones:
Folliculogenesis-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Pregnancy-inducing hormones include human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
Clomiphene
Anastrazole \sLetrazole
Varicocelectomy
Varicocele, a disorder characterised by enlarged veins in the scrotum, might hinder sperm production in certain men.
In a microscopic varicocelectomy, we use a tiny camera attached to an operating microscope to locate the offending veins and surgically close them up, all without disturbing the nearby healthy tissue (e.g., arteries, vas deferens, lymphatic channels).
Up to 40% of men who have this procedure done will have their sperm returned to them. Sperm extraction is an option for those who have tried repeatedly without success. Read on to learn about the sperm extraction options we provide.
Further Information Regarding the Management of Asymptomatic Azoospermia
Whatever the root of your non-obstructive azoospermia, you may expect the same treatment plan from us. First, a male endocrine profile and menstruation analysis (blood work). Then, treatment consists of one or more of the following methods:
Clomid (clomiphene citrate) is the drug of choice to treat low bioavailable testosterone. After four months of treatment with this medicine, your sperm will be tested again.
One in every nine men will have their sperm return to the ejaculate after taking therapy to normalise testosterone levels. Some medications prevent sperm from returning to the ejaculate in males.
Alternatively, microsurgical testicular sperm extraction improves sperm recovery rates when the patient has taken medication to suppress testosterone (microTESE).
Microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (microTESE) is advised for men with enough testosterone* after diagnostic testing.
MicroTESE is also recommended for men who have been using testosterone-suppressing medicines for at least four months but are still unable to produce sperm following ejaculation.
MicroTESE treatments allow for sperm identification between 50% and 65% of the time.
Obstructive Azoospermia Treatment
Surgery to remove the obstruction may help men with obstructive azoospermia conceive spontaneously, without the need for IVF or other forms of artificial reproductive technology. In certain cases, a vasectomy reversal allows for a couple to conceive a child the traditional way.
Rates of success may vary depending on a number of factors, including the time after the man’s vasectomy, the age of the wife, and other complicating factors.
Twenty to forty percent of vasectomy reversal patients may conceive naturally without the use of IVF or other assisted reproductive technologies, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).
Pregnancy and Non-Obstructive Azoospermia
Specialists in the field of fertility once held the view that men who had problems with their sperm production could only start a family with the help of a sperm donor or via adoption.
Testis biopsies from males diagnosed with non-obstructive azoospermia have, nonetheless, revealed the presence of sperm. Testicular sperm, despite their diminished motility, can be used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) during in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) with in vitro fertilisation (ICSI) is a surgical procedure that has been used on men with non-obstructive azoospermia.
The removal of testicular sperm can be done with either local or general anaesthesia. The sperm collected in this way can be utilised in in vitro fertilisation procedures.
Before considering IVF, genetic testing and counselling are recommended if a man suspects he may have a hereditary cause for his non-obstructive azoospermia.
Pregnancy And Obstructive Azoospermia
If the obstruction causing azoospermia can be surgically removed, then couples may be able to conceive normally, without the use of fertility medications or technological reproductive aids.
However, sperm retrieval treatments can also be utilised to help in the conceiving process. A child can be born to a man with azoospermia using in vitro fertilisation (IVF) utilising intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) when sperm is collected directly from the testis or epididymis (ICSI).
Multiple methods of sperm retrieval are available, including testicular sperm extraction (TESE), microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA), percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA), and percutaneous testicular sperm extraction (PTSE) (TESA).
The sperm retrieval process might happen on the same day as the egg retrieval operation or a few days beforehand during IVF. Fresh sperm is often preferred over frozen sperm in fertility clinics. Multiple sperm extractions can be performed simultaneously. However, you should wait anywhere from three months to a year before attempting another retrieval.
Recovered testicular sperm does not contain a sufficient amount of motile sperm to allow IUI or IVF without the intervention of an embryologist, hence ICSI (in vitro fertilisation with a single sperm, done by an embryologist) is typically required to fertilise the eggs.
