Causes of Teratospermia: Understanding Abnormal Sperm Shape

Nowadays, infertility is not just a woman's issue. We should know that, in certain cases, the problem in conceiving stems from the mans side. Men's infertility refers to their issues with sperm quality, sperm count or sperm motility.

Teratospermia, also referred to as teratozoospermia, is defined as abnormal sperm morphology (shape), caused by either defect in the head, midpiece and/or tail. It is a disorder in which males produce wonky-looking sperms. This, in turn, affects their chances of fertilizing the eggs.

According to studies, a normal shaped sperm should have the following:

An oval shaped head
A clean, distinct cap covering the sperm head
No drops of fluid in the head
A regular looking neck and midpiece with one tail

Abnormally shaped sperms may have a round head, or two tails or two heads. Sperm morphology can be analysed by performing a semen analysis or seminogram.

Causes of Teratospermia

The causes of teratospermia are not clearly defined and are difficult to determine. However, physiological stress is said to have an effect on the morphology of the sperms. The following factors are suggested to be the most common causes:

Genetic traits
Chronic diseases and infections
Smoking
Alcohol
Unbalanced diet
Obesity
Drug use
Diabetes
Testicular trauma

Some studies also associate abnormal sperm morphology with aging. As a man grows older, his bodys ability to produce good quality sperm diminishes.

The positive news is that teratospermia is curable in certain cases. For example, if the cause is an unhealthy lifestyle, then making healthier choices such as quitting smoking and alcohol, exercising more can make the sperm quality better.