Just as the female’s egg is a “must” for pregnancy, the male’s sperm is basic to sexual reproduction. For conception to take place, sperm must swim hard, penetrate the egg, and transport genetic material. Understanding how the male contributes to a pregnancy with healthy sperm is important.
When a semen analysis is necessary
If you’ve been unsuccessful at pregnancy for a year (or six months if your partner is over age 35), then your doctor may recommend a semen analysis.
The semen analysis is a basic fertility test for men that saves time, money and stress by seeing if you need further assistance in reproducing.
After the analysis, doctors may diagnosis a treatable condition. This lets the couple conceive on their own instead of using fertility treatments.
If you need fertility treatments, the semen analysis can help your doctor figure out which treatment is best to boost the chance of a successful pregnancy.
Now you only need one sperm to make a baby! Men with five sperm can conceive and father children. The latest fertility treatments have surpassed male infertility problems and most are treatable or by-passable.
How does a semen analysis work?
Before a man gives a semen sample, he must avoid ejaculating for 2 to 3 days. If the semen sample is done at home, use a sterile container to catch every bit of the ejaculate. Then, rush the sample to the doctor’s office. The semen analysis must be done within two hours of collection.
If the semen sample is done at the doctor’s office, there will be a very private room to relax you and help you get in the mood.
The fertility specialist may ask for the semen analysis to be repeated. Sometimes the second or third test is done at a lab, especially if your health plan is covering the semen analysis.
Many prefer using a fertility clinic for the semen analysis, even if it costs more. Most clinics provide men with a private space called a masturbatorium (no kidding!) in which to provide the semen sample. The results are given to trained technicians, and the semen analysis is often more reliable.
What the lab report means
The semen analysis lab report will evaluate many factors, including the following:
Volume: Normal volume ranges from 1.5 to 5.0 milliliters (a milliliter is roughly equal to a teaspoon). Low volume may be a sign of an obstruction in the ejaculatory ducts. Retrograde ejaculation in which the semen goes into the bladder instead of out of the body sometimes causes low volume.
Semen content: Researchers are learning more about the human body by understanding the content and makeup of semen. Depending on the findings from the semen content, more blood tests may be performed to check for infections or other problems.
Sperm count: This tells the number of sperm in the semen sample. A normal sperm count may be from 70 to 80 million sperm/mL. Men with a low sperm count may be very fertile if the sperm is “high quality.” Still, having a low sperm count may indicate a problem in the body—giving the doctor a clue that may warrant further testing and treatment.
Sperm motility: Sperm motility is how the sperm swims, wiggles or fights to get through the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes to the egg. Normal sperm motility is when 50 percent of the sperm are moving. The lab tech will check to see how the sperm move forward, how fast, and if the sperm move in a straight line.
Sperm morphology (shape): Sperm shape is significant as it shows development. If the sperm is misshapen, it may indicate the sperm was exposed to chemicals or toxins or has other problems.
The final analysis
The semen analysis is the beginning of a successful pregnancy. Using this test along with results from the man’s medical history, physical examination and other tests, the fertility specialist can make a diagnosis or at least suggest treatment to help increase the chance of pregnancy.
Sometimes the fertility treatment is simple—go home and have unprotected sex. Other times the fertility treatment is complex, relying on fertility treatments to help the sperm get to the egg for fertilization. But no matter what’s involved, your fertility specialist will use information from the semen analysis to help your male partner to father his own genetic children.
This content is Copyright The American Fertility Association (AFA) 2010. This content is intended for personal use and may not be distributed or reproduced without AFA consent. Please contact info@theafa.org or visit theafa.org for more information.
Sources: The American Fertility Association
