Cryptozoospermia - Causes, symptoms and treatment. MF.
Cryptozoospermia is one of the forms of disturbance of the normal state of sperm. Laboratory this situation is described as a reduction in the number of spermatozoa per unit volume of sperm. That is, during cryptozoospermia, very few spermatozoa occur in the field of view of the microscope. Naturally, in such a situation the probability of becoming pregnant decreases significantly.
The normal concentration of spermatozoa in the ejaculate is at least 20 million cells per milliliter. If this indicator has a smaller number, then we can safely be diagnosed with critical situations.
Causes of cryptozoospermia
Because this form of male infertility is one of the most common, there can be many reasons for its development. At the first stage, the most frequent should be highlighted. One of these is the diverse genetic disorders of , which can lead to a change in the qualitative and quantitative composition of sperm. These pathologies are incurable and can not be medically corrected.
To the same group of incurable causes of cryptozoospermia should be attributed to congenital malformations of the urogenital system in boys. This may be the absence of the vas deferens, lack of testicles or cryptorchidism, when the testicle is located outside the scrotum.
Less serious are infections that are transmitted by the genitourinary tract through .Venereal diseases that can cause cryptozoospermia include gonorrhea, chlamydia and others.
A huge number of kripozoospermia occurs due to disruption of the normal functioning of the testicle. The cause of this malfunction can be acute and chronic inflammation of the testicle , a violation of its blood supply in the form of varicose veins or the banal trauma organ. By the way, the last group includes radiation trauma, which arises from irradiation of the testicle by ionizing radiation.
For non-specific reasons for cryptozoospermia, the harmful effect on the process of spermatogenesis of alcohol and tobacco smoke can be attributed. In addition, quite often such a pathology has psychological causes of , because it arises from prolonged stress or nervous overstrain.
Probability of fertilization with cryptozoospermia
Possibility of fertilization with cryptozoospermia leaves much to be desired. Theoretically, getting pregnant with such an analysis of sperm is possible, since there is a certain number of cells in the ejaculate. But in practice this happens quite rarely. The fact that the process of penetration of the sperm from the acidic environment of the vagina into the uterus is due to the death of a large number of these cells. And if there are so few, the probability of fertilization is minimal. In addition, a certain amount of spermatozoa is needed to dissolve the ovum shell, and not one, as some patients believe. Scientists do not call the exact figure in a percentage, but at the same time give no more than 3% of the fact that fertilization with cryptozoospermia will be normal.
Action tactics
Tactics should depend on the specific situation. For example, if you are sure that you do not have any inflammatory or infectious diseases of the genito-urinary organs, then it's best to contact the doctor after repeating the clinical analysis of the sperm. But if you have any doubts about the infection with the genital flora, it is better to contact the urologist immediately after receiving the result of the tests on your hands.
Treatment of cryptozoospermia
Treatment of cryptozoospermia is divided into psychological, medicamental and surgical. The former is used for the psychogenic causes of the disorder, the second for inflammatory and infectious diseases, and the third for congenital anomalies in the development of genital organs such as cryptorchidism or infection of the vas deferens.
As practice shows, in most cases spermogram with cryptozoospermia is normalized after the first course of drug treatment. There are situations, for example, chronic inflammation of the testicles or their appendages, when the treatment process lasts more than a year. But even in such situations, there is still hope for a favorable resolution of the issue. In completely hopeless situations, patients are offered artificial insemination.
Rev.the doctor the urologist, the sexologist-andrologist Plotnikov А.N.