Men's health plays a very important role in planning pregnancy. If the sperm cells have pathological forms, then this can significantly affect the possibility of natural conception of the baby.
Norm
To understand how pathological forms of sperm form and look, you should first talk a little about the norm. A sperm cell is a germ cell that has a single chromosome set and is necessary for fertilization, and hence for procreation.
Sperm are very small - about 55 microns. Each male reproductive cell consists of three sections: head, body, and tail. The sperm head is elliptical in shape. It has a slightly wider width than other sections of the sperm. All this makes it look like a tadpole.
The main genetic information that will be transferred from the father's cell to the daughter's is in the nucleus. Every sperm has a sex chromosome. It can be either X or Y. The sex will depend on which sex chromosome the child gets. A Y chromosome is needed to give birth to a boy, and an X chromosome is needed to give birth to a girl.
Another very important element of the sperm is the acrosome. This cellular organ is an altered Golgi apparatus. The acrosome contains special substances that are necessary for fertilization. With their help, there is an effect on the outer wall of a mature egg. The acrosome is about half the size of the nucleus.
Scientists have found that the acrosome contains about 15 lytic enzymes that dissolve the outer shell of the egg. The most basic of these is acrosine.
The sperm head ends in a neck - a special narrowing that separates it from the middle part of the sperm body. Behind it is a movable tail. In the middle part of the sperm, there are special formations - microtubules and mitochondria. They are necessary for the formation of a special substance ATP, which is necessary for the implementation of active movements of the sperm.
With the help of a movable tail, the sperm can move. The most characteristic direction of its movement is around its own axis. Scientists have also established the average speed of movement of male germ cells: it is, as a rule, 0.1 mm per second.
It is believed that at this speed of movement, sperm can reach a woman's fallopian tube in a couple of hours after the end of intercourse.
In order for fertilization to occur, sperm must travel a long way. On average, it is about 20 cm. The trajectory of movement of spermatozoa in the female genital tract is quite simple: they move from outside to inside towards the fallopian tube.
Such biological features of the structure and functioning of spermatozoa are necessary in order for the conception of a child to occur naturally. Functional impairments or anatomical defects can contribute to reproductive impairment in men. This can affect the formation of male infertility.
Types of anomalies
The development of scientific technology has made it possible to identify a wide variety of pathologies in men. Hundreds of studies are conducted each year to study spermatogenesis. This contributes to the fact that every year new pathologies are determined that can worsen male fertility.
Various clinical signs are used to assess pathology. So, for this, the following are determined:
- the total length of the sperm, as well as the size of its main parts;
- the total volume of ejaculated semen;
- the total number of sperm in the ejaculate;
- sperm motility and vitality;
- anatomical shape.
After conducting a comprehensive analysis, doctors can determine the presence or absence of pathology. If no pathological changes were found, then the diagnosis of "normospermia" is established. In this case, the man's reproductive function is preserved, and he can become a father.
Doctors identify several clinical variants of sperm pathologies. Usually, all pathologies are divided into several similar groups according to the main investigated features.
Decrease in the total number of male germ cells
One of the typical examples of this type of pathology is oligozoospermia. With this pathology, the sperm count in the ejaculate is below normal values.
If during the examination no spermatozoa were found in the ejaculated semen, then such a pathological condition is interpreted by doctors as azoospermia. This, as a rule, is a rather complex pathology that requires the obligatory participation of an andrologist in the treatment.
Aspermia is a pathological condition in which not only spermatozoa, but also immature cells of spermatogenesis are not found in the ejaculate under study.
If during the examination the sperm were nevertheless found, but they are dead, then this condition is called necrospermia. It is extremely unfavorable for the natural conception. In this situation, male reproductive function is significantly reduced.
Sometimes, when centrifuging the examined ejaculate, specialists can detect a small amount of sperm. This pathological condition is called cryptoospermia.
Impaired motor ability
If the sperm are "lazy" and do not move well, then this condition is called asthenozoospermia. It is characterized by a decrease in physiological mobility below normal.
In some cases, a man may develop several pathological changes at once. An example of such a pathology is oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. This pathology is characterized by:
- a general decrease in the concentration of spermatozoa in the studied ejaculate;
- a decrease in approximately half the number of sperm capable of fertilizing an egg;
- a decrease in almost two times the number of spermatozoa with rectilinear movement.
Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia is one of the pathologies leading to the development of male infertility. Usually it comes to light spontaneously - when couples who have been unsuccessfully trying to conceive babies for a long time go to the doctors.
To assess the functional disorders that have arisen, in addition to a spermogram, doctors can also prescribe an ultrasound of the testicles, laboratory tests for the determination of hidden infections and other studies. After a comprehensive diagnosis, an individual treatment plan is drawn up, aimed at improving well-being and restoring the lost reproductive function.
Another pathology associated with impaired sperm motility is akinospermia. According to statistics, it occurs in 30% of men. Akinospermia can be either total or partial.
The more inactive sperm in the semen, the higher the risk of male infertility.
Anatomical structural defects
Various abnormalities can also be associated with a violation of the shape of the sperm. So, the shape of the sperm head can be irregular or deformed. In a number of pathological cases, the sperm head can be conical or pear-shaped. There are even abnormal two-headed sperm cells.
Head sizes can be oversized or too small. Such pathologies, as a rule, are accompanied by a violation in the structure of the acrosome: it may be too small, vacuolated or asymmetrical.
Specialists identify a number of pathologies associated with changes in the anatomy of the sperm neck. So, she can be inclined. In this case, the angle that forms between the head and the neck of the sperm is more than 90 degrees. Also, the neck can be asymmetrical or overly thin.
Tail defects in sperm can be very different. So, the tails can be numerous, too short or, conversely, fairly thickened, and also have a completely twisted end. Such anomalies contribute to the fact that, although the sperm cell remains viable, it cannot fully fulfill its biological function.
Normally, sperm are negatively charged. This is necessary so that they repel each other and do not stick together.
If for some reason this balance is disturbed, then stuck together or glued sperm appear. In such a situation, the possibility of natural conception is greatly reduced.
Reasons for the development of anomalies
Doctors identify quite a few different causal factors that can provoke the development of various pathologies in men. They can be either congenital or acquired. The severity of adverse symptoms largely depends on the severity of the pathology that has arisen.
A fairly common cause of the appearance of various pathologies of spermatogenesis in men is the consequences of infectious diseases. Prolonged infection developing in the urological tract also contributes to inflammation in the reproductive organs. Sexually transmitted diseases are especially often recorded.
Various traumatic injuries of intimate organs can also lead to the appearance of defective spermatozoa. Spinal cord injuries can also lead to the development of a number of pathologies. Violation of the conduction of nerve impulses from the genitals to the cerebral cortex due to such diseases leads to the development of erectile dysfunction, which means it can cause the development of male infertility.
Sperm quality also depends a lot on the man's age. It is believed that in younger men, there are much fewer pathological forms of sperm. And also in men up to 40-50 years old, spermatogenesis is quite intensive. With age and the addition of concomitant diseases, the indicators of male health decrease.
Andrologists note that uncontrolled long-term use of medications also leads to the development of a number of urological disorders. It is believed that some alpha-blockers can lead to the development of aspermia. Typically, these agents are used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Various psychoemotional stresses can also lead to pathologies associated with impaired sperm motility. The stronger this effect, the more pronounced adverse symptoms can appear. Constant exhausting stress at work contributes to a decrease in reproductive function in men.
A variety of reasons can lead to the development of pathologies of spermatogenesis. Without their definition, it is impossible for doctors to carry out complex treatment of the arisen disorders.
Diagnostics
The main diagnostic method that allows you to determine various defects in spermatogenesis is spermogram. Currently, this study can be done in many hospitals. Before undergoing the examination, doctors recommend that men limit their sex life 3-7 days before the date of the analysis.
In addition, before passing the examination, you should not drink alcoholic beverages and visit the sauna. Intense gymnastics should also be limited to a few days before the lab test.
Immediately after delivery, the ejaculate is a rather viscous mass. Then it gradually liquefies. This usually takes 15 to 60 minutes. This time period is also estimated by specialists and is called the "thinning time". If, after an hour, the ejaculate has not become sufficiently liquid, then it is diluted with the help of special proteolytic enzymes.
After preliminary preparation, the main morphological properties of the studied ejaculate are determined. Using modern microscopy, the examiner evaluates the size, shape, motility, vitality and other properties of the sperm.
After the study, a medical report must be drawn up, in which all the data obtained are entered. Further, with such a conclusion, a man should seek the advice of an andrologist.
How is it treated?
The treatment plan for spermatogenesis pathologies is always drawn up individually. For this, the initial reason that led to the development of pathology, as well as concomitant diseases that are present in each specific case, must be taken into account.
For many pathologies, the appointment of several therapy means at once is required.... A full-fledged complex therapy is necessary to improve the general condition of a man, as well as to normalize his reproductive function.
To improve spermatogenesis, drugs can be selected that have an effect on the functioning of the prostate gland and testicles. Some of them are hormonal. When using such drugs, it is very important to remember that they have a number of contraindications. These funds should be prescribed only by a doctor, since self-administration and uncontrolled use can only aggravate the situation and not lead to improvement.
Multivitamin complexes can also improve the indicators of men's health. They can be assigned both for a long time and for a course appointment. Psychoemotional stress, malnutrition and addictions lead to a decrease in the required concentration of useful vitamins and trace elements in the blood.
Vitamin-mineral complexes help to compensate for this deficiency and significantly improve spermatogenesis.
For information on what pathological forms of sperm are and how they affect conception, see the next video.
