Azoospermia is the complete absence of sperm cells in a man’s ejaculate. This condition is detected only during a clinical examination which is carried out for the treatment of male infertility. There are no characteristic symptoms or problems in intimate life, and sperm is no different from healthy one. Only the inability to conceive a child makes men turn to a urologist. The complete absence of live sperm cells in semen is one of the most common causes of male infertility, which occurs in almost 10-15% of infertile men of any age.
Reproductologists and urologists-andrologists in Israeli clinics have become one of the world’s most respected specialists in the treatment of azoospermia. Using a comprehensive approach to the search and elimination of the root cause of this disease, Israeli doctors manage to achieve the effectiveness of therapy in 95%. This is a great chance to become happy parents for desperate couples from all over the world.
Types and causes of azoospermia
The lack of sperm calls in the semen can be caused by two reasons.
- Secretory (non – obstructive) – male germ cells are not produced in the testicles.
- Obstructive (excretory) – the inability of sperm to escape the gonads.
There is also a combined azoospermia which happens rather often, when secretory factors are combined with obstructive ones.
The secretory form is two-thirds of all cases of azoospermia, and it can be caused by:
- hormone imbalance (hypogonadism);
- bad habits (alcohol, smoking, drugs);
- poisoning with industrial toxins and poor ecology in the place of residence;
- taking certain antitumor, hormonal, and antibacterial medications);
- cryptorchidism (undescended testicles);
- mumps disease in the past
- testicular cancer;
- hereditary factors.
In obstructive azoospermia, spermatozoa are physically unable to enter the seminal fluid and exit during ejaculation. The reason for this obstruction may be:
- complete absence of vas deferens or their underdevelopment;
- male genital gland injuries and pelvic surgery;
- transferred inflammation of the testicles and their appendages;
- vasectomy (ligation of the vas deferens).
Diagnostics
Clinics in Israel use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to determine the exact cause of azoospermia and its effective treatment.
- Spermogram – an examination of a man’s semen, which allows to determine the number and quality of sperm in the ejaculate. In addition, this test is performed to determine hormone levels and exclude sexual infections or inflammation.
- Transrectal ultrasound examination of the prostate gland allows to detect or rule out a neoplasm in this important male reproductive organ. In addition, ultrasound can detect other non-oncological pathologies of the prostate that can lead to azoospermia.
- Laboratory blood test for sex and other hormones important for spermatogenesis (testosterone, gonadotropin, etc.).
- Genetic tests (DNA analysis).
- Serological tests.
Treatment of azoospermia in Israel
- Highly effective drugs of the latest generation with minimal side effects. Most often, Israeli urologists and reproductologists face secretory azoospermia. Treatment of this type of male infertility is based on drug therapy. Depending on the cause of the disease, doctors select an individual course of treatment for azoospermia. This can be a correction of the hormonal system functioning, drug stimulation of sperm production, etc.
- Minimally invasive surgery. Obstructive azoospermia requires surgical procedures to restore the normal flow of sperm cells and their natural release during ejaculation. In Israeli clinics, the vast majority of surgeries are performed in a minimally invasive way, including robotic methods. This significantly increases the effectiveness and significantly reduces the rehabilitation period after the surgery.
- In Vitro fertilization (IVF) is often the only chance to become a father for man who is suffering from azoospermia. Even if there is only one sperm cell, a unique ICSI procedure allows to fertilize an ovum with it and insert the embryo into a woman’s uterus. Full-fledged motile spermatozoa are extracted directly from the testicle (TESE procedure).
- Testicular electrostimulation (Micro 400 Matrix) is a unique technique that Israeli doctors use to stimulate sperm production both for natural conception and before IVF.
Every year, several dozen infertile men from all over the world become happy fathers after undergoing azoospermia treatment in Israeli clinics. This has made Israel the center of global medical tourism for men suffering from infertility.