Patient's question:
3-5 years oldDoctor's answer:
Oligospermia is a relatively common male infertility condition. Sperm is produced in the testes and undergoes a continuous process within the seminiferous tubules of the testes, passing through spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, spermatids, and finally maturing into sperm, which is released into the seminiferous tubules. This process takes approximately 64 to 72 days. The entire formation of sperm is regulated by endocrine hormones, and any factor affecting spermatogenesis can lead to a decrease in sperm count.1. Varicocele: Varicocele elevates the local temperature of the testes and increases vascular active substances, thereby affecting testicular spermatogenesis. However, the severity of varicocele is not proportional to sperm quality.
2. Undescended testes: Undescended testes are a significant factor or cause affecting semen quality. In unilateral cryptorchidism, about 60% of patients are infertile. Therefore, if sperm density is low and cryptorchidism is present, early treatment is necessary.
3. Urinary tract infection: Chronic infections of accessory reproductive glands can affect various laboratory indicators in semen.
4. Autoimmunity: Research in reproductive immunology has found that male autoimmune conditions can impair fertility, and antisperm antibodies can affect sperm production and transport.
5. Endocrine disorders: Normal spermatogenesis in males relies on the proper function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Any disruption in this axis can impair spermatogenesis. Other conditions, such as thyroid or adrenal gland disorders, can also affect gonadal function, leading to oligospermia.
6. Chromosomal abnormalities: Chromosomal aberrations severely impact sperm density, motility, and morphology.
7. Others: Elevated scrotal temperature, radiation damage, chemical toxins, and drug effects can all cause oligospermia.