Semen Analysis

Understanding the cause of male infertility

Conceiving a healthy baby depends on several factors, including healthy sperm. After the female ovarian reserve issue, the second biggest concern is male infertility. The issue of male infertility nearly affects half a million infertile couple, the overwhelming news is that, through the introduction of several technologies, concept related to the infertility test in male, the reasons for infertility have been easily diagnosed within a few days, and semen analysis is one of the fertility tests for men.

Understanding male infertility

Before directly leaping to conclusion, let’s understand the reasons behind male infertility. Sperm are formed in the testicles and are stored in the yards called the epididymis, which lies in the upper section of the testicles. These stored sperm are nourished by semen, which ejaculate during intercourse. The whole process clings on the hormones, and testosterone level of men. The comprehensive package for male fertility test cost depends on the patient test requirement as suggested by the fertility expert.

Causes of male infertility

Several medical issues contribute to male infertility, these are:

Testicular disease.
Sperm disorder.
A trouble in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus and secondary hypogonadism.
Decrease in the proportionate movement of sperm after crossing 50 years.
Chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Genetic abnormalities.
Varicocele (an abnormal collection of bulging veins above testicle).

Important measurement in Semen Analysis

Semen analysis is considered as the ‘workhorse’ test to examine male fertility. The whole of the male fertility test concentrates on the morphology, motility, count, volume, and concentration. If the solution is irregular or low, this would urge for a prompt semen analysis. Semen analysis includes:

Sperm Antibodies – It examines the presence of sperm antibodies. There are cases where the immune system may form antibodies to sperm, which impairs sperm motility.

Oligospermia (Volume) – Oligospermia is characterized as a low sperm count. A sperm count is healthy if it’s above 15 million sperm per milliliter. Anything diagnosed below 15 million is oligospermia. Varicocele, infection, ejaculation, medication can affect the sperm count, while the oligospermia treatment involves surgery of varicocele, and intake of a prescribed medicine.

Morphology (Shape) – A healthy sperm floats, while an unhealthy one is likely to puncture the egg’s membrane. A massive number of abnormal sperms are a sign of teratozoospermia.

Motility (Movement)- Sperm before conceiving must swim through the female cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and then fertilize an egg. The movement of sperm is an important factor, for any zig-zag or improper movement invites infertility. Such poor sperm mobility is known as asthenozoospermia.

Concentration – A complete absence of sperm is known as azoospermia. The azoospermia test is conducted to make a remark on the ejaculated quantity of sperm. In lower sperm counts, there is less chance of the sperm to reach the fallopian tube. Azoospermia treatment includes testicles surgery and sperm retrieval. Therefore, azoospermia treatment costs vary with the patient’s medical situation.

Similarly, the genes involved in oligospermia and azoospermia are Y chromosomes and autosomal, whereas the situation of azoospermia and aspermia is identified highly in a cancer survivor.

Sperm DNA fragmentation test – For patients who have routinely faced miscarriage, or unsuccessful treatments can be diagnosed with high-level DNA fragmentation. The fertility test is useful for the ones who have elevated leukocyte levels or who have been exposed to diabetes or toxic substance for over 40-years.

Sperm check fertility test with semen analysis

Getting ready for a seminal analysis test? The fertility expert shall brief about the necessary preparation that is important to follow for more accurate results. To get a precise outcome of the men’s semen test, the following procedures are to be followed:

Avoid consumption of alcohol, drugs, caffeine, marijuana, cocaine 2-5 days prior to semen analysis.
Avoid intercourse for 24 to 72 hours before seminal analysis.
Avoid intake of herbal suppositories as instructed by the semen analyst.
Avoid any hormone treatments as stated by the specialist.

Key components needed for healthy sperm production and pregnancy are a normal hormonal stimulation of the pituitary glands, an unobstructed sperm pathway, natural delivery of sperm and stimulation of hormone from the pituitary gland.

Conducting semen test for male

For a complete report of the infertility test in male, experts of Vatsalya will ask for semen samples for semen analysis. Four main procedures to collect semen samples are:

Withdrawal before ejaculation
Masturbation
Intercourse with condom

To get a good semen sample for the infertility test in male, the ejaculated semen must be delivered within 30 – 60 minutes of leaving the body. Secondly, it must be kept at body temperature.

However, there are few factors which can create negative impact on the test, including:

Contamination in collected sample.
Human error made by lab technician.
Approaching semen analysis test during illness.
Semen connecting with spermicide.

Understanding the semen test result

Male fertility check is a simple process with a need of complex evaluation. Through semen analysis the following parameters are analyzed:

Concentration- Greater than 15 million sperm per milliliter is normal.
Motility – Greater than 32% of moving sperm is normal. Test for sperm motility is performed through a routine semen analysis.
Morphology- When sperm morphology is less than 9%, infertility increases by 2.9 times. 14% or more of the sperm with normal shaped heads are healthy.
Counting the acidity – The pH level measures the acidity in semen. For a normal person, the pH level count between 7.1 and 8.0. A high-level > 8.0 denotes the presence of alkaline, a low level < 7.1 denotes acidic semen.
Semen liquefaction period – Liquefaction means the time taken by semen to liquify. If semen turns liquid within 20-30 minutes of ejaculation, then it's normal. However, if it takes an abnormally long time, then it indicates infection.
Fructose level – Absence of sperm during semenalysis? The fertility experts shall check seminal fructose developed by the seminal vesicles. No or low level of fructose indicates a problem. This situation is known as aspermia.

Time to seek help from specialists? Searching for a male fertility test nearby? Vatsalya one of Nepal’s most advanced IVF centers is here for semen analysis. The fertility panel shall analyze the problem, provide every required treatment and then place you and your partner to the journey of parenthood.