Understanding Semen Analysis
Everyday I work with couples that are struggling with fertility challenges and part of my discussion has to do with ordering and evaluating their semen analysis testing.
First of all, it isn't easy to find a lab that will evaluate a semen specimen. Luckily, the local Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) lab (main clinic) has a technician most days of the week that will perform the analysis.
You MUST have an order from a medical professional and a sterile collection cup to collect and deliver to the lab in. Ideally, the specimen is dropped off at the lab immediately following collection AT HOME! This is very important and timing of collection with traffic in mind is something to take into consideration.
Providing a basic understanding of what a semen analysis is evaluating is an important part of my visits with couples.
Semen is made up of sperm and fluids from the seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral glands. Sperm count and number of motile sperm is considered the two top factors in determining male fertility.
Motility: This term refers to the ability of the sperm to move about (this includes all movement, not just forward motion). Normal total motile count is considered 40-100 million. Motility peaks before 25 years of age and may be affected by many variables.
Volume per ejaculate: This is the measured volume of the total specimen. The normal volume of ejaculate is a very low volume (1.5ml) which does not look like a lot to the naked eye. So don't despair if your specimen does not look like a lot when collected. Many variables can affect the volume of a specimen.
Morphology: This is the evaluation of the shape of the sperm in the specimen. Shape of the sperm impacts its ability to swim and to penetrate the egg. It is considered normal to have 4% to 20%+ of sperm to have normal morphology. Both the head of the sperm and the tail of the sperm are evaluated for morphology at the time of the analysis.
Including a semen analysis as part of the initial fertility testing is key to helping a couple know which step to take next.
About The Author
Dana Ramsey is a Certified Nurse Midwife and has spent the past 15 years helping women navigate their gynecology, pregnancy, postpartum and menopausal challenges. Dana is dedicated to helping her patients overcome conditions impacting their ability to conceive and maintain a successful pregnancy.
