Teratozoospermia can be present from birth, in which case it is due to genetic causes, or acquired over time due to hormonal imbalances or trauma. Thus, depending on the cause, the treatment of choice varies.
When teratozoospermia is congenital, finding a cure is considerably difficult. And the same applies when it is a side effect of cancer treatments. Particularly in severe cases of teratozoospermia, turning to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is necessary.
Conversely, when a man has mild-to-moderate teratozoospermia, there exist certain natural remedies or drugs that can help to boost sperm quality.
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Natural treatment
Given that discovering the specific cause of teratozoospermia is highly difficult, determining the best treatment option to correct sperm morphology is complicated as well.
Nevertheless, leading a healthy lifestyle can have a very positive impact on sperm morphology. For this reason, it is possible to see improvements in just a few months.
The ideal treatment is one that guarantees an adequate sperm maturation during spermatogenesis. What follows are some tips to help maintain healthy habits that ensure sperm formation occurs successfully.
Diet
A balanced diet improves the overall state of health. Moreover, vitamins and antioxidants present in some foods provide many benefits for sperm quality.
These are some key food components that every man who wishes to improve his sperm quality should add to his diet:
- Selenium
- This mineral is found in Brazil nuts, nuts, tuna, beef meat, chicken meat, eggs, and cheese. It should be taken in small proportions, since it can turn out to be toxic.
- Vitamin C
- Present in spinach, mandarins, strawberries, and tomatoes. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that favors the iron absorption process.
- Zinc
- Oysters, clams, and red meat contain this mineral. Zinc is essential for the proper functioning of enzymes, responsible for providing the body with energy.
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- In oily fish and seafood. It should be added to one's diet because the human body itself cannot synthesize it. It has multiple benefits on the cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems, among others.
Olive oil
Olive oil is an essential ingredient of the Mediterranean diet. Moreover, it has excellent reproductive benefits thanks to its high content in oleic acid.
Oleic acid contributes to reducing the levels of LDL cholesterol or the "bad" cholesterol, which can accumulate in the testes, affecting sperm production.
Olive oil also helps increase the levels of HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol), preventing cardiovascular and brain complications.
In short, olive oil is an ally when it comes to fighting against male infertility, namely teratozoospermia.
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Testicular temperature
Prolonged exposure to heat may damage your testicles, affecting sperm production and causing sperm abnormalities.
In other words, males with infertility issues should follow these recommendations:
- Do not place your laptop on your lap
- Avoid regular sauna visits
- Wear boxer briefs and loose clothing
- Avoid long-term low-to-intensive cycling training
By keeping the testicles cool, they can recover their normal function, and your sperm quality will improve eventually.
Effect of toxins
Exposure to certain common toxic substances on a daily basis can become highly damaging for a man's reproductive health without even realizing.
Some examples include tobacco, street drugs, marijuana smoke, pesticides, chemical compounds, and excessive alcoholic drink consumption. All these substances can cause deformities in sperm.
So, in conclusion, one should avoid these bad habits at all costs, especially if trying to conceive.
Vitamin supplementation
In some patients with teratozoospermia, urologists recommended that they take vitamin supplements to improve sperm quality faster.
The most common treatment option are vitamin supplements rich in antioxidants.
Antioxidants help diminish the levels of oxidative stress spermatozoa are exposed to. Oxidative stress damages sperm cells, and causes sperm DNA fragmentation.
Some examples of dietary supplements that are beneficial for sperm morphology are vitamin E or essential amino acids like L-carnitine. Treatment with vitamin E is advisable in males undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, too, as it is a powerful antioxidant.
Also, maca root powder is considered highly beneficial due to the multiple benefits it can provide to sperm.
One should note that these natural remedies cannot cure infertility, especially if sperm parameters are severely affected.
FAQs from users
Can severe teratozoospermia be cured?
If the amount of normal sperm is fewer than 5%, the truth is that the chances for a natural pregnancy to occur are considerably low, and improving this situation with a natural remedy or medications is unlikely, too. Nonetheless, following healthier habits could improve it eventually.
On the other hand, if teratozoospermia is linked to other pathologies, such as varicocele, it is possible that the semen analysis report shows improved results after undergoing surgery to treat the varicocele.
Can abnormal sperm morphology cause miscarriage?
In principle, poor sperm morphology doesn't lead to miscarriage once the egg has been fertilized and the embryo has attached to the womb. Another case would be that the sperm also contain genetic mutations as well as the abnormal morphology, which could lead to miscarriage.
Can acupuncture help with teratozoospermia?
Yes, according to some studies. Broadly speaking, acupuncture increases pregnancy rates in cases of idiopathic or unexplained infertility. Also, there is proof that is can improve sperm quality in cases of oligospermia, asthenospermia, and teratozoospermia.
Can eating more berries improve sperm quality?
Yes, berries (including blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries) contain antioxidant pigments, in addition to absorbing free radicals of oxygen. In other words, including berries in your diet is a good option to improve or protect sperm quality.
Some studies have shown that pigments found in the skin and seeds of berries have multiple medicinal properties, including flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, and other phytochemicals.
In particular, blueberries, blackberries, lingonberries, and strawberries contain high amounts of vitamin C and other nutrients. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from cell damage.
Suggested for you
When teratozoospermia is so severe that it prevents natural pregnancy, a man or couple may have no alternative but to undergo a fertility treatment to fulfill their dream of becoming parents. Get more info: Achieving Pregnancy with Teratozoospermia.
Oftentimes, the treatment to fix teratozoospermia is dependent on its causes. Read the following article to learn more: What Are the Causes of Teratozoospermia?
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References
Auger J, Jouannet P, Eustache F. Another look at human sperm morphology. Hum Reprod. 2016;31(1):10-23.
Busetto GM, Agarwal A, Virmani A, Antonini G, Ragonesi G, Del Giudice F, Micic S, Gentile V, De Berardinis E. Effect of metabolic and antioxidant supplementation on sperm parameters in oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia, with and without varicocele: A double-blind placebo-controlled study. Andrologia. 2018;50(3).
Guo J. Thoughts and Approaches of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine for the Treatment of Oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia. Chin J Integr Med. 2018;24(7):483-486.
Isidori A, Latini M, Romanelli F. Treatment of male infertility. Contraception. 2005;72(4):314-8.
FAQs from users: 'Can severe teratozoospermia be cured?', 'Can abnormal sperm morphology cause miscarriage?', 'Can acupuncture help with teratozoospermia?' and 'Can eating more berries improve sperm quality?'.
Hi, I did a sperm test and the count was at 43 million and motility at 73 percent, all good. However my morphology was 3 percent. Should I be worried or does everything balance out? We have been trying to conceive for 2 years, my partner is 39 and we need to make some decisions. Also what vitamins should I take? I take vitamin C, zinc and pine tree bark plus l arginine daily. Will that help or should I not be worried at all?
Hello Kelvin,
Each sperm parameter should be measured separately; therefore, even though sperm count and motility were within the normal values, getting pregnant naturally can turn out to be complicated due to teratozoospermia. It may be a mild case, but if after a whole year TTC you don’t achieve pregnancy, my advice is that you visit a fertility clinic in order to check what the best fertility treatment for you is.
Best regards
My sperm count is 25 million but morphological abnormalities is 4%. Any recommended diet or vitamins to boost the abnormal production?
Dear Andy,
Generally, sperm quality cannot be enhanced by vitamins or a specific diet. If low quality is caused by the lack of vitamins, amino acids or oxidative stress there is a chance that the incorporation of those elements increases slightly the sperm quality.
In the following article you can read more about it: Foods to boost sperm quality.
Best wishes
Hi.
I have been married for 4 years and don’t have a baby yet. Recently my husband did a semen analysis. Found out he has teratozoospermia, with 2% normal and 98% abnormal… Pls do help us… What can we do to conceive?
Dear Shamini,
You can find different fertility treatments available for men with severe teratozoospermia here: Teratozoospermia and pregnancy. I suggest that you have a look to find the answer to your question.
I hope I have been able to help,
Best!
Can terato sperms lead to down syndrome baby?
Dear sree,
This question has already been discussed in the following forum topic: Severe teratozoospermia and risk of birth defects.
Please, click on the link above to read more.
Thank you!