What Is Asthenozoospermia?
Asthenozoospermia is a term used to define reduced motility of the sperm. The condition is referred to as asthenospermia when the motility of the sperm is less than 40 %, or the sperm travels with a speed of fewer than 25 micrometers/second and leads to infertility. Motility can be defined as the ability of the sperm to move forward in the trade direction.
This ability of the sperm makes it potential to travel into the female genital tract and fertilize with the ovum. Therefore the most common complication of asthenozoospermia is infertility. Ideally, it is expected that after ejaculation, at least 70 % of the sperm are motile to reach the ovum and fertilize. Still, natural fertilization is difficult in cases with asthenozoospermia and therefore requires other artificial fertilization methods.
What Are the Causes of Asthenozoospermia?
Several factors influence the quality, quantity, and efficiency of sperm; some of these factors are listed below:
Inflammation: Inflammatory disease of the sperm duct, prostate gland, or anywhere in the reproductive tract affects the sperm, and low sperm motility is one of the consequences of the inflammation, along with reduced sperm count and fertility of the sperm.
Varicocele: A condition that causes enlargement of the veins of the scrotum and is one of the reasons that affects the motility of the sperm.
Abnormal Semen Liquefaction: It is a condition caused due to reduced ductal space inside sperm, which results in decreased mobility of the sperm.
Chromosomal Abnormalities: It is considered one of the most significant reasons for male infertility as chromosomal abnormalities affect the normal structure and function of the sperm, including its motility.
Immunological Factors: Understanding the structure of the seem is important to know the role of immunological components in affecting the motility of the sperm.
The anatomic structure of the sperm is as follows:
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Head: The head of the sperm contains an acrosome that helps penetrate the female egg and fertilize it.
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Body: The body of the sperm contains mitochondria and supplies energy to the sperm cell.
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Tail: The tail of the sperm cell moves like a propeller and helps the sperm in its motility
These immunological antibodies in the tail reduce the motility of the sperm to prevent fertilization; these antibodies are called anti-sperm antibodies.
Lifestyle: Researchers have observed that lifestyle and daily habits play a very important role in sex life and sex hormones, and so these habits affect sperm count, motility, etc. Various lifestyle factors include diet, exercise, sleep-wake cycle, stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, etc. those, as mentioned earlier, are toxic lifestyle habits that decrease testosterone production and can lead to asthenozoospermia.
Profession: Daily activities, personal or professional, impact sperm motility as it has been observed drivers or horse riders who sit for longer durations or have chances of over-exerting the pelvis have shown unhealthy sperms.
Frequent exposure to spermicide and condoms can also affect the quality and motility of the sperm.
What Are the Preventive Measures?
It is not always possible to prevent male infertility, as in most cases, it is noted at the later stages or when the couple faces difficulties conceiving. Some of the preventive measures that every male should follow are as follows:
Healthy Lifestyle: Healthy lifestyle must be taught to prevent complications in the sex life and other systemic disorders. Individuals must avoid smoking, have a night of adequate sleep, participate in activities that relieve stress, practice meditation, exercise regularly, and avoid alcohol and junk food. These habits can prevent and prolong systemic as well as reproductive disorders.
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Avoid over-exposure to pesticides or toxins.
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Prevent being in areas that have excessive heat from hurting testicles.
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Avoid vasectomy.
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Maintain weight.
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Prevent being addicted to drugs or any abusive substances.
Who Is Most Likely to Be Affected by Asthenozoospermia?
Asthenozoospermia is commonly associated with some of the underlying systemic diseases like
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Kidney function disorders.
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Genetic disorders.
What Are the Consequences of Asthenozoospermia?
The consequence of asthenozoospermia is infertility in males, as the sperm has reduced motility, it fails to reach the ovum, and thus natural fertilization becomes impossible in such cases, though asthenozoospermia makes it impossible to conceive naturally; therefore, in couples where the male suffers from infertility or reduced sperm motility, artificial fertilization methods are required.
How Is Asthenozoospermia Diagnosed?
Diagnosis of asthenozoospermia is based on the examination of semen and blood:
Semen sample examination:
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Fresh semen is examined under a microscope.
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The motility of the sperm is observed.
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The diagnosis is confirmed if the immotility is more than 40 %.
While examining the technical and human errors must be prevented.
Blood Tests: A blood sample is collected, and the levels of the sex hormones are monitored.
How Is Asthenozoospermia Treated?
Treating asthenozoospermia is possible and has been proven effective in overcoming the misbelief that people consider only female infertility is treatable. Various treatment modalities to overcome male infertility include:
Hormone Therapy: This therapy effectively maintains the balance of all the sex hormones. Pills are prescribed to facilitate the synthesis or control the release of certain hormones. Supplements can be used to maintain hormonal balance.
Medications: Various medicines like L-carnitine and anastrozole can be prescribed to improve the quality of the sperm and increase motility to promote fertilization naturally. These medications are considered safe and effective in cases with asthenozoospermia. Zinc supplements have also proved effective in improving the quality and quantity of sperm.
Artificial Insemination: This is a procedure where a sperm sample is collected by a specialist and injected into the uterus at the time of ovulation. This procedure is effective but can be performed only in healthy females who do not have any infertility issues and are below the age of 35. In cases where asthenozoospermia is difficult to treat or untreatable, even such cases, couples can conceive and become parents using the following methods, which require guidance and professional consultations:
In-vitro Fertilization: A procedure carried out in a laboratory under controlled conditions and temperatures, where a specialist fuses a healthy sperm with the ovum. After successful fertilization, the zygote is then implanted into the uterus.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection: This is one of the most critical procedures with the highest success rate in fertilization. This procedure is carried out by experts, where healthy sperm is collected from the testes and injected into the ovary during ovulation with the help of a thin needle.
Conclusion:
Asthenozoospermia is a medical condition in males that leads to sperm immobility, one of the most common reasons for male infertility. This is caused due to various environmental, genetic, and behavioral factors and can be improved or cured by taking preventive measures and necessary treatment as advised by the physician.
