Asthenospermia causes difficulty in walking, and varicocele is the culprit.
Clinically, a combination of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine is generally used for treatment. This approach leverages the comprehensive conditioning effects of traditional Chinese medicine and the targeted treatment of Western medicine, while also reducing some of the toxic side effects of antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat the primary urethritis; tetracyclines, macrolides, and some fluoroquinolones are all suitable. Only after the primary disease is treated will the semen gradually return to normal.
There are also some treatments for semen non-liquefaction that can help resolve infertility:
One milliliter of 4% α-amylase in physiological saline can be injected into the vagina after intercourse. Alternatively, 50 mg of the enzyme can be mixed with cocoa butter to make a 3 cm long suppository, which can be inserted into the vagina before intercourse. α-amylase can promote semen liquefaction, affect vaginal or cervical secretions, and also serve as an energy source for sperm motility.
If the semen is too viscous, the fractional ejaculation method can be used. The first ejaculation is left inside the vagina, and the penis is immediately withdrawn, with the remaining semen being ejaculated outside. This is because the latter portion of the semen mainly contains seminal vesicle secretions, which are more viscous.
Adding normal human seminal plasma to semen promotes liquefaction. However, it is essential to first ensure that the seminal plasma is free of antisperm antibodies and infection, and that it has undergone high-speed centrifugation to remove sediment and three freeze-thaw cycles beforehand.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes this disease is mostly caused by kidney yang deficiency, coldness and deficiency of the seminal vesicle, and failure of yang to transform yin; kidney yin deficiency, yin deficiency and fire excess, which scorches the semen, making it viscous and unresolved; damp heat descending and accumulating in the seminal vesicle, causing the semen to become turbid and unresolved; qi stagnation and blood stasis, phlegm and dampness accumulation, making the semen difficult to resolve. Special attention should also be paid to the concepts of "semen and blood sharing the same origin," "semen condensation," and "blood stasis," as the disease location is in the kidneys, affecting the liver and spleen. Kidney deficiency is the root cause, while damp heat, phlegm turbidity, and blood stasis are the manifestations. Treatment involves comprehensive regulation and adjustment targeting multiple factors. When there is stasis in the semen, there is also stasis in the blood; when the blood is invigorated, the semen will flow smoothly. Regardless of whether there are symptoms of blood stasis, blood-activating and stasis-removing herbs are added.
The tadpoles, moving slowly and clumsily, could not swim far.
A couple in their thirties, married for several years, had never used contraception but had been unable to conceive, so they went to the hospital for examination. After understanding the husband's family history, past medical history, sexual history, and other factors that might affect fertility, the doctor wrote: Frequent testicular swelling and pain, cold sensation, cold hands and feet, lower back and knee weakness, decreased libido compared to before, sexual intercourse once a week, penile erection hardness worse than before, no other discomfort, good appetite, good sleep, normal bowel movements, pale tongue with white coating, and thready pulse. A specialist examination then revealed: thick pubic hair, normal penis size, each testicle 15 ml, normal texture, normal size epididymis, no tenderness, no palpable nodules in the testicles or epididymis, varicose veins visible on the left spermatic cord, and thickened spermatic veins on the right. Ultrasound examination showed: left spermatic vein diameter 2.4 mm, abundant blood flow signal; right spermatic vein diameter 1.7 mm, decreasing to 1.9 mm with increased abdominal pressure, no obvious blood flow signal. Semen analysis results after 3 days of abstinence: sperm concentration 40×10/ml, motility a+b=9%+15%, activity rate 32%, other results normal.
It turns out that the man suffered from varicocele, a condition known as asthenospermia. This explains why the couple had been unable to conceive for several years due to the husband's low sperm motility.
Sperm motility is directly related to human reproduction. Only sperm with normal forward motility can reach the fallopian tube and fertilize the egg. Normally, sperm motility is limited before semen liquefaction after leaving the body; however, once liquefied, they immediately exhibit good motility. If any factor affects sperm motility, especially forward motility, the sperm may not be able to reach the egg within the optimal timeframe, making fertilization impossible. Furthermore, if sperm remain in the vagina for too long, the acidic environment will shorten their survival time.
Asthenospermia is mainly caused by defects in the sperm's own structure, abnormal internal environment, and insufficient energy utilization by sperm. In particular, insufficient fructose and zinc levels, hypoxia, high or low pH values, and excessive white blood cell counts play a crucial role. Varicocele can cause decreased sperm motility. The mechanism may be due to blood stagnation in the varicose veins, microcirculatory disturbances, and the accumulation of toxic metabolites (5-hydroxytryptamine, catecholamines, etc.), which directly damage the testicular seminiferous epithelium. It also leads to nutrient deficiency, decreased oxygen partial pressure, insufficient energy production, and endocrine dysfunction.
Low sperm motility is mainly caused by varicocele, unhealthy lifestyle habits (smoking, as nicotine in tobacco reduces sex hormone secretion and kills sperm; alcohol poisons the testes and other reproductive organs, leading to decreased libido, sperm abnormalities, and male infertility; high temperatures, as the optimal temperature for sperm growth and development is approximately 34℃, and temperatures 1℃ to 2℃ above this will adversely affect sperm development; and frequent sauna use can also cause male infertility), and mental stress. Therefore, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, eating less spicy food, avoiding excessive fatigue, and maintaining a cheerful mood are beneficial for healthy offspring.
Sperm motility is related to factors such as fatigue, alcohol consumption, certain medications (e.g., anti-anxiety drugs), electromagnetic radiation, frequency of sexual intercourse, and emotional changes. While undergoing drug treatment, it's important to address these adverse factors. Patients should consume a high-protein, high-vitamin diet, abstain from smoking, alcohol, and spicy or irritating foods, avoid unsafe sexual practices, reduce exposure to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones or computers, be aware of vehicle exhaust and environmental pollution, and reduce work or life stress.
There are many causes of low sperm motility, which can be summarized into the following categories:
1. Infection. Acute and chronic inflammation of the reproductive tract or glands, such as the epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, and prostate, can all reduce sperm motility. The effects of infection on sperm motility can be multifaceted. Microorganisms can directly affect sperm; for example, mycoplasma can adhere to the head, midpiece, and tail of sperm, increasing hydrodynamic resistance during forward movement, slowing down sperm speed, and affecting sperm motility and its ability to penetrate the egg cell.
2. Abnormal semen liquefaction. Semen that fails to liquefy or has high viscosity is one of the causes of male infertility. A significant factor may be its impact on sperm motility. In non-liquefied seminal plasma, long, thin fibrin strands are visible, creating a network that reduces the space for sperm movement and restricts sperm motility. Additionally, coarse fibers are seen connected by numerous fine fibers, forming a network that may mechanically restrict forward sperm movement.
3. Endocrine factors. Besides their role in spermatogenesis and maturation, endocrine hormones also affect sperm motility. Prolactin in seminal plasma has a linear relationship with sperm activity and can influence sperm vitality. Excessively high levels of testosterone in seminal plasma may inhibit sperm motility.
4. Chromosomal abnormalities. In addition to affecting sperm count, aberrations of autosomes and sex chromosomes also affect sperm motility and forward movement.
5. Varicocele. Varicocele can lead to male infertility through various pathways. It not only affects sperm production but also reduces sperm motility.
6. Other factors. Zinc, copper, and magnesium in seminal plasma are related to semen quality. The zinc content in seminal plasma is more than 100 times that of blood plasma. The zinc, iron, and magnesium content in the seminal plasma of men with low sperm motility is significantly lower than that of healthy men with normal sperm motility. Zinc can delay lipid oxidation of cell membranes, maintain the stability and permeability of cell structure, thereby ensuring good sperm motility. Deficiencies or reduced activity of enzymes related to sperm motility, vitamin deficiencies, occupations involving high temperatures or radiation, and exposure to chemical toxins can all cause decreased sperm motility. In addition, there are some cases of low sperm motility with no identifiable cause, known as idiopathic asthenospermia.
Asthenospermia is a major health concern, and patients should seek medical treatment. At the same time, they should pay attention to their diet, minimizing the intake of foods that kill sperm. The following foods can be consumed more frequently: