Every male, fertile or infertile, has a certain percentage of abnormally shaped sperm in his semen. Typically, a sperm morphology that falls below 14% is considered to be abnormal.
Abnormal sperm can be caused by many things, including testicular temperature issues, medication side effects, hormonal imbalances and other environmental factors. Lifestyle changes may also help improve a man’s sperm health and fertility.
1. Genetics
Men inherit sperm genes and have certain traits that determine how well they produce and transport sperm cells. However, lifestyle choices and long-term sicknesses can also lower sperm numbers. For instance, frequent exposure to heat and smoking can damage sperm. So can taking medications that reduce sperm production. Other factors that contribute to low sperm count include testicular swelling (orchitis), childhood infections, and diseases such as diabetes and kidney failure.
If a man’s semen analysis shows abnormal sperm morphology, he should consult a urologist specializing in male fertility to learn the cause of his problem. A urologist will examine the testicles, scrotum and vas deferens to check for blockages. They may also take blood samples to test testosterone levels.
Abnormal sperm morphology affects the ability of sperm to fertilize eggs. A sperm cell must have a normal shape to reach an egg and deliver its genetic information. The ideal sperm cell has an oval head, a intact midpiece and an uncoiled tail. A sperm with an abnormal tail (including stump tails, double tails and duplicate heads) can’t swim effectively to the egg.
2. Hormones
Hormones control your body’s processes, including reproduction. Oestrogen and progesterone are hormones that help regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle and produce female body characteristics, while testosterone is produced in the testes and helps create male body characteristics and sperm. These endocrine hormones can get out of balance and impact your ability to conceive.
When a man’s semen analysis shows poor sperm motility, it’s known as azoospermia and it can be caused by a blockage of the sperm duct in the testicles or epididymis (obstructive azoospermia). It may also be due to hormone imbalances, medical conditions, side effects of medications or lifestyle choices such as smoking, recreational drugs and excessive alcohol consumption.
A testicular biopsy can identify abnormal sperm morphology. It involves removing a small sample of the semen and testing it for sperm count, sperm shape, sperm movement and semen volume. It’s usually performed after a man has been trying to conceive for 12 months or more. A urologist can advise you about your treatment options. This may include fertility medication or intrauterine insemination.
3. Stress
Sperm morphology can be affected by a variety of factors, and is one of the main causes of male factor infertility. It is a critical part of the overall health and quality of a sperm sample, influencing its ability to penetrate the egg to fertilize it. Poor sperm morphology can also lead to birth defects and pregnancy loss.
When a man has poor sperm morphology, there are some steps that they can take to improve their results. These include a healthy diet, vitamin supplements and abstaining from smoking and recreational drugs. The condition of the testicles, which make and store sperm, is also important. This can be impacted by having an undescended testicle, or by having surgery on the abdomen or pelvis.
A urologist who specializes in male fertility can evaluate the results of a semen analysis, to determine what is causing abnormal sperm. They will look for a clear cause of the problem and find ways to address it. This can include sperm washing or intrauterine insemination (IUI). Contact Dallas-Fort Worth Fertility Associates today to schedule a consultation.
4. Infections
A urologist can treat many of the causes of abnormal semen analysis, which include infections in the testicles or prostate, as well as medications that cause hormonal imbalances. Medications that can affect fertility include long-term use of testosterone, anabolic steroids, some chemotherapy drugs and certain pain medications.
A low volume of semen, which is defined as less than 1.5 milliliters in a single ejaculation, indicates that there may be a blockage or a problem with the duct system (such as plugged ampullae). Semen that has a high concentration of alkaline phosphatase is often a sign of infection and can be diagnosed using a simple blood test.
Abnormal sperm morphology is another common cause of abnormal semen analysis results. Normal sperm cells have an oval-shaped head with a protein called the acrosome, which is needed to fertilize an egg cell. Men with globozoospermia have a round head and lack the acrosome, which leads to infertility.
Lastly, inflammation in the testicles or prostate can also interfere with fertility, such as in chronic prostatitis or testicular shrinking or scarring from surgery. Inflammation can lead to a high white blood cell count in the semen, which is called leukocytospermia and can lower the chance of a successful pregnancy.
5. Trauma
The good news is that many causes of azoospermia can be reversed. Medications that harm sperm production can be stopped or changed, a blockage in the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the scrotum can be opened up with surgery and the cause of low sperm motility and count can often be fixed.
Semen analysis tests can be helpful in diagnosing sperm abnormalities. They measure the sperm count, motility and morphology, looking at the shape of the heads and tails and checking for other defects.
Other testing may be necessary to help determine what’s causing your fertility issues. For example, a test for leukocytes in the semen can reveal if a man is using medication such as antibiotics that can negatively affect sperm production. It can also help detect if the sample was taken at a time when there is unusual stress, such as an exam or work pressures. A high concentration of these cells, usually white blood cells, indicates infection or inflammation of the testicle and can interfere with sperm motility.
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