sperm quality analysis
What is being tested?
A semen analysis measures the quantity and quality of both the liquid portion, called semen, and the microscopic, moving cells, called sperm.
Semen is the turbid, whitish substance that is released from the penis during ejaculation. Sperm are the cells in semen with a head and a tail that enables them to travel to the egg. A sperm contains one copy of each chromosome (all of the male’s genes) and fuses with the female’s egg, resulting in fertilization.
- A typical semen analysis measures:
- *the volume of semen,
- *the semen consistency (thickness),
- *sperm concentration,
- *total number of sperm,
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*sperm motility (percent able to move as well as how vigorously and straight the sperm move),
- *the number of normal and not normal (defective) sperm,
- *coagulation and liquefaction,
- *pH (acidity),
- *the number of immature sperm, and
- *the number of white blood cells (cells that indicate infection).
Additional tests may be performed if semen is abnormal, such as a test for sperm antibodies. If assisted reproductive technology is contemplated (for example, in vitro fertilization), sperm function tests may also be performed. Sometimes a test called cryosurvival is done to see how well semen will survive for long-term storage, if a couple would like to store sperm for future pregnancies.
How is the sample collected for testing?
We prefer samples to be collected on-site as the semen needs to be examined within two hour after ejaculation. Semen is collected in a private room in Clinic. The man masturbates and collects the semen in a jar. Some men, for religious or other reasons, might want to collect semen during the act of intercourse, using a condom. If this is the case, the doctor should provide the condom or sheath because lubricated condoms can affect test results.
What does the test result mean?
The typical volume of semen collected is around a teaspoonful (2-6 milliliters) of fluid. Less semen would indicate fewer sperm, which would affect fertility. More semen indicates too much fluid, which would dilute the sperm, also impeding fertility.
Sperm concentration (also called sperm density) is measured in millions of sperm per milliliter of semen. Normal is greater than or equal to 20 million per milliliter (and more than 80 million sperm in one ejaculation). The fewer sperm a sample has, the less chance a man has of getting a woman pregnant. A man who has just had a vasectomy would want to have no sperm in his sample.
Motility is the percentage of moving sperm in a sample. The more slowly moving or immobile sperm in a sample, the less likely it is that a man could get a woman pregnant. The progression of the sperm is rated on a basis from zero (no motion) to 3 or higher for sperm that move in a straight line with good speed. If less than half of the sperm are motile, a stain is used to identify the percentage of dead sperm. This is called a sperm viability test.
Morphology analysis is the study of the size, shape, and appearance of the sperm cells. The analysis evaluates the structure of 200 sperm, and any defects are noted. The more abnormal sperm that are present, the lower the likelihood of fertility.
Is there anything else I should know?
To give sperm a chance to replenish, a man should abstain from ejaculating for two to four days before the sample is collected. The most detailed instructions will be provided after making an appointment for analysis.
Sperm are very temperature-sensitive. If collection is done at home, the sample should be kept at room temperature (70°F/21°C) at all times. Never refrigerate the sample or try to warm it to body temperature.
Several factors can affect the sperm count and other semen analysis values. A man may have a lower sperm count if he has physical damage to the testicles, has gone through radiation treatment of his testicles, or has had exposure to certain drugs (such as azathioprine or cimetidine). A man with a higher level of estrogens may have lower sperm counts.
Some of the common causes of male infertility are extremely high fever, failure of the testicles, obstruction of the tubes that carry semen to the penis, and a less than normal amount of sperm in the sample (oligospermia).