Male infertility occurs when any condition in a man affects the chance of getting the female partner pregnant. The health of the sperm is one of the most common causes of male infertility. It is diagnosed through a number of tests, and testing semen is one of the important ones that is used to determine sperm health. In this test, the semen sample, after being collected, is sent to a laboratory where it is assessed for various factors like semen count, volume of semen, morphology, and motility. Let us see what is measured from semen analysis.
Semen Ejaculate Volume
A man, on average, produces a 2-5 ml volume of semen on ejaculation. A low semen ejaculate volume on the semen analysis report could be due to incomplete collection, failed emission, short abstinence level, problems or absence of the duct that carries the spermatozoa or short abstinence interval. When conducting semen analysis in Kalyan or elsewhere, semen ejaculate volume is an important part of the analysis report.
Sperm Concentration
Sperm concentration should typically be a minimum of 15 million per ml. If it is lower, the condition is called oligospermia. If no sperm are present in the semen, it is called azoospermia. A concentration of less than 5 million/ml is considered severely low. However, sperm count can fluctuate on a daily basis. It is also affected by abstinence from sexual intercourse.
Sperm Motility
Sperm motility or movement is further divided into total motility and progressive motility. Healthy sperm have a fast and forward movement, which allows the sperm to swim through the female reproductive tract and fertilize the egg. A sperm motility provides a better chance of pregnancy. If the motility is lower than that, the condition is called asthenospermia.
Sperm Morphology
It refers to the shape and size of the sperm. Semen analysis examines the percentage of sperm that has a normal shape by taking into account the shape of the sperm’s body, head, and tail. If misshaped, it may indicate that the health of the sperm has been affected by exposure to chemicals, toxins, and other problems. If the sample has 4% normal sperm as per WHO guidelines, it is considered normal. A higher percentage of abnormal sperm is called teratospermia.
Sperm Vitality
It is the number of live sperm in the semen sample. This is an important parameter in semen analysis. At least 60% of the sperm should be alive in a semen sample for successful chances of conception. A semen sample contains both sperm that are alive and mobile in order to achieve conception. Alive but immortal sperm are suitable for Assisted Reproductive Technology. But IVF or Artificial insemination is also helpful since a sperm that doesn’t move properly may not reach the egg.
Bottom Line
If semen analysis reports show irregularities, the fertility expert may recommend another analysis after 4-6 weeks. If the second report shows abnormalities, other tests may be conducted to identify the underlying problems. Additional tests provide more clarity. Some conditions can be treated with minor changes like medication and lifestyle. Most infertility issues can be solved thanks to the latest developments in reproductive medicine. Your fertility expert will recommend suitable treatment options based on the specific problem for successful conception.
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