What Is Oligoasthenozoospermia? – Causes & Treatment

Oligoasthenozoospermia (OA), also called oligoasthenospermia, is a primary cause of male infertility where two seminal parameters are altered: sperm count and sperm motility.

Thus, oligoasthenozoospermia is the resulting disorder when oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia are combined, which aggravates infertility in the male affected.

Achieving natural pregnancy with oligoasthenozoospermia is complicated, but the good news is that it is possible. Moreover, when conceiving is not possible, these couples can turn to reproductive technologies like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to become parents.

The different sections of this article have been assembled into the following table of contents.

Definition

Oligoasthenozoospermia or oligoasthenospermia (OA) is a sperm disorder that involves two disorders at the same time:

Oligozoospermia

Low sperm count, below 15 million sperm/ml.

Asthenozoospermia

Abnormal sperm motility, with more than 60% of sperm being immotile, or unable to move in a straight direction.

Diagnosis of oligoasthenozoospermia

In short, males with OA have a reduced sperm motility and count, with sperm that are unable to move forward, with a rapid, linear progression.

As a result of this sperm disorder, the chances for sperm to hit the egg for fertilization are considerably reduced, which hinders or prevents natural pregnancy, causing male infertility.

What are the causes of oligoasthenozoospermia?

Establishing a unique cause of OA is difficult. As a matter of fact, it typically goes unnoticed by the man who suffers from it until he decides to have a baby.

In any case, the following are some of the most common causes of OA in men:

• Toxic habits, including tobacco, alcohol, or drug use
• Exposure to toxic environmental agents
• Infections of the seminal ducts
• Not following a balanced diet
• Cancer treatments (radiotherapy and chemotherapy)
• Hormonal imbalances
• Testicular trauma
• Testicular disorders, like varicocele
• Genetic diseases, including Klinefelter syndrome (KS), or Y chromosome microdeletion

Altered sperm parameters can be caused by a combination of these factors as well.

What causes decreased semen quality?

Lifestyle plays a major role when it comes to determining sperm quality. Any alteration that affects spermatogenesis (sperm production process) can cause OA or any other sperm disorder.

Treatment

Depending on the severity of OA, or if there exist other fertility issues in the man and/or the woman, the best treatment option will be different.

Broadly speaking, there is no cure for oligoasthenozoospermia. However, in the mildest cases, a simple change of lifestyle habits, and the intake of vitamin and antioxidant supplements can boost sperm quality.

Conceiving with oligoasthenozoospermia

Conversely, in the most severe cases, couples have no alternative but to undergo fertility treatment to become parents.

Natural treatment

Natural remedies to cure OA include following a healthy, balanced diet, quitting toxic habits, and adding supplements to your diet such as Androferti.

Other examples of natural remedies are: brewing damiana herb into tea, or Peruvian maca powder. The efficacy of these methods has not been scientifically proven, though.

Assisted reproduction

In severe cases of OA, or when the couple fails to achieve pregnancy naturally, the only option left for them to start a family is Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).

Basically, there exist two fertility treatments that are adequate for these males:

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

Only indicated in cases of mild-to-moderate O, since there are a series of minimum quality standards to meet for IUI to be possible. The motile sperm count (MSC) after sperm capacitation must be 3 million sperm or more. There are some requirements for the woman as well, such as age and tubal patency.

IVF with ICSI

In most cases, it is used as the first choice, especially in men with moderate or severe OA. Out of the sperms selected, they are injected into the egg one by one so that fertilization hopefully occurs.

Reproductive treatments to achieve pregnancy with oligoasthenozoospermia

Thanks to in vitro fertilization, all the obstacles present in the male and female reproductive tracts are overcome, thereby increasing the chances of achieving a pregnancy. In this particular case, by barriers we are referring to the cervix, uterus (womb), and Fallopian tubes.

Furthermore, with ICSI, the specialist can "force" fertilization to the point of even using a sperm that is immotile. The only requirement for this technique to be possible is that its integrity is intact, which is to say, that it is alive.

FAQs from users

What reproductive options are available for oligoasthenozoospermia?

The clinical picture of oligoasthenozoospermia refers to a combination of several factors. Specifically, it refers to a decrease in the quantity, motility and morphological alterations of spermatozoa.

For this reason, the best option for treatment and achieving pregnancy would be in vitro fertilisation with optimal sperm selection, i.e. IVF-ICSI.

Are there any medications that can improve sperm quality?

Nowadays, in the case of a male with suboptimal semen quality due to idiopathic causes, we recommend correcting habits, trying to improve the diet by being more balanced and limiting animal fat, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep. In addition, physical exercise should be done on a regular basis but it should not be strenuous exercise, as competitive sports have been shown to cause physical stress that decreases semen quality. We add a dietary supplement that includes at least L-carnitine, Coenzyme Q-10 and omega 3-6 fatty acids. This treatment should be maintained for at least 3 months so that at least one cycle of spermatogenesis (62-75 days) is affected by this treatment, and desirably until pregnancy is achieved.
Read more

Is conventional IVF or ICSI with oligoasthenospermia better?

Oligoasthenospermia is a combination of several sperm alterations:

• Low sperm count (oligospermia).
• Low sperm motility (asthenospermia).

Achieving a natural pregnancy with a diagnosis of oligoasternospermia will be more difficult, as the sperm will not always be able to reach the egg. The recommendation would be IVF treatment to assist fertilization.

The IVF-ICSI technique is usually recommended, as it significantly optimizes fertilization rates compared to classical IVF. However, in the case of oligoasternospermia, the ICSI technique will be used with all the more reason, since it will allow a better selection of motile spermatozoa.

Depending on the seminogram values, biologists may use an additional technique for sperm pre-selection, such as the PICSI or FertileChip techniques.

Can acupuncture help with severe oligoasthenozoospermia?

Acupuncture could show benefits for male and female fertility, as long as it is performed by a professional. Therefore, an increase in seminal quality is possible in some men after this type of treatment and maintaining healthy habits.

In any case, if seminal quality is severely affected, as in severe oligoasthenozoospermia, it is unlikely that seminal quality will increase enough to reach values considered normal.

Get more info: What Are the Benefits of Acupuncture for Fertility?

Can oligoasthenozoospermia be cured with Clomid?

Omifin contains clomiphene citrate, a compound that has the effect of increasing the production of FSH and LH hormones. These hormones, in the male, exert their function in the testicle, increasing the production of testosterone and stimulating spermatogenesis (the production of spermatozoa).

Therefore, Omifin could be prescribed by the specialist for certain cases of male infertility (hormonal cause), but it is not widely used.

Is there a relationship between varicocele and oligoasthenozoospermia?

Yes. Varicocele is a cause of low sperm quality, which can lead to sperm disorders such as oligoasthenozoospermia. In this case, sperm quality will increase after undergoing surgery to treat varicocele.

Read more: What is a Varicocele? – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.

Suggested for you

In order for oligoasthenozoospermia to be diagnosed, carrying out a semen analysis is required. More on this article: What Is a Semen Analysis Report? – Purpose, Preparation & Cost.

Once the type of oligoasthenozoospermia is detected (mild, moderate, or severe), the most adequate fertility treatment option will be recommended. Check out this for information: What Are Infertility Treatments? – Definition, Types & Costs.

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