Any condition in a man that affects the chances of getting the female partner pregnant is known as male infertility. The most common cause of male infertility is to do with the health of the sperm.
Male fertility is diagnosed through a number of tests, the most important being the semen analysis test. After collection, the semen sample is sent to a laboratory where it is assessed for various factors such as volume of semen, semen count, motility, and morphology. An absence or a low number of sperms is necessarily not a primary factor for male infertility. It could be one of the hindrances affecting production and fertilization but not a ruling factor.
If you have recently done a sperm analysis report and is wondering about the scientific terms and values in the report then, the below-mentioned points can help you to comprehend a sperm analysis report:
- Semen Ejaculation Volume: Normally, a man produces around 2- 5ml of semen post ejaculation however, this volume may vary due to several factors: Failed emission, Incomplete collection, Problems, or absence of the duct that carries the spermatozoa, or Short abstinence interval.
- The Concentration of Sperm: The concentration of Spermatozoa should be normally around 15 million/ml. In case the concentration of sperm is low the medical term for the same is Oligozoospermia and if there are no sperms i.e, absence of sperm in the sample then it is called azoospermia.
- Motility of Sperm: The motility(Movement) of sperm is also one of the most crucial factors. The motility of sperm is divided into progressive motility and non-progressive motility. Total motility refers to any kind of movement whereas progressive motility refers to the forward movement of the sperm. A healthy sperm must have a fast, forward movement to increase the chances of fertilization. Sperm motility of over 40% is considered a good sign and a positive indication of chances of pregnancy. The low sperm motility is referred to as asthenospermia in the sperm analysis reports.
- Sperm Morphology: Sperm morphology refers to the shape of sperm that affects fertility. It is noticed that normally shaped sperm are more likely to fertilize an egg as compared to abnormally shaped sperm. A semen sample with 04% normal shape sperm is considered good with higher chances of fertilization. An increase in the percentage of abnormally shaped sperm is called Teratozoospermia.
If your semen analysis report shows any irregularities, your fertility expert might recommend another semen analysis after four to six weeks. If the report still shows abnormalities after the second analysis, other tests might be conducted to look for underlying problems. Some cases can be treated with minor alterations to lifestyle or medication.