What Are the Common Causes of Low Sperm Motility?

Low sperm motility, also known as weak spermatozoa, refers to a condition in which the sperm that moves forward is less than 50% in the semen parameters, or that the sperm in a class A (fast forward) movement is less than 25% (WHO fourth in 1999) Edition standard). Asthenospermia is the most common type of low sperm quality and often appears at the same time as other abnormal sperm manifestations. According to domestic literature, about 30% of male infertility is caused by low sperm motility. Acute and chronic inflammation in the genital tract or gonads of the male epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate, etc., will reduce the ability of sperm to move. Patients with low sperm motility may have no obvious systemic symptoms clinically. If secondary to prostatitis, seminal vesiculitis, epididymitis, and testicular disease, corresponding symptoms may appear. Some patients with low sperm motility can see erectile dysfunction (ED), decreased libido, chills, cold limbs, fatigue, and waist and knee weakness. Treatment is based on the primary disease and can be treated with TCM syndromes.

Basic Information

nickname

Asthenospermia

English name

Low sperm motility

Visiting department

Andrology

Common causes

Epididymis, seminal vesicles, and prostate infections, varicocele, lack of trace elements, mycoplasma infection, testicular spermatogenesis dysfunction, and poor lifestyle habits

Common symptoms

Less than 50% of sperm moving forward in semen parameters, or less than 25% of sperm moving fast forward

Causes of low sperm motility and common diseases

1. Reproductive system pathogen infection

The cause of this disease is mostly the spread of pathogenic bacteria from the urethral opening to the reproductive system. For example, epididymis, seminal vesicles, and prostate infections can cause seminal plasma variation. Its pH, oxygen, nutrition, and metabolism are not conducive to sperm activity and survival.

Varicocele

The cause of this disease is mostly due to dysplasia of the venous wall or increased abdominal pressure for a long time, such as sitting or walking for a long time at work, constipation, cough, etc. Varicocele can cause hypoxia due to venous blood flow disorders in the testes, as well as increased metabolic wastes in the venous blood, such as prostaglandins and serotonin, resulting in low sperm motility.

3. Trace element deficiency

The cause of this disease is mostly a lack of nutrition and metabolic abnormalities in the diet, especially the lack of trace element zinc can affect sperm motility. Patients can be properly treated with zinc at the doctor's recommendation.

4. Mycoplasma infection

The cause of this disease is mostly hygienic mycoplasma that does not pay attention to health during heterosexuality or carries the pathogenic mycoplasma of the opposite sex. Mycoplasma can adhere to the sperm tail and will inevitably affect the sperm motility.

5. Testicular spermatogenic dysfunction

The cause of this disease may be that the patient infected with mumps and orchitis when he was a child. If the testicular seminiferous epithelium is not fully mature or damaged and becomes thin, the sperm quality after generation is poor and the motility is weak.

6. Lifestyle

The patient's long-term smoking and alcohol abuse caused bad nicotine and alcohol in alcohol to change the semen environment. Prolonged indulgence leads to infection of the germs from the urethral opening into the reproductive system.

7. Antisperm antibodies

The cause of anti-sperm antibodies is not completely clear at present. Anti-sperm antibodies are antibodies that allow them to produce "self-defense" and cause the immune system to cause "candidate killing", making it difficult for sperm to survive, resulting in low sperm motility.

Differential diagnosis of low sperm motility

This disease should be distinguished from reduced sperm survival and dyspermia. Decreased sperm survival is an increase in the number of dead sperm. It is the same as dead sperm, focusing on the survival of sperm. The disease is focused on sperm motility and decreased motor capacity, and the two cannot be confused.

Low sperm test

1. Routine inspection of semen <br The general characteristics of semen volume, semen color, and semen viscosity should be examined. The most important part of routine semen examination is the inspection of sperm, such as sperm shape, sperm motility, sperm motility, sperm count, etc., as well as seminal plasma biochemistry, immunology, microbiology and so on.

2. Prostate Examination Abnormal prostate function is an important cause of low sperm motility, so examining the prostate plays a key role in helping doctors determine whether the prostate is secreting normally. Examination also helps to understand the texture and size of the prostate and tenderness Happening. In addition, prostatic fluid microscopy is helpful for the diagnosis of prostatitis.

3. Determination of endocrine hormones

Reproductive endocrine hormone levels, including testosterone, FSH, LH, E2, and PRL, have a great significance in the diagnosis of low sperm motility. If FSH is significantly elevated, it is mostly a primary disease of the testis; if FSH and LH are lower than normal, they are mostly secondary symptoms; elevated PRL indicates abnormal semen quality caused by hyperprolactinemia.

4. Ultrasound

Ultrasound can detect subclinical varicocele, and the patient needs to stand for examination. The normal diameter of the spermatic cord is within 2mm. When varicose veins are reached, it can reach 3mm or more, and the venous branches increase, which may be accompanied by venous blood reflux. In addition, this method can also help determine the size and development of the testes.

Sperm motility treatment principles

1. Treatment for primary disease

(1) Anti-infection.

(2) Supplement trace elements.

(3) Adjust living habits.

2. TCM syndrome differentiation treatment

(1) Insufficient kidney yin: Nourishing kidney yin and nourishing kidney and filling essence. However, the medication should not be too cold to prevent damage to the kidney yang.

(2) Insufficiency of spleen and stomach, deficiency of qi and blood: Qi and spleen should be replenished.

(3) The content of damp heat: clearing away heat and dampness;