Patient's question:
I've been married for three or four years, but my wife and I have still not had a baby. Recently, she took me to the hospital for a check-up, and we found out that I have azoospermia. I'm very worried. What are the dangers of having azoospermia?Doctor's answer:
Infertility poses significant harm to men, and while sterility is an obvious issue, the more severe and hidden harms are often greater. Therefore, timely treatment is essential.Treatment for Azoospermia:
① Treatment for Undescended Testicles: If a man has undescended testicles, early detection and treatment are crucial. The best approach is surgical intervention before the age of 2. The later the surgery is performed, the greater the impact on fertility. For instance, if surgery is done after the onset of azoospermia in adulthood, it will not improve the testicles' sperm production function. The purpose of the surgery is to prevent the testicles from developing malignancies later. Parents should seek timely treatment if they discover their child has undescended testicles, avoiding potential regret.
② Treatment for Varicocele: If azoospermia is caused by varicocele, surgical treatment is generally recommended. Before the surgery, a testicular biopsy should be performed to assess the extent of testicular damage, which can help determine whether sperm production function will recover after varicocele ligation. If the biopsy results show severe and irreversible testicular damage, the surgery may not be necessary. However, if the damage is mild, the surgery can yield positive outcomes.
③ Endocrine Treatment: For azoospermia caused by endocrine abnormalities, endocrine methods should be used for treatment.
Advice: Early detection, accurate diagnosis, and symptomatic treatment can help recover from this condition.