What is Abnormal Sperm Morphology? Understanding Teratozoospermia

Sperm morphology is the shape and size of the sperm cells. Abnormal sperm morphology is when the sperm cells are not symmetrical in shape. It affects fertility because a sperm cell would not fertilize an egg easily. Teratozoospermia is one of the common causes of abnormal sperm morphology. Infertile men should be aware of this condition.

What is Teratozoospermia?

Teratozoospermia is a condition in which sperm are abnormally shaped. Sperm ought to be egg-like, and possess a neck and tail. Men with sperm with abnormal morphology may have two-headed or tail-less sperm cells. This renders the sperm immobile and cannot fertilize the egg. Such couples might hence not be able to conceive.

Causes of Abnormal Sperm Morphology

There are many causes of abnormal sperm morphology. They are:

• Genetic Causes: Genes regulate the health of the sperm. Abnormal sperm morphology is hereditary in some men.
• Infection: Infection of the tract that changes the shape of the sperm.
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) fall under this condition.
• Lifestyle Habits: Alcohol consumption, smoking, and drug abuse are the reasons for the malfunctioning of sperm cells. Lack of physical exercise, stress, and food and drinks consumed by an individual also cause abnormal morphology.
• Environmental Factors: Pesticides, chemicals, and toxins can stop normal development of sperm. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid them.

How is Abnormal Sperm Morphology Diagnosed?

Doctors usually diagnose abnormally shaped sperm through semen testing. When the test is done, the physician looks at the sperm under microscopic examination. Normal sperm morphology percentage would be more than 4% as per the World Health Organization (WHO). Men with less than 4% forms normal appearing might be having teratozoospermia.

The semen test also accounts for sperm count, motility, and health. In the event of abnormal sperm morphology, other testing or treatment will be prescribed by the doctor.

How Sperm Morphology Influences Fertility?

Sperm morphology significantly impacts fertilization. Sperm with abnormal shapes won’t be capable of moving and penetrating the egg. Sperm that are badly shaped are not good swimmers, so conception will not occur.

However, the abnormal shape of sperm in certain cases is a cause of male infertility. Yet most men with abnormal sperm shape are fertile. To illustrate, couples can be successfully persuaded to become pregnant even with abnormal sperm shape using assisted reproductive technologies such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Treatment of Abnormal Sperm Morphology

Even though the deformed shape of the sperm cannot be treated, still there are some ways because of which one can still become pregnant. For example:

• Life Style Changes: Smoking, alcohol intake reduction, and a nutritious diet can improve sperm.
• Medicines: Some medicines or drugs can also improve sperm quality. These include antioxidants, vitamins, and hormone replacement therapy.
• Surgery: If there is a varicocele (dilatation of scrotal veins), surgery enhances the quality of the sperm.
• ART: ART interventions such as IUI and IVF can still result in pregnancy despite the normal morphology of the sperm.

Additionally, a consultation with the Best Andrologist in Salem or the Best sexologist in Namakkal can provide expert counsel. They can help assess your condition and suggest the best course of action.

When To Seek Help?

If you have been struggling with conceiving for more than one year, then this is the time. One would make an appointment with A Sexual Health Information Clinic in Tamilnadu. The clinics provide expert counseling and semen examination to determine why someone is infertile. In case of sperm morphology as a reason, the doctor may be able to advise some steps for handling the same or making any necessary adjustments to one’s life.

Conclusion

Teratozoospermia, a morphological abnormality of sperm, is a disease that can make the fertility of men redundant. Though it is hard to overcome, medicine and alternatives are useful in fertilization. With good lifestyle practices and proper guidance from doctors, most men can become fathers.

If you too have problems with infertility, you can consult the Best Andrologist in Salem or the Best sexologist in Namakkal so that you can be properly diagnosed. Even a visit to a Sexual Health Information Clinic in Tamilnadu will help you do the right thing for yourself. Taking proactive steps and understanding abnormal sperm morphology is key to improving fertility outcomes. So, if you’re facing this issue, don’t hesitate to seek medical help and explore available treatment options.