Overview

Sperm disorders encompass a variety of conditions that adversely affect the quality, quantity, or functionality of sperm, frequently resulting in male infertility. These disorders may originate from several factors, including genetic abnormalities, hormonal imbalances, infections, environmental exposures, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the underlying causes of these disorders is essential for effective diagnosis and treatment strategies.   

                                                                                     

Types of sperm disorders in males that affect fertility are as follows,

     

Oligozoospermia        - Low sperm count (less than 15 million/mL)

Azoospermia              - No sperm in the semen ejaculated

Asthenozoospermia   - Poor sperm motility 

Teratozoospermia      - Abnormal sperm shape or morphology

Necrospermia            - High percentage of dead sperm in the semen

Hypospermia             - Low semen volume (less than 1.5 mL per ejaculation)

Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT)  - A Combination of low count, poor motility, and abnormal shape

Aspermia   - No semen is ejaculated (can be due to retrograde ejaculation or obstruction)

Causes                                                                                                           

• Infections: -Infections affecting the reproductive tract, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and inflammatory conditions, have the potential to impair sperm production and functionality.

• Varicocele - The presence of enlarged veins in the scrotum, referred to as varicocele, affects both sperm production and quality.

• Undescended Testicles - Failure of the testicles to descend properly during fetal development may lead to significant abnormalities in sperm.

Symptoms

• Erectile dysfunction  

• Decreased libido  

• Pain, swelling, or the presence of lumps in the testicles  

• Abnormalities in ejaculation  

• Poor semen quality  

• Symptoms indicative of hormonal imbalances  

• Semen analysis shows these possibilities: low sperm count, abnormal sperm.

• Affecting the fertility

Ayurvedic View

Shukra dushti -Shukra means semen (with healthy sperm-beja)for healthy formation of garbha(pregnancy). Shuddha shukra(healthy semen and sperm) will have qualities of sphatikabham shukla (appearance of colour of white quartz stone, shining ),dravam(liquid),snigdham(unctuousness in nature), picchila(sticky in nature),avidahi(not cause burning sensation), bahu(more in quantity), etc Yad dheeyate garbha samudhbhava means it has the capacity to produce garbha(part involved in foetus formation). Due to dosha, namely,vata, pitta,kapha prakopa (aggravation)along with agni mandhya(low digestion), this healthy characteristic of shukra(semen)is vitiated, leading to sperm disorders, which then become incapable of producing offspring. Ayurveda's way of approach is to correct agni(metabolism), bring dosha back to prakruta awastha(normal state), remove doshas from shukra(semen), help in the formation of healthy semen and sperm, which will help in garbha(pregnancy)formation, by ayuvedic panchakarma purification treatment and treatment in addressing the root cause of these disorders.