Necrozoospermia, also known as necrospermia, is a condition where all the sperm are dead in the man’s fresh semen sample. However, complete necrozoospermia is relatively uncommon. Only 0.2 percent to 0.5 percent of infertile males are thought to have total necrozoospermia.
Necrozoospermia is classified into:
Moderate – 50 to 80 percent dead sperm
Severe – more than 80 percent dead sperm
The best way to manage and treat necrozoospermia is an accurate diagnosis
What causes necrozoospermia?
The factors that can cause necrozoospermia are:
How is it diagnosed?
To diagnose necrozoospermia, you may have to undergo a few tests, which may include:
Necrozoospermia is often confused with asthenozoospermia, a condition in which sperm are non-motile but not dead.
Asthenozoospermia is easier to manage because ICSI can be done after the living sperm have been identified using sophisticated tests like the hypoosmotic swelling test.
It is necessary to speak with your doctor in order to receive the proper diagnosis and treatment.
Another issue which you could face is the possibility of a false-positive diagnosis. It usually happens when:
How to overcome the issue of the wrong diagnosis?
What are the treatment options?
When the cause of necrozoospermia is established, the first step is to address the cause. Antibiotics, for example, maybe administered if there is an infection. If necrozoospermia is due to drug misuse, the doctor may suggest drug addiction treatment.
Fertilization rates are low in people with necrozoospermia. However, ICSI improves the possibilities of conception.
IVF with testicular sperm extraction (TESE-ICSI) is the best treatment option in cases of necrozoospermia. Your doctor will use a local anesthetic to numb the testis during this procedure. After that, a needle is inserted to extract a small tissue.
In spite of not finding any live sperm cells in the ejaculate, sperm cells are often found in the testicles.
These sperm may not be able to penetrate and fertilize an egg on their own. That’s why IVF with ICSI is necessary. Here, your doctor will inject the egg directly with the sperm. With TESE-ICSI, the success rates are high.
However, considering a sperm donor or other family alternatives may be the best next step when fertility treatments fail.