Limited sperm analysis | Azoospermia

Reduced sperm quality

In more than half of all couples who are unable to conceive, the cause lies in reduced sperm quality. This can affect the number, the motility and / or the morphology (shape and appearance) of sperm.

Possible causes

• Genetic disorders
• Hormonal imbalances
• Infections
• Varicose veins in the testicles (varicocele)
• Congenital malformations (e.g., undescended testicles)
• Damage caused by cancer treatments (e.g., chemotherapy or radiation)
• Lifestyle – Stress, alcohol and nicotine consumption, unhealthy diet, and lack of exercise can impair sperm quality. Studies also show that an elevated body mass index (BMI) may be associated with reduced sperm quality.

Azoospermia

Azoospermia is when no sperm can be detected in the ejaculate. In these cases, there is a chance of obtaining sperm cells through testicular puncture (TESE).

One possible cause of azoospermia is retrograde ejaculation. This is when the seminal fluid is not expelled during ejaculation, but instead flows back into the bladder.