Semen Analysis - Male Fertility Test
A semen analysis is a procedure that is performed to check the quality of two aspects of male reproduction – semen and sperm. Semen is the fluid which is created to carry the sperm into a woman’s vagina. From here, the sperm should ideally have enough power and strength to travel past the cervix into the uterus up to the fallopian tube where fertilization takes place. This is a very long journey and therefore this means that the key to fertilization is good sperm quality. The only way to check for this is to check for sperm quality and quantity. This is a crucial mix. If there is a generally decreased sperm quality, this can be offset to a certain extent by a good number of sperm in a set volume of ejaculation. On the other hand, a reduced ejaculate volume can be offset by good quality sperm. Besides these basic parameters, there are some other aspects that are looked into as well.
Ideally, it is considered that a sperm count of 20 million and above per sample is normal or ideal for fertilization. The quality of the sperm is then the next aspect that is tested. This is tested on the basis of motility. Sperm should ideally be mobile and move in a straight line. Anything less than that is considered below quality. A more important check than this is for the morphology of the sperm. This is a check for the nature of the sperm and a check if they are deformed in some way or the other. Seminal volume is the next aspect that is checked for, as a low ejaculate volume can indicate a blockage of the seminal vesicles. The normal optimum level of sperm can range anywhere from 1.0 mL to 6.5 mL of sperm. Fructose is a sugar that is found in the seminal fluid and this should be at a level of about 3mg/ml.
Other aspects that are looked into include pH values and liquefaction, which is the process by which the thick seminal fluid over the period of few minutes turns from a gel to a complete liquid. Some other measures that are used include checks for problems like excessive amounts of white blood cells, which is nearly always an indication of some kind of infection in the testicles or epididymis. These problems can result in the loss of a testicle and fertility.