Spermogram analysis is a test for which a man is prescribed a referral by an andrologist. If you have received a referral and are interested in a spermogram, a men's health forum is unlikely to be useful. Sperm motility, sperm count and other indicators are medical characteristics. Should you rely on the posts of forum members in matters of health? Dedicated to how a spermogram is taken, the forum may be useful when choosing a laboratory and men's health clinic - before you go for the test, read reviews about the chosen medical center. institution.
Read on to find out what indicators a spermogram should contain (the norm for a healthy man).
What is sperm
Sperm, also called seminal fluid, is produced when a man ejaculates and is released from the urethra. It is a milky clear liquid consisting of seminal plasma and millions of sperm. Sperm are extremely sensitive and can only survive with sufficient seminal plasma.
Seminal plasma is an important part of the ejaculate, which is responsible for the fertilization of a woman. It consists of various secretions of the gonads.
The formation and development of sperm in the testicles lasts about 72 days. They can then remain there in a viable state for up to a month. Although ejaculation releases 20 to 150 million sperm, only 500 to 800 enter the female fallopian tube. This is due to many natural obstacles. For example, sperm viability is significantly affected by low vaginal pH and cervical mucus. Thanks to this protection, only healthy and very fast sperm enter the cervix. And only the most active of them reach the egg! During the period of ovulation, sperm can survive in the uterus for up to 5 days, since the local pH at this time becomes more alkaline. Contraction of the muscles of the genital organ during orgasm facilitates the penetration of sperm into the uterus. In other words, a woman who has experienced pleasure has a higher chance of pregnancy.
Spermogram norms
| Index | Norm |
| Sperm assessment | |
| Liquefaction time | 10–60 minutes |
| Volume | 2.0–6.0 ml |
| Hydrogen value (pH) | 7,2–8,0 |
| Color | white-grayish, milky, yellowish colors of sperm |
| Number of sperm in ejaculate | 40–500 million |
| Leukocytes | no more than 1 million/ml |
| Red blood cells | No |
| Slime | absent |
| Sperm assessment | |
| Concentration (number of sperm per 1 ml) | 20–120 million/ml |
| Actively mobile (category A) | more than 25% |
| Slightly mobile (category B) A+B | more than 50% |
| Weakly mobile (category C) | less than 50% |
| Fixed (category D) | no more than 6–10% |
| Correct morphology | more than 50% |
| Agglutination | No |
| MAR test | less than 50% |
Some people believe that normospermia and normozoospermia are the same thing. Actually this is not true. With normozoospermia, some indicators, such as ejaculate dilution, pH or viscosity, may deviate slightly from the norm. It does not affect fertilization.
How cycle phase and pH affect
Sperm survival time increases if sperm are exposed to a more alkaline environment (pH around 7.5). However, cervical mucus in the female body has a low, more acidic pH - 3.5-5.5. Due to this, the seminal fluid dies within 3 hours.
Cervical mucus forms on the cervix. It is viscous and transparent (milky). Mucus protects the cervix and prevents infection from entering the uterus.
The consistency and pH of cervical mucus changes before ovulation. Acidity decreases, so fertilization of an egg after sexual intercourse is possible within 5 days. For this reason, it is impossible to determine the gestational age without an ultrasound: the day on which sexual intercourse occurred may not be the day of conception.
Spermogram: rules for submission
According to the recommendation of the WHO (World Health Organization), a spermogram should be taken through masturbation, and not through interrupted coitus or any other method. To take a sperm analysis, a specially designated room is equipped in the laboratory. The door in it is closed from the inside. To make it easier to get your ejaculate analyzed, there are magazines with erotic content in the room.
If you are scheduled for a spermogram, the rules for taking it require 3-4 days of preparation:
- do not drink alcoholic beverages, including beer;
- don't have sex;
- do not visit saunas, baths, or take hot baths.
Repeated spermogram involves following the same rules.
To correctly evaluate the results of a spermogram, it is necessary to take it several times. If after the first spermogram the doctor said that the spermogram was bad, do not despair. When re-analysed, the sperm may have different characteristics. A change in these characteristics may generally affect the interpretation of the spermogram.
External effects on sperm
Seminal plasma protects sperm cells from external influences during ejaculation. However, there are many factors that influence sperm survival.
- Air
. As soon as sperm is exposed to fresh air, its viability is reduced to several minutes. At the same time, the volume of seminal fluid affects the life of male reproductive cells only slightly. But cold can also extend the life of sperm. If sperm is cooled to very low temperatures (frozen) in an airtight container immediately after ejaculation, it can be stored for years before being used for fertilization. - Water.
The survival time of male cells in water is even shorter. In a liquid environment, they cannot move because water causes the cell walls to rupture. - Leather.
Sperm that comes into contact with the skin dies within a few minutes. This occurs due to the fact that seminal plasma, necessary for the life of germ cells, quickly dries out. As a result, sperm lose their motility and activity. - Textile
. If the ejaculate gets on the tissue, the sperm it contains die within a few seconds. Thus, it is almost impossible to get pregnant if sperm gets on underwear or other clothing.
Spermogram analysis: medical terms
Doctors use the following terms to describe sperm:
- azoospermia - not a single sperm was found in the ejaculate;
- akinozoospermia - sperm are completely immobile;
- antisperm antibodies (ASAT, or ASA) - antibodies that the body produces against sperm;
- asthenozoospermia - insufficiently motile sperm (category A<25% or A+B<50%);
- hemospermia - the ejaculate contains red blood cells;
- leukocytospermia - increased number of leukocytes (more than 1 million/ml);
- necrozoospermia - no living sperm;
- normozoospermia - there are some deviations from the norm, but they do not affect fertilization;
- normospermia - all sperm parameters are normal;
- oligozoospermia - indicates a low sperm count (concentration less than 20 million/ml);
- oligospermia - insufficient sperm volume (less than 2 ml);
- teratozoospermia - increased number of abnormal sperm (more than 50%).
How to Improve Sperm Health and Vitality
If you want to get pregnant, but conception does not occur, it is worth checking the acidity of the vaginal environment. A man needs to have his seminal fluid analyzed - a spermogram. Diagnostics will show the viability, quality and quantity of germ cells.
It is important to think about your lifestyle. Seminal health is significantly impaired by excessive alcohol consumption and smoking. In addition, you should avoid using a sauna due to the possibility of testicular overheating. Wearing tight trousers and cycling puts pressure on the testicles, which limits sperm production. Changes in diet are necessary. The doctor will prescribe vitamins, folic acid and zinc. These elements have a positive effect on sperm production.
Is it possible to decipher the research results yourself?
A spermogram is a study that always begins with an examination in case of suspected infertility in a couple. It is taken to monitor the effectiveness of the prescribed therapy, as well as the results of treatment. And since this test has to be taken quite often, many men want to learn how to independently understand the norms of sperm analysis.
You can interpret the spermogram yourself online. Using a calculator for deciphering data obtained during a microscopic examination of a spermogram, a preliminary diagnosis can be made. Below we present some indicators of a normal spermogram that you can focus on when receiving examination results. However, we emphasize that the free interpretation of spermogram results using an online calculator is for informational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with an andrologist.
Advantages of carrying out the procedure at MEDSI
- Experienced specialists.
They provide both the study of the obtained biological material and the interpretation of the spermogram. Professionals do not make mistakes in their work - Use of modern equipment.
We have our own laboratory, which guarantees that the research will be carried out immediately after collecting the biomaterial. The study is carried out in accordance with international standards, using equipment for automated analysis of ejaculate, which ensures maximum objectivity of the results obtained - Ensuring the comfort of the spermogram procedure
(material collection). The room has a special soundproofing system and has a relaxing atmosphere - FertiProof, a unique system for monitoring the conformity of biomaterial samples.
Thanks to this, any risks of replacing the patient’s biomaterial with someone else’s are eliminated. - Tactfulness and correctness of the staff.
We understand that for some men, donating sperm in a clinic is associated with a number of psychological problems, and we successfully eliminate them - No queues
- Possibilities for treatment of identified disorders.
If necessary, the clinic can provide treatment for detected diseases. Urologists-andrologists and other specialists will be involved in the work
If you are planning to undergo a study in our clinic, call and clarify all its features and cost. A specialist will answer your questions and schedule you for diagnostics at a convenient time.
How the egg is transported into the fallopian tube
After leaving the follicle, the egg, surrounded by follicular cells, remains on the surface of the ovary. It is then captured by the fimbriae of the fallopian tube, the cilia of which help move the cellular conglomerate inside the tube. Activation of the cilia of the epithelium occurs under the influence of estrogens, which are released by the ovary after ovulation. At this stage, the egg is surrounded by cumulus cells, which form the corona radiata. During fertilization, sperm overcome this layer to penetrate the outer layer of the egg.
Why is the sperm count decreasing?
The main reasons are:
- Endocrine disorders.
The main ones include: underdevelopment of the gonads, diabetes mellitus, dysfunction of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands, disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary regulation - Genetic disorders
- Aggressive effects of toxins:
sleeping pills, steroids, alcohol, nicotine - Diseases of the genitourinary system.
The most common include: trauma, orchitis, varicocele, prostatitis, cryptorchidism - Increased body temperature and feverish conditions
ASAT
ASAT are immunoglobulins (proteins) of groups A, M and G. Antisperm antibodies cause one sperm to stick to another. ASAT is formed in the body of both men and women.
ACAT can cause infertility. If the sperm is stuck to the ASAT flagellum, it moves more slowly; if the sperm is stuck to the head, it cannot fertilize the egg. the MAR test is most often used (translated from English as mixed immunoglobulin reaction - 'reaction of immunoglobulins when mixed'). If the MAR test item in the spermogram analysis shows zero, this means that you have not been diagnosed with ASAT .
Red blood cells
normospermia is diagnosed , they should not be present in the semen.
The spermogram is bad if your sperm contains red blood cells. Hemospermia during a spermogram is often observed in cases of injury, tumor or inflammation of the prostate gland. Scarlet blood in semen (false hemospermia) indicates injury or disease to the urethra.
With hemospermia, the sperm is brown or dark red in color. When ejaculation is accompanied by the release of sperm of such shades, this is a sign of serious diseases of the reproductive system. The cause may be inflammation of the bladder, seminal vesicles or prostate.
In older men, hemospermia can be a symptom of prostate cancer. Recent studies have proven a link between hemospermia and prostate cancer: 14% of patients with hemospermia had cancer.
Hemospermia requires an individual approach to treatment. In this case, the doctor takes into account the patient’s age, the duration of the symptoms of hemospermia and the frequency of their occurrence.
Ovulation
Two weeks before the start of menstruation, no matter how many days the menstrual cycle lasts, a woman should normally ovulate. In a cycle of 27 to 28 days, the egg leaves the follicle approximately halfway through the cycle. The duration of a woman’s menstrual cycle varies from person to person; in some cases it lasts up to 45 days or longer. Therefore, it is advisable to calculate the date of ovulation taking into account the expected start of a new menstruation, counting 14 days from this day.
Ovulation occurs in the form of a kind of small explosion: after the rupture of a follicle filled with follicular fluid, the egg that has matured in it is released into the abdominal cavity.
