Azoospermia is the absence of sperm, which means that sperm cannot be found during routine semen examination. In such a situation, it must be very difficult to get pregnant.
Azoospermia is more common in male clinics in reproductive centers. Studies show that azoospermia accounts for about 10% ~ 15% of infertile men. Simply put, one in ten infertile men may be azoospermia.
There is a little trouble in the diagnosis and treatment of azoospermia, which requires more trips to the hospital. Find out the reason and treat it specifically, you can still have a child.
Only after many examinations can a definite diagnosis be made.
Generally, it is necessary to go through at least three semen tests and centrifuge the semen before testing. Only when no sperm can be found each time can azoospermia be judged.
Doctors will also see if there are any special circumstances such as [retrograde ejaculation] [non-ejaculation]. If not, azoospermia can be determined.
After the diagnosis is made, we need to find out the reason.
After confirming azoospermia, some tests are needed to see why there is no sperm. The main tests are:
1. Medical examination
Reproductive andrologists will first carry out physical examination on patients and focus on the reproductive system, such as testis, epididymis, vas deferens, etc.
2. Biochemical examination of seminal plasma
It is mainly through the analysis of the components in semen to preliminarily judge whether the pipeline transporting semen is unobstructed.
3. Sex hormone test and chromosome test
These tests require blood drawing, mainly depending on the level of sex hormones and whether chromosomes are normal.
4. B-ultrasound examination
When necessary, B-ultrasound examination of reproductive system, especially transrectal B-ultrasound examination, can be carried out to understand the situation of prostate, seminal vesicle, ejaculatory duct and other parts.
5. Testicular biopsy
No obvious abnormality was found after necessary examination. Patients initially considered as [obstructive azoospermia] can undergo testicular biopsy to check the relevant conditions of testicular sperm production.
If you find sperm, there is hope of having children.
Finding sperm depends on [testicular biopsy].
Testicular biopsy was performed under local anesthesia, Do a small operation to remove a little testicular tissue for pathological examination. Testicular biopsy can tell the cause of some azoospermia (e.g. Whether there is a problem with sperm production or whether the pipeline transporting sperm is blocked). On the day of biopsy, you can know whether there are mature sperm in testicular tissue.
Testicular biopsy is not only an examination, but also a part of treatment. For azoospermia patients, the better result is [more mature sperm can be seen in testicular biopsy], indicating that there are still sperm that can make the woman pregnant. In this case, the woman should go to the reproductive center for examination as soon as possible. If the conditions are met, the removed sperm will be used for IVF pregnancy assistance.
Can’t find sperm, there are other ways
For azoospermia patients, no mature sperm is found in the testis confirmed by biopsy. On the premise that the structure of sperm production exists, if the patient agrees, sperm-promoting drug therapy (usually about 6 months) can be tried. A small number of people can produce a small amount of sperm, and then IVF can be used to assist pregnancy.
Another way is to go to a qualified hospital for [testicular incision and microscopic sperm extraction], that is, under a microscope, to find a very small amount of sperm in testicular tissue, and then to carry out IVF to assist pregnancy.
If people who still do not have mature sperm after repeated examination are advised not to continue treatment, they can only apply to the local regular sperm bank for artificial insemination or IVF.