Male infertility can be a big taboo among men. The problem is that when a couple decides to have a child, the man needs to deal with this kind of situation and face it in a healthy way since it is important for everything to go well. There are situations where it is very difficult to deal with this, such as when necrospermia occurs, a problem that can be very serious and make the dream of having a child quite shaken. Today we will talk more deeply about this issue and how to deal with it.

What Is Necrospermia?

Necrospermia is simply the term that describes the condition of dead sperm in a man1. It is a very rare type of infertility, affecting about 0.5% of men worldwide. There are basically two types of necrospermia:

  • Incomplete necrospermia: This occurs when not all of a man’s reproductive cells are dead. A man is diagnosed with incomplete necrospermia when he has more than 5% and less than 45% of his sperm alive.
  • Complete necrospermia: This is when all of a man’s reproductive cells are dead. This case is even rarer to occur.

Necrospermia, just like many other causes of male infertility, does not have any symptoms, although sometimes it can be related to infections in the testicular region.

Causes of Necrospermia

Because it is such a rare condition, studies carried out so far still cannot reveal exactly why it occurs, although it is already known that it is linked to various symptoms, such as:

  • Hormonal problems
  • Previous cancer in the testicles
  • Infections in the testicles
  • Use of drugs and alcohol
  • Long periods without ejaculation
  • Advanced age

How Is the Diagnosis Made?

Diagnosis of the condition is basically carried out through a semen analysis, where not only the quality of the sperm is analyzed in a laboratory, but also the count and motility of these cells. Other tests may be done to make sure that the sperm are healthy at their origin, that is, whether the problem is in their production or somewhere along the path until they are expelled from the body. However, it is necessary to be aware of the results of these exams, as some things can alter the diagnosis.

Beware of False Diagnosis

Many times, when necrospermia is diagnosed, it may be a laboratory error. It is not that the tests are performed incorrectly, but there are many factors that can make a man’s reproductive cells be identified as dead. Some of them are:

  • The use of spermicides in recent sexual intercourse;
  • The semen collection was not performed correctly;
  • The semen was left too long in an inappropriate environment before being analyzed

Although these are not common occurrences, it is possible for these cases to happen. Therefore, pay attention when undergoing this type of exam so that no mistakes are made.

Treatment for Necrospermia

The treatment of necrospermia is usually related exactly to what is believed to be its cause2. For example, if it is related to a hormonal problem, the doctor will recommend treatment in that direction. The fact that it is a very rare condition makes doctors resort to various alternatives before making a drastic decision like abandoning treatment due to a lack of cure. Since there are several possible causes, the chances of cure can vary greatly, from very easy to nonexistent.

Is It Still Possible to Get Pregnant?

When a man has incomplete necrospermia, the chances of getting a woman pregnant are not high, but they still exist. On the other hand, when a man presents only dead sperm, that is, when he has complete necrospermia, unfortunately fertilization is not possible. The only remaining hope is if tests reveal that there are living reproductive cells at the origin, to use alternative methods of fertilization. Intrauterine fertilization is always the best option. This is the well-known artificial insemination, where the man’s sperm is placed directly into the woman’s uterus for fertilization. In vitro fertilization is also an option3. Even today, it is not a very accessible method due to its high cost both for the procedure itself and the necessary medical follow-up to ensure the process is done correctly. On the other hand, the success rate for in vitro fertilization is quite high, which is encouraging for most couples. Although it is not very common, necrospermia is a serious problem and often difficult to deal with because it is not easy to have the dream of having a child interrupted. The good news is that there are treatments that can help, even though it is not the easiest thing in the world. In situations like this, a couple should always seek support from each other, as this is how problems can be overcome and couples can get through issues of infertility together. Necrospermia does not mean the total impossibility of having a child and while there is a chance, there is hope. There are alternative fertilization methods and treatments to be done. Therefore, supporting one another and the couple’s hope should prevail. See Also: Semen Test – Diagnose Male Fertility at Home Photo: Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS)