Male Infertility Tests-
The Semen Analysis
The semen analysis is one of the most important
tests because up to half of infertile couples have a male
infertility component. Premier Fertility Clinic has a "world class" reproductive medicine, andrology (study of sperm) laboratory.
The male must
be able to ejaculate the sperm containing semen into his
partner’s vagina. Ejaculation can be impeded
by blockage of the vas 
deferens, retrograde ejaculation,
scarring from previous surgery, and other conditions. The semen analysis documents the quantity and quality of sperm.
Once the sperm reach the cervical
fluid they must swim through the cervix into the uterus
to the opening of the Fallopian tube where fertilization
occurs.
The semen analysis examines many qualitative
and quantitative aspects of sperm and semen. The semen analysis
should be performed by a reproductive
medicine laboratory with personnel experienced in the
evaluation of the infertile male. Many sperm abnormalities
are “subtle” and best screened by a professional
with extensive experience evaluating sperm and conducting the semen analysis. Reproductive
laboratories set high standards and usually use the
Kruger strict criteria to evaluate sperm and semen.
The major semen analysis evaluative criteria include:
- Sperm count- the number of sperm per 1 milliliter of semen.
- Volume- the amount of fluid that composes the semen in an ejaculate.
- Motility- the percent of sperm that swim normally in a given ejaculate.
- Forward Progression- Whether or not the sperm are swimming forward.
- Morphology- The percent of sperm that exhibit normal shapes.
A normal semen analysis will have the following values:
- Greater than or equal to 20 million sperm/milliliter.
- More that 50% motile
- Greater than or equal to 14% normal forms
Many factors can influence sperm development
and are discussed under male
infertility. Since it takes sperm three months to
develop, a semen analysis done today reflects conditions effecting
sperm quantity/quality three months ago.
Premier Fertility Clinic, Greensboro, NC has a modern, sophisticated, and inspected reproductive laboratory. Many physicians send patients to our laboratory for their semen analyses because of our excellent reputation for dependable results.
