Have you been married for several years but have not had children? No disturbance to the wife that interferes with her pregnancy? The husband could have a sperm disorder called oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.
Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, or OAT, is a sperm disorder in men that results in the inability to fertilize an egg. One example is when husbands can’t get their wives pregnant after a year of having sex without contraception. It could be that the man has this OAT disorder.
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This condition is a sperm disorder often found in infertility or fertility disorders. The characteristics of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia itself can cause the sperm that men produce to have various problems such as:
- Lower than normal sperm count, less than 15 million sperm per mL (oligozoospermia)
- Sperm that are abnormally shaped or have damage to the head and tail so that they are unable to fertilize an egg, less than 4% (teratozoospermia)
- Sperm that are lazy to move, less than 32% (asthenozoospermia)
- Sperm abnormalities above can occur due to the causes of Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia as below.
Causes of Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia
The cause of oligo asthenoteratozoospermia in general, is the presence of abnormalities in the testes of unknown cause (idiopathic). Further examination found that a genetic disorder in 7 to 10% of men produced a sperm count of less than 5 million per mL. From the above examination, several factors that influence and play a role in the emergence of this disorder can be divided into 4 groups, namely:
1. Genetic Factors
The factor causing the first oligoasthenoteratozoospermia disorder is genetic factors. These factors can trigger male fertility or reproduction, such as:
- Genetic abnormalities on the Y chromosome chromosome
- DNA damage in sperm cells
- Klinefelter syndrome
2. Lifestyle Factor
The next cause of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia is lifestyle factors. Several factors on this list can affect the quality of a man’s sperm, either directly or in the long term. Therefore, if men can fix or reduce the problems on this list, the chances of having a baby will be much greater. Some of these factors include:
Taking certain medications such as anabolic steroids, nitrofurantoin (an antibiotic for bladder infections), cimetidine (an ulcer medication), and sulfasalazine (a rheumatoid arthritis medication)
- Consuming alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs
- Having excess weight or obesity these factors trigger changes in hormones that have an impact on fertility. Being too thin or having a body mass index below 18.5 also has a negative impact.
- Prolonged exposure to heat in the testicles. Testicular environmental conditions that are too warm or hot can reduce sperm count.
- Frequent hot showers, saunas, or wearing tight, non-absorbent underwear
- Smoke. This habit causes a decrease in sperm count up to 17.5% and sperm movement up to 16.6%.
- Excessive physical exercise, such as cycling for a long time or riding, can trigger swelling of the testicles.
3. Abnormalities in the testes
Abnormalities in the testes are one of the factors causing oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. This disorder interferes with the ability of the testes to produce sperm of good quality and sufficient quantity.
There is a cure to some sicknesses, but not all sicknesses. The disorders are as below. A history of past infections, particularly syphilis, mumps, and malaria, affects the male reproductive system directly or indirectly.
- Varicocele or swelling of the testicles
- Cancer or injured testicles
- Have a history of radiotherapy and chemotherapy
- Have a history of past infections, such as mumps, syphilis, and malaria, which are known to affect the male reproductive system directly or indirectly.
4. Presence of Ejaculation Disorders
Men with ejaculatory disorders are one of the factors causing oligoasthenoaeratozoospermia. These diseases can interfere with the ejaculation process or block the flow of sperm fluid in the male reproductive tract. The causes in question are:
- Inflammation of the prostate gland or prostatitis
- Impotence
- Having erectile dysfunction can generally be cured with medication
- Blockage of the vas deferens, a blockage that occurs in the ejaculatory duct
- Retrograde ejaculation is the flow of sperm that does not flow out of the body but returns to the bladder
Hypospadias is a congenital disability in which the urethra or the outlet for sperm or urine is not located on the head of the penis
Treating Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia
Can men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia be cured? The answer is yes if the disorder is mild. Therefore, further consultation with the doctor if you experience some of the factors above.
The doctor will evaluate and give certain drugs to relieve the pain. Men can also change their lifestyle to help alleviate the disorder, which is mild to moderate. Here are some lifestyles that can be changed early on, for example, include:
- Stop consuming cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, and drugs that can reduce sperm production
- Maintain weight
- Adopt a healthy diet
- Regularly exercise at least 30 minutes per day or 150 minutes per week
- Manage stress
- Using underwear that is not tight and maintains the temperature around the genital area
Foods To Cure Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia
After knowing the factors that cause Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia disorder, we also need to know that there are several foods or supplements to treat Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.
These foods can increase the number and quality of sperm produced and are expected to treat or at least reduce sperm disorders. Here are some foods and supplements to treat Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.
- Vitamin B12 is useful for repairing damaged sperm production and increasing sperm count.
- Vitamin C can protect sperm from damage due to oxidation and prevent sperm from sticking to one another.
- Vitamin E is useful as an antioxidant and helps sperm to penetrate the egg.
- Vitamin B6 functions in the formation of male sex hormones
- Zinc this content can increase sperm count and improve fertility due to a lack of testosterone levels
- Arginine and L-Carnitine amino acids are needed for the formation and normal functioning of sperm
Are Men with Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia Infertile?
Can men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia get pregnant? The good news for men with this disorder is that they can still have children with their beloved wives. In addition to improving your lifestyle so that your sperm count and quality are good, you can also do IVF. This process will inject the husband’s best sperm cells into the wife’s mature eggs.
Therefore, if you and your partner find one of the signs above, immediately consult directly with the nearest andrology or urology specialist to be treated. Husbands who suffer from oligoasthenoteratozoospermia disorders can still make their wives pregnant.