Azoospermia, when a man's semen does not contain sperm & bull; hello healthy

Azoospermia is one infertility problem that can occur in men. This condition may not be realized until you and your partner are not blessed with children even though you have sex regularly. The following is a complete explanation of azoospermia.

What is azoospermia?

Quoted from John Hopkins Medicine, azoospermia is a condition when the semen that is released contains very little or no sperm.

This condition can occur in about 1% of all men in the world and 15% of men who are infertile.

When viewed in general, the male reproductive system consists of the testes, prostate, penis, scrotum (testicles), epididymis, vas deferens, and urethra (urethra).

Sperm itself is produced in the seminiferous tubules in the male testes. The process of forming sperm cells in the testes is called spermatogenesis.

If you are not pregnant even though you keep trying after years, this condition could be the cause.

Generally, the characteristics of azoospermia cannot be seen directly. This condition can only be seen if you perform a sperm analysis test.

What are the causes of azoospermia?

The causes of the occurrence of azoospermia in men cannot be generalized. Therefore, there will be two types of causes that you need to know, such as:

1. Obtructive azoospermia

This type of azoospermia is caused by a blockage along the genital or reproductive system.

The testes are capable of producing sperm, but they are blocked so that they are not present in the semen.

2. Nonobstructive azoospermia

The cause of this azoospermia is due to a problem in sperm production.

The worst possibility is that the body cannot produce sperm. This is due to hormonal disturbances or imperfect testicular function.

Lack or very little sperm during ejaculation can be caused by a blockage of the genital system. In fact, sperm production is completely normal.

Other factors that can be the cause:

Currently undergoing cancer treatment
Are taking certain drugs
Experiencing scrotal swelling or varicocele
Hormones that are not balanced
Heredity

Types of azoospermia

Based on the cause, the condition of the lack of sperm count in semen is divided into three types, namely:

1. Pretesticuler azoospermia

This condition is also referred to as obstructive azoospermia. Occurs when a man experiences a sex hormone disorder that affects sperm production in the testes.

There are several things that can cause this condition. Some of them include:

Kallman syndrome

Kallman syndrome is an inherited genetic disorder on the X chromosome. This condition is characterized by low levels of gonadotropin hormone (GnRH) and decreased function of the sense of smell.

GnRH itself is responsible for stimulating the pituitary gland to release hormones that stimulate sperm production.

Disorders of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland in the brain

This condition is caused by exposure to radiation or certain drugs, especially those used in chemotherapy treatment.

Not only that, the influence of alcohol, cigarettes and narcotics can also trigger hypothalamic disorders in the brain.

2. Testicular azoospermia

This condition, also known as nonobstructive azoospermia, is when a man has damage to the structure or function of his testicles.

There are several things that can cause this condition. Some of them include:

Infection in the reproductive tract. Men who have a history of epididymitis and urethritis are more likely to develop these conditions.
Orchitis. Inflammation that occurs in one or both testicles in the scrotum.
Injury. Experiencing an injury in the groin or even genitals due to an accident or hard impact.
Anorchia. Known as "missing testicular syndrome", when the testicles do not appear or disappear after a critical stage of sex organ formation.
Cryptorchidism. This condition occurs when a baby boy's testicles in the third trimester do not descend into the scrotum at birth.
Klinefelter's Syndrome. An inherited disorder that causes a man to have an excess of the X chromosome and appears female characteristics.
History of certain diseases. Some diseases such as diabetes, cirrhosis, or kidney failure can increase a man's risk of developing this condition.

3. Post-testicular azoospermia

This condition occurs when the sperm produced in the testes cannot be removed from the penis. In most cases, it is this cause most often experienced by men with azoospermia.

There are several things that can cause this condition. Some of them include:

Retrograde ejaculation. The semen with this condition does not actually come out through the penis opening, but instead turns upward to enter the bladder.
Obstructive azoospermia.This condition occurs when the tube that carries sperm from the testes to the penis becomes blocked.

Diagnosis of azoospermia

Doctors cannot provide a direct diagnosis, such as only listening to any complaints from you. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out testing in a special laboratory.

The first thing the doctor will do is ask you to provide a sample of the results of your ejaculation or semen. After that, the test will be carried out in the laboratory using a high-powered microscope.

If the results show no sperm in it, you will be diagnosed with azoospermia.

Please note that if there is sperm in the semen, then the microscope will show that the sperm is separated from the water around it.

Azoospermia treatment

Do not immediately be discouraged when your doctor tells you that you have this condition.

With proper care and treatment, men with azoospermia still have the opportunity to have offspring.

Here are some types of treatment for men with azoospermia:

Treatment for obstructive azoospermia

Surgery or surgery can often repair blocked reproductive tracts.

This method of treating azoospermia can also be done to make a connection that never develops because of a congenital defect.

The sooner the blockage is treated, the more likely it is that the operation will be successful.

If the surgery is successful, your chances of getting pregnant and having a baby are also great.

Here are some types of surgery or surgery that can be done, are:

Vasectomy reversal or reversal vasectomy to reconnect the sperm ducts so that ejaculation can occur.
MicroTESE is a procedure to extract sperm from the testicular tissue with a small incision.
TURED, is a small surgery done with a camera to remove blockages.
Circumcision
Treat scars caused by sexually transmitted infections with endoscopy.