There are fertility problems in both males and females but male fertility problems are not widely talked about. One of the male fertility problems is teratozoospermia. Teratozoospermia is a condition in which the male gamete has abnormal morphology which can lead to fertility problems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) when less than 4% of male sperms show abnormal morphology then it is categorized under teratozoospermia.
What is teratozoospermia?
Teratozoospermia is male fertility problem in which the male Sperm morphology is affected. The abnormality can be seen in all the three parts- the head, the midpiece and the tail. The term sperm morphology is used to describe the shape and size of the sperm. In this disorder males produce a large number of abnormal and faulty sperms.
In Ayurveda, teratozoospermia is associated with Shukra dushti or ksheena shukra. This condition is caused due to the imbalance of Vata and Pitta dosha which alters the morphology and quality of shukra dhatu (Sperm). There are various ayurvedic therapies, procedures and herbal medicines which help in treating teratozoospermia.
Types of Teratozoospermia
Mild teratozoospermia- In this case 80-90% of the sperms are morphologically abnormal.
Moderate teratozoospermia- In this case about 90- 95% sperms are abnormal.
Severe teratozoospermia- In this case more than 96% of sperms are morphologically abnormal.
Astheno teratozoospermia- In this case Asthenozoospermia is combined with morphological abnormality. It is very hard to treat asthenoteratozoospermia.
Diagnosis of teratozoospermia
To diagnose teratozoospermia semen analysis is done, which is a primary fertility test for male who are suspected of having fertility issues. Semen analysis is conducted along with some other tests to understand the cause of infertility.
Semen analysis- This is the first and most important test in the diagnosis of teratozoospermia. In this test a sample of semen is taken and its quantity, motility and morphology are studied under a microscope. If 4% or less sperm have normal morphology then the male has teratozoospermia.
Sperm morphology testing- This test is used to classify sperms with abnormal morphology in the head and tail. In this test a health care technician checks the sperms under a microscope and classifies them on the basis of their morphology.
Other tests-Other tests that a patient might get into are hormonal testing, scrotal examination and genetic testing.
Treatment of teratozoospermia
Treatment of teratozoospermia includes ayurvedic therapies, herbal medication and diet and lifestyle changes to balance doshas and strengthen the shukra dhatu. Treatment includes-
Shodhana chikitsa – according to a study it is considered that it is necessary to purify the body and remove toxins to help the body absorb the medicines.
Deepana and Pachana- In this method, appetizers like Hingvashtak churna and Aampachak vati are used to normalize digestive fire (Agni).
Snehapana- It is an internal oleation with the use of medicated ghee to remove deeply accumulated toxins.
Virechana- It is a therapeutic purgation used to eliminate excess pitta and kapha, improving semen viscosity and liquefaction time.
Basti- It is a medicated enema and intra-urethral therapy that acts on the reproductive tissues and improves sperm viability.
Shamana chikitsa- Shamana includes Vajikarna and Rasayana therapy which includes administration of herbal medicines such as-
Ashwagandha- It is used to reduce oxidative stress and it also acts as an adaptogenic shield and protects developing sperm from cellular damage.
Kapikacchu- It boosts dopamine, optimizes endocrine system signaling and improves spermatogenesis and structure.
Gokshura- It enhances natural testosterone conversion and boosts tissue maturation.
Shatavari- It reduces inflammation and provides nourishment to the reproductive tract.
Shilajit- It helps in reducing cellular oxidative stress in the sperm.
Diet and lifestyle changes
Include cow’s milk, cow’s ghee, almond, sesame seeds, pomegranate and watermelon in the diet. Avoid smoking and alcohol, tight clothes, frequent hot baths and prolonged sitting which increases normal scrotal temperature which affects sperm morphology.
FAQs
Can you conceive with 2% sperm morphology?
Yes you can conceive with 2% sperm morphology because there are millions of sperm in semen and 2% means 2 in 100 sperm are normal and can play a part in fertilisation.
Is teratozoospermia serious?
Teratozoospermia is a condition in which sperm have abnormal shape and size. This can be serious because it can lead to infertility in males. But it does not mean that natural fertility is impossible, there are many treatments and medications that can help in treating teratozoospermia.
How much time to improve sperm morphology?
Tobacco and other drug uses can harm sperm DNA, avoiding these drugs and changing lifestyle habits take 3 months to improve any sperm abnormality.
