Azoospermia: Definition, Causes, and How to Overcome

Azoospermia is an infertile condition in a man, characterized by the absence of sperm in the semen. This, of course, can cause the egg to be unable to be fertilized, so the pregnancy process does not occur. For a full review, see the full review below.

What is Azoospermia?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 1% of all men and 10% to 15% of infertile men have azoospermia. Azoospermia is a male infertility problem in which the semen contains little or no sperm. If your pregnancy does not come, azoospermia may be the reason. To ensure this fact, make sure you check with your partner.

Types of Azoospermia

Below are the types of azoospermia, with detail as follows:

1. Pre-testicular azoospermia (non-obstructive)

Non-obstructive azoospermia is caused by impaired production of the hormone responsible for making sperm. This is due to disturbances in the structure or function of the testes. Besides that, it can also happen due to radiation and toxins such as chemotherapy which can cause sperm production to decrease.

2. Post-testicular azoospermia (obstructive)

Problems with ejaculation cause the following type of azoospermia due to blockages in the reproductive tract. Whether in the epididymis, vas deferens, or other places in the reproductive tract. In this condition, men produce sperm but are prevented from coming out, so there is no amount of sperm in the man’s semen.

3. Testicular azoospermia (non-obstructive)

An abnormality in the function or structure of the testes causes testicular azoospermia. This can be due to congenital (from birth). In testicular azoospermia, sperm production may be completely absent.

Various Reasons for Azoospermia

The cause of azoospermia is directly related to the types of azoospermia. Here are some of the causes, as following details:

1. Pre-testicular azoospermia

The cause of this type of azoospermia is due to certain genetic disorders. For example, Kallman syndrome can affect the body’s ability to produce gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and eventually affect sperm production in men.

Other causes are related to the brain, that is, damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. Furthermore, certain consumed drugs can also affect a person experiencing azoospermia.

2. Testicular azoospermia

This type of testicular azoospermia can be affected by:

• Absence of testes (anorchia)
• Undescended testes (cryptorchidism)
• Testes that do not produce sperm

3. Post-testicular azoospermia

Post-testicular azoospermia occurs in about 40% of cases of azoospermia sufferers. A person’s congenital conditions can influence the type of azoospermia. Examples include the absence of vas deferens and a genetic disorder in which the ducts of the vas deferens that carry sperm from the testes are missing. Other causes are infection, cyst, or vasectomy.

How to Overcome Azoospermia

Treatment of azoospermia depends on the cause. To ensure, you can do genetic testing and counseling to understand more about therapy.

If a blockage causes your azoospermia, you may have surgery to unblock the tube.

Meanwhile, if hormones cause it, you will be given hormone therapy, including FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), HCG (human chorionic gonatropin), clomiphene, anastrozole, and letrozole.

How to Prevent Azoospermia?

If your azoospermia is not a genetic problem, you can do the following ways to reduce azoospermia, which are as follows:

• Avoid activities that can injure your reproductive organs
• Avoid radiation exposure
• Know the risks and benefits of drugs that can harm sperm production
• Avoid prolonged exposure of your testicles to heat.

That’s the discussion this time about the meaning, causes, and ways to overcome azoospermia. Make sure you follow the tips above to avoid the risk of azoospermia. We hope it’s helpful!