Asthenozoospermia

Asthenozoospermia is a medical condition characterized by reduced sperm motility, meaning that the sperm have an abnormally low ability to move effectively. This is a significant factor in male infertility, as sperm must be able to swim through the female reproductive tract to reach and fertilize an egg. Motility is assessed as part of a semen analysis, which evaluates various parameters of sperm health, including count, morphology (shape), and motility.

The causes of asthenozoospermia are diverse and can include genetic factors, lifestyle choices such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to environmental toxins, infections of the reproductive tract, varicocele (enlarged veins in the scrotum), and certain medical conditions like diabetes or obesity. Oxidative stress, where an imbalance of free radicals damages sperm cells, is also a common contributor.

Diagnosis is made through a semen analysis performed by a laboratory. Treatment approaches depend on the underlying cause and may involve lifestyle modifications, medications to address infections or hormonal imbalances, surgical correction for varicoceles, or assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) if natural conception is unlikely. Further investigation may be required to identify specific contributing factors.