Table of Contents
What is azoospermia?
Causes of azoospermia
1. Obstructive (blockage)
2. Non-obstructive (non-blockage)
Characteristics of azoospermia to watch out for
Treatment of azoospermia
The importance of maintaining testicular health
Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
—
Azoospermia
to be one of the main causes
infertility
in men.This condition occurs when not a single sperm is found in the semen, so natural fertilization becomes very difficult, if not impossible.
Eka Hospital Grand Family PIK Andrology Specialist, Christian Christoper Sunnu, explained that azoospermia is not a condition that can be considered trivial.The reason is, this condition accounts for around 20 percent of infertility cases in the world.
In Indonesia, it is estimated that around 4 to 6 million couples of productive age experience difficulty having children, with around 30 percent of cases caused by male factors.
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This condition is exacerbated by the fact that men’s sperm count globally has reportedly decreased by more than 50 percent in the last few decades.
What is azoospermia?
Azoospermia, otherwise known as ’empty sperm’, is a medical condition of concern in male infertility.This condition means that not a single sperm is found in a man’s semen.
Semen in people with azoospermia often looks thinner and clearer.However, this condition can only be confirmed through laboratory examination.
“The easiest thing is to look at the size of the testicles. If the testicles are small, under 4 cc, that is quite difficult. So you have to inject hormones first for six months to a year, then there is hope for sperm production,” said Sunnu at an Eka Hospital media meeting in Central Jakarta, Tuesday (16/12).
Causes of azoospermia
Azoospermia is divided into two types based on the cause, which are as follows:
1. Obstructive (blockage)
This type occurs due to a blockage in the reproductive tract.Causes include:
• Long-standing infection, especially due to frequently changing partners without a condom
• Severe trauma to the testicular area
• Genetic factors
2. Non-obstructive (non-blockage)
In this type, azoospermia is generally caused by impaired sperm production.Causes include:
• Unhealthy lifestyle, such as smoking and consuming foods high in sugar (ultra processed food)
• Genetic factors
• Hormone deficiency, including due to careless use of hormone injections
• Infections such as mumps or COVID-19
• Use of certain medications
• Varicocele
Characteristics of azoospermia to watch out for
Most people with azoospermia do not show obvious symptoms.However, under certain conditions, especially those related to hormonal disorders, the following signs may appear:
• Morning erections are absent or come and go
• Decreased sexual desire
• Erections are not optimal (erectile dysfunction)
• Inadequate secondary sexual development, for example the voice is still like a child’s, no hair grows in the armpits or genitals, small muscles, and gets tired easily
Treatment of azoospermia
Until now, azoospermia is still relatively difficult to cure.The reason is, there is no therapy available that can restore sperm count from zero to completely normal.
In some non-obstructive cases, hormone therapy or certain methods may help.However, the results are not always optimal, because the sperm count is very limited or even non-existent, couples with azoospermia often require IVF or in vitro fertilization (IVF) to produce offspring.
The importance of maintaining testicular health
The testicles are the only sperm producing organs in men.Damage to this organ tends to be difficult to recover from.
Therefore, maintaining testicular health from an early age is an important step.
A healthy lifestyle, stress management, a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking and alcohol can help reduce the risk of fertility problems.
A doctor’s examination is highly recommended for men who experience sexual dysfunction or difficulty having children so that evaluation and treatment can be carried out as early as possible.
(nga/tis)
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