What is Azoospermia? What are the treatment options for Azoospermia?

Azoospermia: Meaning

Azoospermia is a medical term we use when there is no sperm to ejaculate. When your testicles are not able to produce any sperm you might be able to ejaculate but there won’t be any sperm. Azoospermia is quite common with over 1 percent of men in the world having it. Azoospermia causes can be of different types.

• Obstructive: When there is a blockage that prevents sperm from entering during ejaculation.
• Nonobstructive: When there is decreased sperm due to a decrease in sperm production.

Azoospermia: Causes

The cause can be related to the type, ie. Obstructive or nonobstructive source. To get proper azoospermia treatment you need to determine the type first.

The main reason that causes blockage and makes it obstructive are:

• Trauma or injury
• Infection
• Inflammation
• Any previous surgery in the pelvic area
• Development of cyst
• Vasectomy or other planned permanent contraceptive procedure
• Cystic fibrosis or damage to the lung and digestive system

The main reason when the non-obstructive type can happen are:

• Having mumps during late puberty
• Tumours
• Radiation
• Diabetes
• Pre Surgery
• Reaction to medications
• Varicocele

Azoospermia: Symptoms

The most evident way of finding if you have azoospermia is when you are unable to conceive. Other symptoms can either be hormonal or genetic conditions.

Some other possible azoospermia symptoms are:

• Low sex drive
• Hairfall in face or body
• Any type of swelling, discomfort, or lumps around the testicle area
• Erectile dysfunction

If you face any of the symptoms, you can contact Dr. Manish Banker, Ahmedabad to get an expert evaluation.

Azoospermia: Diagnosis

The most common way to do an azoospermia diagnosis is through a semen analysis test. In a semen analysis, your doctor will ask you to ejaculate in a cup and submit the sample for lab testing. If you have no sperm in your test, you may have azoospermia. To know more about the diagnosis and azoospermia treatment, you can get a basic evaluation for treatment at Dr. Bankers’ in-house laboratory.

During the physical exam, your doctor will also ask about your medical history. We have curated a checklist of possible questions that is useful for azoospermia treatment. These are about:

• Your fertility history and ability to conceive children
• Your family history and any past fertility issues in your family
• Any childhood illness
• Surgeries or procedures to your pelvic area or your reproductive tract
• Past infections like UTIs or STIs
• Exposure to radiation or chemotherapy
• Any prior or recent medication use
• Any misuse of drugs and alcohol
• Any recent illness with fever
• Exposure to high heat

Other diagnoses of azoospermia symptoms can include:

• Blood tests: These help to analyse hormonal levels and other genetic conditions.
• Ultrasound: to help visualise your scrotum and other parts of the reproductive tract, ultrasound is taken.
• Biopsies: To help and examine sperm production.

Related: A quick brief on causes and types of infertility.

Azoospermia treatment: Medical

For effective azoospermia treatment, the type is crucial. In obstructive azoospermia since there is a blockage, it can be treated through

• Reconnecting or reconstruction of tubes that prevent sperm from flowing.
• Hormonal treatment can help if there is a production of low hormones.

In non-obstructive azoospermia, there is a chance that medical treatment cannot be responsive. Some ways you can still try to achieve pregnancy through the IVF treatment process.

Related: When to consider infertility treatment options?

Azoospermia treatment: Natural

Natural treatments might not always work but dietary changes can help in sperm production. When you take good care of yourself, drink water and other fluids with rest and better mental health can help along with surgeries or other azoospermia treatments. You can consult expert doctors at Dr. Banker to know how natural remedies can help.

Some natural remedies to try are:

• Eating a nutrient-dense diet for improvement in sperm production.
• Exercising on a regular basis to boost your testosterone levels.
• Practicing yoga and meditation to lower your stress and improve mental health. This will help in the improvement of your testosterone production.
• You can also ask your doctor to recommend herbs and supplements to promote male fertility.

Related: How to boost sperm count – Myths and Facts

Azoospermia: Prevention

There are ways you can prevent and protect sperm production. Since azoospermia can be caused by medications or injuries, early prevention works best. Try these steps to prevent low sperm count

• Stay away from rough sports activities that might harm your testicles and reproductive tract.
• Avoid radiation exposure.
• Speak to your doctor about the risks and benefits of medications and how they might affect sperm production
• Avoid activities like sauna or steam baths that might expose your testicles to a high temperature

Conclusion:

The words no sperm count can be scary, but that shouldn’t dishearten you. Being diagnosed with azoospermia doesn’t mean that you cannot try pregnancy and become biological parents.

It is necessary to first understand your condition and the reason before taking any steps. Constantly discussing with your doctor about the causes and the possible treatment options can help you address the issue and provide low sperm count treatment. You can also try IVF treatments or other possibilities like donor treatments to achieve pregnancy and start your happy family.

To read more useful blogs, visit our blog page. If you would like to visit Dr. Manish Banker, the top IVF specialist in Gujarat, then you can book your slot in 2 mins by contacting us on our website. We take all safety precautions for the patients for the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Frequently asked questions on Azoospermia treatments:

1. Is there any treatment for azoospermia in India?
If you have obstructive azoospermia, The TESE ( Testicular sperm extraction) or PESA is performed to retrieve your sperm. After this, an IVF treatment with an ICSI procedure is carried out to help in conception. Azoospermia treatment can help improve men in their sperm production and increase their chances of conception.

2. Can azoospermia be treated without surgery?
Sperm retrieval can help both non-obstructive and obstructive azoospermia men who don’t want surgery. You can freeze your sample and use that later in IVF Treatment.

3. Does masturbation reduce sperm count?
No. Masturbating frequently will not affect your sperm count or your ability to conceive with your partner. Masturbation is normal and healthy with many health and mental well-being benefits like reducing stress and physical tension in our bodies.

4. Can you still get pregnant with azoospermia?
Yes even if your azoospermia is genetic you will be able to conceive biologically. With advancements in technology you can now conceive naturally or through assisted reproductive methods.

5. Can low testosterone cause azoospermia?
Low testosterone can make a man experience fatigue and low sex drive. This makes them take testosterone supplements. But these supplements can be a reason for azoospermia.