Teratozoospermia (Abnormal Sperm Morphology)

Teratozoospermia is a male fertility condition marked by a significant proportion of sperm exhibiting aberrant morphology, indicating defects in their size, shape, or structural components. Normal sperm usually have an oval head, a midpiece that is intact, and a long tail that helps them migrate. In teratozoospermia, abnormalities may affect the head (big, tiny, or irregular), the midpiece (thickened or bent), or the tail (short, coiled, or absent), hindering the sperm's capacity to penetrate and fertilise the egg.

The causes of teratozoospermia are often several. Genetic problems, oxidative stress, varicocele, infections, hormonal imbalances, and being around environmental contaminants like pesticides or heavy metals are all things that can worsen it. Lifestyle variables such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor food, and obesity can exacerbate sperm morphology.

Semen analysis is used to make a diagnosis. It uses stringent morphological criteria, including Kruger's criterion, to figure out what proportion of sperm is normally shaped. Management centres on tackling reversible factors, enhancing lifestyle practices, and employing antioxidant treatment to mitigate oxidative damage. When morphology is significantly impaired, assisted reproductive methods, like intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), are frequently advised to facilitate fertilisation.