Azoospermia, which can be defined as the absence of sperm in semen, can be diagnosed after two sperm counts at 4-8 week intervals. Infertility can be seen frequently in men diagnosed with azoospermia. But is every man with azoospermia infertile? No, they are not.
Azoospermia is divided into two types; Obstructive Azoospermia and Nonobstructive Azoospermia. Once the type of azoospermia is diagnosed, the type of treatment is chosen.
Is there a solution for obstructive azoospermia? Can you have a child?
In the case of obstructive azoospermia, sperm production is normal, but for some reason there is a blockage and no sperm can come from the semen. This can sometimes be caused by infections in the male reproductive organ and sometimes by congenital absence of a sperm duct. If the blockage is removed, the person can have a child naturally. Surgical intervention will be applied for this blockage, and if the surgical intervention does not yield results, the method called Microscopic Testicular Sperm Extraction (Micro TESE) or sperm collection method is used with several different similar applications. Sperm cells are extracted from the testicles and these cells are then used in IVF treatment.
Can men with Nonobstructive Azoospermia have children?
In Nonobstructive Azoospermia, there is no obstruction, on the contrary, the man's body is unable to produce sperm or produces less than it should. There are many reasons that trigger this. Sometimes diseases of the pituitary gland, which is involved in the secretion of hormones that stimulate sperm production, can cause this disease, while sometimes unhealthy lifestyles such as overweight, smoking and alcohol consumption can cause this disease.
Since there is no or very little sperm production in the body, Nonobstructive Azoospermia patients have a very low chance of having children naturally, but this should not scare you. Thanks to ever-advancing technology and medical advances, men with this disease have a better chance of having children.
Hormone therapy and healthy lifestyle advice are used to encourage sperm production in the body. Thanks to assisted reproductive techniques, sperms with increased production are captured and used in in vitro fertilization treatment to enable azoospermia patients to have children.
Do patients with azoospermia need psychological treatment?
Psychological treatment support during treatment for azoospermia patients is not legally obligatory in any country. However, since receiving psychological and social support will have positive effects on the treatment process of the patient as in every disease, it is recommended to patients during the treatment process of azoospermia and even offered as a package in many clinics.
Do not forget that the stress that the person will experience will have negative effects on the normal functioning of the body. While the bodies of patients who are free from stress focus only on treatment, the immune system of patients under intense pressure and stress will have to fight both anxiety and disease.