JAKARTA - The desire to have a child often becomes a big hope for married couples. However, not a few couples have to face the bitter reality when pregnancy does not happen.
One of the causes of the problem is male infertility, including when the husband is diagnosed with empty sperm or azoospermia. This is a medical condition characterized by the absence of sperm cells in the semen during ejaculation.
Doctor of Andrology Specialist Eka Hospital Grand Family PIK Christian Christoper Sunnu explained that azoospermia can be triggered by various factors, ranging from environmental influences to certain medical conditions.
"Other factors that cause empty sperm are pollution, cigarettes, alcohol, high sugar and preservative foods, lack of hormones, and infections," said Christian Christoper Sunnu in Jakarta, recently.
Visually, semen in men with empty sperm tends to look thinner and clearer like water. This condition accounts for about 20 percent of the total cases of infertility globally.
In Indonesia alone, it is estimated that there are around 4-6 million couples of childbearing age who experience infertility or difficulty having children. About 30 percent of these cases are related to male fertility problems.
"In addition, the number of male sperm in the world has decreased by more than 50 percent in the last half century," he said.
Dr. Sunnu explained that empty sperm is divided into two main types. The first type is caused by a blockage in the reproductive tract, which can occur due to a long infection, for example, because of frequent changes in partners without the use of condoms.
In addition, severe trauma to the testicular area, such as a hard impact from falling or kicking, as well as genetic factors can also trigger this condition.
The second type is non-subjective empty sperm which is related to sperm production disorders. The causes are varied, ranging from unhealthy lifestyles, smoking habits, consumption of ultra processed foods, to genetic factors.
Hormone deficiency, the use of hormones by injection indiscriminately, infections such as mumps or COVID-19, the use of certain drugs, and varicocele are also among the triggers.
"The two types of empty sperm are very difficult to cure. Until now, there is no therapy that can increase the number of sperm from zero to completely normal," he said.
For non-subjective types, medical efforts such as hormone injections or stem cell therapy can help relieve the condition. However, these actions do not guarantee full fertility recovery because the number of sperm produced is generally very limited.
"In the case of empty sperm, it often requires In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or test tube baby measures to allow couples to have offspring. There is hope in the future that there will be treatments that can restore 100 percent male sperm fertility," he said.
Sunnu also reminded the importance of maintaining the health of the testicles as the main organ that produces sperm. Damage to this organ is very difficult to repair if it has occurred.
"It is very important to maintain the health of the male genitals from childhood and not wait until you are married to start treatment," he said.
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