Improving Sperm Quality and Quantity
Sperm related issues
Sperm related issues, also known as male factor infertility, are very common and affect 10-15% men all around the world. These factors include oligospermia, asthenospermia, azoospermia, teratozoospermia, Liquefaction issues, Infections, and chromosomal abnormalities. It accounts for almost 50% of the world’s total infertility issues. These disorders can be caused by infections, hormonal imbalance, genetics, swollen veins, and smoking. Treatment involves mainly lifestyle changes, diet, and medications.
What are sperm related issues?
Sperm-related issues are a term used to describe a condition that affects male fertility due to reduced sperm quantity, quality, and functionality. This causes difficulty in conception. It includes various conditions like oligospermia, asthenospermia, etc.
In Ayurveda, sperm related issues are related to Shukra dosha or Kshina shukra, which means low sperm count or motility. It indicates male infertility due to an imbalance in doshas and decreased quality and quantity of sperm. Treatment in Ayurveda includes various Panchkarma therapies and herbal medicines like Ashwagandha and Gokshura, etc.
Types of sperm related issues
There are various sperm-related issues -
Oligospermia- It is a sperm related issue characterized by low sperm count due to infections, varicocele, genetics, and lifestyle habits. The sperm count is less than 15 million sperm per mL of semen.
Asthenospermia- It is a condition in which the motility of sperm is reduced, and it becomes hard for the sperm to reach the egg.
Azoospermia- It is a condition characterised by the complete absence of sperm. It affects about 1% men around the world and is the cause of infertility in about 10-15% of the infertile men.
Terratozoospermia- It is a sperm related issue and is characterized by a very high percentage of abnormality in the shape of sperm. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the percentage of abnormality in this condition is 96%.
Liquefaction issues- Liquefaction is the process in which ejaculated semen, which is in a gel-like state, turns into a liquid-like state after 20-30 minutes, allowing the sperm to move freely. If the liquefaction does not happen after 30 minutes and takes longer than 60 minutes, then it is said to have liquefaction issues. This can be due to infections or dysfunction and can cause infertility.
Causes of sperm related issues
Sperm related issues mentioned earlier can be caused by several factors, including infections, lifestyle habits (like smoking, drinking alcohol), and blockage due to swollen veins (varicoceles), etc. The most common among them is varicoceles.
Varicoceles- It is a condition in which the veins of the scrotum are enlarged or swollen, raising the temperature of the scrotum, which is not suitable for the production of sperm. Hence, sperm quality and quantity decrease.
Infections- Infections include sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like Chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc., and infectious diseases like mumps at the time of puberty, which can cause infertility.
Hormone imbalance- Imbalance in hormones like testosterone, FSH, or LH can cause low sperm count, poor motility, and abnormal shape and size. The key causes are hypogonadism, pituitary gland dysfunction, and high levels of prolactin and estrogen.
Genetic defects- Genetic defects most commonly include chromosomal aberrations, which can cause Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY), Y chromosome microdeletion, and Cystic fibrosis gene mutation, which can cause low sperm count, low productivity, and no vas deferens, hindering sperm transport.
Treatment and medication- Treatment, including cancer treatment like chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can affect sperm producing germ cells and can cause temporary or permanent infertility, low sperm count, and decreased testosterone. Medications like anabolic steroids, anti–depressants, BP medication, and anti-androgens can adversely affect sperm quality and quantity.
Lifestyle factors- Lifestyle factors include smoking, drinking alcohol, obesity, and stress, can cause low sperm count, decreased motility, damage DNA, and cause low testosterone production.
In Ayurveda, the most common causes for sperm related issues are an imbalance in Vata, pitta, and kapha doshas, improper diet, unhealthy lifestyle, such as excess sexual activity, stress, psychological conditions, etc.
Signs and Symptoms of sperm related issues
Most of the time sperm related issues show no symptoms, while a number of signs and the most common is infertility, which is characterized by the inability to conceive after having 12 months of unprotected intercourse. Other symptoms include-
Dysfunctions- These include low sex drive, premature ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction.
Scrotal issues- Swollen testicles, pain, lumps, or uneasiness in the scrotum can be a sign of sperm related issues.
Semen- Signs like thick, discolored, decreased volume of semen (hypospermia) and foul-smelling semen indicate underlying issues.
Hormone imbalance- signs that indicate an imbalance in hormones include less facial and body hair, gynecomastia (caused by an imbalance of testosterone and estrogen).
Other signs- Other signs include testicular injury or surgery and chronic fatigue.
Diagnosis of sperm related issues
Diagnosis to identify the cause of sperm-related issues primarily deals with semen analysis, including sperm count, sperm quantity, motility, and morphology. In Ayurveda, to determine sperm-related issues, Vata, pitta, and kapha doshas are analyzed along with Agni (digestive fire). Other diagnosis methods include imaging tests, blood tests, etc.
Sperm analysis- This test is performed twice and evaluates volume of semen, quantity, quality, movement, motility, and morphology.
Blood test- The blood test checks the imbalance in hormones like FSH and prolactin, which are the main cause of poor semen production. Blood tests also test for genetic disorders like Klinefelter syndrome and Y chromosome deletion, etc.
Ultrasounds- There are a number of ultrasounds that are performed to check for blockages and swelling, such as testicular ultrasound checks for varicoceles and blockage, while transrectal ultrasound includes inserting a probe in the rectum to see blockages in the ejaculatory duct.
Urine analysis- Post ejaculation urine testing helps identify issues like retrograde ejaculation, which is a condition in which sperm travel backwards and into the bladder.
Testicular biopsy- It is the process in which a small piece of tissue is taken from the testicle for testing sperm production.
After diagnosis, if there is a condition causing sperm-related issues, doctors recommend treatment according to the type of issue and its severity.
Treatment of sperm related issues
In Ayurveda
Ayurveda focuses on treating disease from the root cause and approaches them with natural treatment methods with the help of Ayurvedic herbs and therapies. Lifestyle and diet also play an important role in recovering from diseases and enhancing the efficiency of herbs.
Therapies
Vajikarana therapy- It is a specialized branch of Ayurveda that focuses on enhancing sexual functions by purification, nutrition, and use of herbs. It is used in cases of erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, low sex drive, and to boost stamina.
Panchkarma- It includes Virechana (in which a small amount of herbal laxative is used to remove Ama (from the body) and Basti (a process of detoxification by introducing medicated oils into the rectum), which enhance the efficiency of the herbs.
Uttar Basti- It is also a panchkarma therapy which includes the introduction of medicated ghee or oils into the urinary tract to clear blockages, provide nourishment to the semen, and enhance sperm quantity, quality, motility, and morphology.
Herbal medicine
Herbal medicines include-
Ashwagandha- It helps boost testosterone levels and improve sperm quality.
Gokshura- This herb also improves sperm quality as well as quantity.
Kapikacchu- It improves sperm quantity and motility.
Safed Musli- It acts as a tonic and nourishes and strengthens the reproductive system.
Shilajit- It improves the overall reproductive system.
Diet and lifestyle changes
Including a nutrient-rich diet and eating fruits, fresh vegetables, almonds, walnuts, and milk improves reproductive and overall health as well. Daily exercise and yoga poses like Dhanuraasan, paschimottanasan, and setu bandhansana increase blood flow in the pelvic region and boost reproductive health. Along with these, managing stress and taking enough rest and sleep is also recommended.
FAQs
What is the best treatment for low sperm motility?
Sperm motility can be treated with lifestyle and diet modification as well as hormonal therapies, medication, and Ayurvedic herbs.
What is the major cause of low sperm count?
The most common cause for low sperm count is Varicoceles, which is the swelling of veins in the scrotum, which increases temperature inside the scrotum and hinders sperm production.
What medication is used for sperm morphology?
Medication includes antioxidants and lifestyle changes. In Ayurveda, herbal medicine therapies like uttar basti help improve sperm morphology.
What medicine is best for male fertility?
Treatment depends on the cause of infertility and the severity of symptoms, but the most common medicine used to boost testosterone is clomiphene citrate and HCG injections, which directly stimulate the testes.
