Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OL-i-go-as-THE-no-TER-ah-to-zo-SPER-mee-ah), or OAT, is a condition that includes oligozoospermia (low number of sperm), asthenozoospermia (poor sperm movement), and teratozoospermia (abnormal sperm shape). It is the most common cause of male subfertility. Subfertility is a condition where a man has been unable to get a woman pregnant after one year of unprotected regular sex. The causes of OAT include genetics, infections, hormonal imbalance, a varicocele, and the use of certain drugs. Other causes include problems with the immune system, smoking, drinking alcohol, and using illegal drugs. The male reproductive system includes the testicles, prostate, penis, scrotum, vas deferens, epididymis, and seminal ducts. Each testicle inside the scrotum produces sperm.
  
  
• Signs and symptoms include being unable to produce a child, and increased body hair and breast tissue. A whitish to yellowish discharge from the penis may be seen. A mass or swelling on the scrotum that feels like a bag of worms may also be present. A complete physical, reproductive, and sexual health history may be needed to diagnose OAT. Diagnostic tests may include semen and sperm analysis, blood tests, a scrotal ultrasound, spermatic venography, and genetic screening. Treatment may include medicines, sperm extraction, surgery to remove a varicocele, and percutaneous embolization. With treatment, such as medicine and sperm extraction, your infertility may be resolved and your partner may conceive.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Treatment of OAT may cause unpleasant side effects. Some medicines may cause headaches, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting (throwing up), and irritability. Others may cause allergies, rashes, and problems with your liver. Certain hormone medicines may cause edema (swelling), changes in body shape, oily skin, and depression. You could get an infection with sperm extraction or surgery. Your stomach, intestines, blood vessels, or kidneys may get injured or burned during surgery. Problems during surgery, such as an injury to your bladder, may lead to open surgery. This is surgery to open your abdomen (stomach) and repair the injuries. Varicoceles may come back even after treatment. Even with treatment, subfertility may still be a problem. Without treatment, you may be unable to get a woman pregnant. Ask your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your condition, medicine, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent: You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your doctor should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.

IV: An IV is a tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube is capped or connected to tubing and liquid.

Medicines: Your caregiver may give you the following kinds of medicines:

• Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by germs called bacteria.
  
  
• Antioxidants: Antioxidants may be suggested by your caregiver to decrease damage to sperm caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS may affect normal sperm function. Antioxidants may include vitamin E, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and glutathione.
  
  
• Hormones: These may be given if a hormone imbalance in the reproductive system is present.
  
  
• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain. Medicine may be given regularly, or may only be given if you ask caregivers for it. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease enough for you to feel better. Do not wait to ask for your pain medicine until the pain is very bad. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it. Ask your caregiver for help getting out of bed if you feel tired or dizzy.
  
  
• Steroids: Steroid medicine may be given to decrease inflammation, which is redness, pain, and swelling.

Tests: You may need any of the following:

• Blood tests: You may need blood taken for tests. The blood can be taken from a blood vessel in your hand, arm, or the bend in your elbow. It is tested to see how your body is doing. It can give your caregivers more information about your health condition. You may need to have blood drawn more than once.
  
  
• Genetic screening: Genetic testing to look for abnormal genes may be done if there is a low sperm count.
  
  
• Semen analysis: A semen analysis is a test to check a man's fertility. A semen sample will be taken. Semen is the thick, white, sperm-containing fluid released during ejaculation (process of ejecting semen from the penis). An increased number of white blood cells in the semen may cause problems with the sperm's movement and function. You may need to talk with your caregiver about the method of sample collection.
  
  
• Sperm analysis: The movement of sperm and how it moves through mucus may be tested. A computer-aided sperm analysis to measure sperm numbers may also be done.
  
  
• Spermatic venography: This test will examine and show the position of the veins in the scrotum. During this test, your caregiver will put dye into your body and take x-rays to look for the varicocele. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to shellfish (lobster, crab, or shrimp), as you may also be allergic to this dye.
  
  
• Ultrasonography: A scrotal ultrasound uses sound waves to find lumps and other changes in your testicles and scrotum.

Treatment options:

• Percutaneous embolization: This procedure may be used to treat a varicocele. An obstruction (blockage) is made in the enlarged veins. This stops the flow of blood and treats a varicocele.
  
  
• Sperm extraction: Sperm may be extracted (removed) from the testicles or epididymis if an obstruction is present. The collected sperm may be saved or used to fertilize a woman's egg.
  
  
• Surgery: Surgery may need to be done, such as removing a varicocele. Ask your caregiver for more information if you need these surgeries.

Vital signs: This includes taking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeat), and respirations (counting your breaths). To take your blood pressure, a cuff is put on your arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which gives your blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your heart and lungs by using a stethoscope. Your vital signs are taken so caregivers can see how you are doing.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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