Semen analysis

Dear Patient,

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Semen testing - what is it?

Semen is a viscous, whitish liquid containing sperm and products from several glands including the prostate. During ejaculation, semen is thick, but dilutes or liquefies within 10-30 minutes.

Sperm are the reproductive cells in semen that have a head, neck, insertion and vita, and contain one copy of each chromosome (derived from the father).

Sperm are motile, normally moving forward (in a progressive motion). Inside the woman's body, this property allows them to travel in the uterine cavity and fuse with the egg cell, leading to fertilization. Each semen sample should contain 1.5 to 5.5 milliliters (about one teaspoon) of fluid, with 20mln sperm/ml (1% of the semen's composition) and various amounts of proteins, fructose (sugar), buffers, coagulants, hormones and enzymes to aid in the fertilization process.

Sperm analysis is the main test performed to determine the causes of male infertility. In the collected material, such parameters as volume, viscosity (density), pH, macroscopic appearance, sperm count, sperm motility, viability and structural structure are mainly evaluated.

The sperm analysis is performed in order to determine the cause of male infertility

When to perform a semen test?

The semen test is performed when a doctor suspects that a couple may have a fertility problem, and the cause is on the male side. Infertility is usually diagnosed when a couple has tried to get pregnant for 12 months without success. Infertility when the condition is irreversible.

Semen analysis for the diagnosis of infertility should be performed on a minimum of 2 samples taken 2-3 weeks apart. Sperm count and semen consistency change from day to day, and certain circumstances can temporarily affect sperm motility and sperm count.

The sperm count and sperm consistency can change from day to day

A shorter version of semen analysis, a semen check (checks semen only for the presence of sperm), is usually ordered to confirm the success of a vasectomy (ligation of the vas deferens-a method of male contraception) about 3 months after the procedure is performed.

Who should have a semen test done?

The semen test should be performed by:

• men who are in the diagnostic process for infertility or in the course of monitoring its treatment
• Men after vasectomy, to confirm its effectiveness

If the test results reveal abnormalities, he may perform additional tests, such as genetic tests (for Klinefelter's syndrome or cystic fibrosis), hormonal tests (testosterone , FSH , LH , prolactin), urinalysis after ejaculation, ultrasound and testicular biopsy, immunological tests for antibodies against sperm).

When additional analyses demonstrate the appropriateness of using assisted reproductive techniques, the test result can be used to plan effective treatment.

The most common disorders detected in semen include a decrease in the total number of sperm in 1ml (oligozoospermia), a decrease in the percentage of motile sperm or an increase in the percentage of pathological sperm. Often, an increase in the number of white blood cells is a sign of inflammatory conditions of the genital organs - infections of the prostate or other parts of the urogenital system, which can cause temporary infertility.

The most common causes of male infertility are infections of the genitourinary tract, prostatic hypertrophy, varicose veins of the epididymides, obstruction of the vas deferens, erectile dysfunction (such as. against a psychological background, as a result of neurological diseases or diabetes), testicular tumors, damage to the testicles after mumps or irradiation, hormonal disorders (e.g. within the work of the thyroid, hypothalamus, pituitary gland), medications used (antibiotics, for high blood pressure). Semen quality is further worsened by stimulants (cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, caffeine).