Azoospermia Patients Can Also Become Fathers

Azoospermia, which occurs in one percent of men, is a disease that is usually treatable.

What is Azoospermia and What are its Types?

Azoospermia, also known as “zero sperm”, is when there are no sperm in the semen. If there are no live sperm in the semen, a person cannot have a baby naturally. However, thanks to the treatment methods developed, patients with azoospermia can also have a baby.

There are three types of azoospermia:

Pre-testicular azoospermia (non-obstructive): Caused by abnormalities in the production of hormones responsible for sperm production.
Testicular azoospermia (non-obstructive): Caused by abnormalities in the function or structure of the testicles.
Post-testicular azoospermia (obstructive): Occurs when there are problems with ejaculation due to obstruction in the reproductive organs.

What are the Symptoms of Azoospermia and How to recognize it?

Azoospermia may not cause any symptoms until attempts to get pregnant have failed. If you have experienced symptoms before, they may be due to underlying causes such as hormone imbalances or genetic chromosomal disorders. But if he is experiencing a symptom, these symptoms are; decreased sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, glands, swelling and discomfort around the testicles, loss of facial and body hair.
In order to diagnose azoospermia, a spermiogram (sperm test) should be performed. However, you must not have had sex or masturbated for 3 days before taking this test. There is no need to extend this period to increase the sperm count. If the time is extended, the sperm count will increase but the sperm motility and quality will decrease. On the 4th day, the candidate goes to the center and ejaculates into a sterile container given to him/her and the sample taken is evaluated in the laboratory and the sperm count is reported.
In addition to the spermiogram test, blood tests to evaluate hormone levels or genetic problems, ultrasound to see the scrotum and other parts of the reproductive organs, brain scanning to monitor problems with the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, and biopsy to better examine sperm production are also used.
Along with the doctor’s examination, the health history of the person will also be examined. Fertility history, family history, illnesses as a child, various surgeries on the pelvic area or reproductive organs, history of infections, treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy, medication, drug or alcohol abuse, recent illnesses with fever, recent exposure to high temperatures are important information for diagnosis.

What are the Causes of Azoospermia?

In patients with azoospermia, sperm production occurs in the testicles, but this obstruction poses a problem because the sperm cannot be expelled with semen due to obstruction in the conduction ducts, or sperm production may be impaired in the body due to disorders in sperm production, i.e. congenital testicular elevation (undescended testicle – cryptorchidism), genetic disorders, hormone deficiencies, certain infections and radiation.

How is azoospermia treated?

For the treatment of azoospermia, the cause of the disease must first be identified. After the diagnostic tests are completed and the urology doctor’s examination, the treatment to be applied is determined.
If there is azoospermia due to obstruction, the obstruction in the ducts is opened surgically to allow the sperm to come out and pregnancy is expected naturally after the ducts are opened. In the case of azoospermia caused by a production disorder, the sperm required for IVF treatment is collected from the testicles by a surgical procedure called micro-TESE. During the micro-TESE procedure, an operating microscope is used to identify the ducts in the testicle that can produce sperm and samples are taken from these areas. Micro-TESE prevents damage to the testicle by taking small pieces from the testicle and increases the chances of finding sperm.
The diagnosis of azoospermia can make the patient anxious, but this does not mean that it is biologically impossible to have a baby. If azoospermia treatment does not give positive results, in vitro fertilization can be used.