The sperm cell, like the egg, is fundamental for new life to begin. The sperm, which is much smaller than the egg, carries its owner’s DNA in its nucleus. Together with the egg, which also carries DNA, they fertilize and give rise to a new individual. However, not all couples succeed in conceiving easily, and that’s when some medical resources come into play to facilitate the diagnosis of problems that may be preventing pregnancy from happening.
Female tests are more complex, not due to their quantity, but also because there is a specific period when they must be done. For men, however, the semen analysis can detect 90% of problems related to fertility and can be performed at any time of the month1. But if you are not a specialist, you will not easily decipher the semen analysis. The reference values for what is considered normal may vary from one laboratory to another, making interpretation even more difficult for someone who is not trained in medicine.
Nevertheless, it is possible to clarify some points and try to understand what is happening by interpreting the semen analysis results2. It is important to note a few points in advance: whether the laboratory provides a reference range, and also whether the sample for the test was collected correctly.
Speaking of which, the sample must be collected after 3 to 5 days of sexual abstinence and should be collected by masturbation, either at home or at the laboratory. The vast majority of laboratories provide appropriate environments for semen collection. It is important for the man to feel comfortable so that the collection can happen. If possible, some laboratories offer home collection, but the sample must be delivered for analysis within a maximum of 45 minutes to ensure its integrity. The best option is to collect the sample at the laboratory so it can be properly stored.
Tip: For couples trying to conceive, one way to help sperm reach the eggs more easily is to use appropriate lubricating gels, such as FamiGel. To strengthen the sperm and boost your partner’s health overall, using vitamins like FamiUp is recommended, as they help the body produce antioxidants. You can purchase them here in our online store.
How to Interpret a Semen Analysis?
The first thing to analyze in a semen analysis is the volume. The acceptable volume is greater than 1.5ml, about 1 tablespoon of semen. Next is semen color, which can vary, but the desired color is opalescent white. The pH is an important aspect. The ideal pH for semen is between 7.2 and 8.0, which are basic levels. There are other aspects to consider in the semen analysis, as follows:
Liquefaction: This refers to the time it takes for semen to turn fully liquid. The ideal is that it occurs in 30 minutes or more, but less than 60 minutes.
Viscosity: In this case, a man may have increased viscosity, but ideally, viscosity should be normal.
Count per ml: This is one of the most important aspects of the semen analysis. Typically, men expel millions of sperm with each ejaculation. The normal count is more than 15 million per ml! That seems like a lot? Yes, but some laboratories still consider counts above 25 million per ml as normal.
Total count: The total number of sperm ejaculated should be greater than 39 million.
Motility: Assessing whether the sperm are moving adequately (and are alive) is essential. There are two evaluations within this category: progressive motility: evaluates if the sperm swims in a straight line, in one direction only. Non-progressive motility: sperm that move their tails but do not move forward or move randomly, not in a progressive straight line. Immobile: analyzes what percentage of sperm do not move.
Morphology: This evaluates the shape of the sperm, almost always based on Kruger morphology. Besides normal sperm (oval head and tail), it is common to find sperm with two heads, two tails, no head, no tail, and so on. The more normal sperm, the better! To be considered normal, more than 4% of the sperm should have normal morphology, which means that even a healthy man will have sperm with abnormalities.
Vitality: This measures how many sperm are alive. The more, the better. However, the vitality test is performed on men who have more than 40% immobile sperm.
Leukocytes: This indicates the presence of leukocytes due to testicular infection. If present, it must be treated with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor. The desired value is below 1 per 1.60ml.
If your semen analysis shows results different from those listed above, don’t panic! As mentioned earlier, each laboratory has a different reference. Consult your doctor to clarify the results of the semen analysis; if necessary, they will treat any issues found or recommend a medical procedure to help with conception.
It’s important for the semen laboratory test to be combined with a clinical exam to check if the man has problems such as varicocele3, for example. If oligospermia, asthenozoospermia, azoospermia, or another problem is specified, the doctor will give adequate guidance and may request another test to confirm the diagnosis.
See also: How Long Does Sperm Live in the Body and Outside It?
