Parents who want to have children generally prefer the most common in vitro fertilization treatment. Before this treatment, both mother-to-be and father-to-be go through many tests. Father-to-be passed; The first of the tests to test for infertility or other problems is the sperm test, also known as the spermiogram test. What is the spermiogram test for the analysis of the sperm cell? How is spermiogram done? What do spermiogram test results mean? We will answer all these questions for you in detail below. We recommend that you continue reading our article to have detailed information about the sperm test.
What is a test (spermiogram)?
Sperm test done to men; It is a test to determine sperm health, sperm count, and whether the sperm are moving correctly in the channels. As a result of the sperm test, if the sperm shape is normal and there is a sufficient number of sperm, it is concluded that your reproductive ability is high. However, in some cases, men may have low sperm count or the ability to reproduce despite having abnormal semen. That's why doctors order a second test for the accuracy of the results. If your results are normal in your first sperm test, you give the other test and if it is normal, these two normal tests show that you do not have an infertility problem. If there are different conditions, your doctor may order other tests.
If there is no semen or sperm as a result of the sperm test, this may indicate that your ducts are blocked. If this is the case, your doctor will plan different surgeries to open the channels.
Issues and Precautions to Consider While Giving Sperm Sample
There are important points to be considered before giving the sperm sample and while giving the sperm sample. Among the things to be considered before giving a sperm sample, we can count that "men should abstain from sexual intercourse for 3 days". Fasting for 3 to 5 days is sufficient. These numbers are important because if you fast for less than 3 days, the sperm count may be low as a result of the sperm test. For this reason, we can say that fasting between 3 and 5 days is sufficient. It is possible to list the issues to be considered while giving a sperm sample as follows;
· Storing the sample in a sterile environment: It is important to protect your sample from the outside environment for a healthy and accurate spermiogram test result. If a sterile environment is not provided, the test result may be inaccurate. Therefore, do not put your hands, especially sample containers, etc. It is important that you keep it as sterile as possible.
· Protecting the delivered sperm from heat: Another important point is to keep your sample away from extreme temperature changes after ejaculation. Because these extreme temperature changes negatively affect spermatozoa. Ideal temperatures for the sample cup should be between 20°C and 37°C.
· Sperm volume, amount: Volume is extremely important in the sperm test. Your sperm volume is expected to be at least 1.5 ml. The reason why you cannot reach the lower limit of 1.5 ml may be external discharge during ejaculation. It is important to be careful about this.
· Use of lubricating foreign substances during the sperm test: It is important not to use any lubricant during the sperm test because these substances seriously affect the sperm parameters. External factors with such an impact can lead to wrong conclusions.
How is the Sperm Test Done?
For the sperm test, you must first be at the IVF center or hospital. There are rooms specially prepared for men in hospitals or IVF centers. In these rooms, men give their sperm in a special container. For the effectiveness of the sperm test, the sperm sample is immediately delivered to the laboratory. The sperm sample given in the laboratory is subjected to many processes and the best quality sperms are selected. The purpose of the procedures is to examine the sperm count, motility and shape in the semen and to reach quality sperm as a result.
Apart from the hospital, sperm samples can be placed in a container and brought to the hospital in the home environment. However, this is highly not recommended. Even if this is accepted, the sperm samples should be brought to the hospital and delivered within half an hour.
Issues and Precautions to Consider When Analyzing Sperm Sample
For the sperm test, you must first be at the IVF center or hospital. There are rooms specially prepared for men in hospitals or IVF centers. In these rooms, men give their sperm in a special container. For the effectiveness of the sperm test, the sperm sample is immediately delivered to the laboratory. The sperm sample given in the laboratory is subjected to many processes and the best quality sperms are selected. The purpose of the procedures is to examine the sperm count, motility and shape in the semen and to reach quality sperm as a result.
Apart from the hospital, sperm samples can be placed in a container and brought to the hospital in the home environment. However, this is highly not recommended. Even if this is accepted, the sperm samples should be brought to the hospital and delivered within half an hour.
Issues and Precautions to Consider When Analyzing Sperm Sample
After the sperm test is given by the prospective fathers, it is examined in the laboratory environment. This examination takes approximately 1-2 hours and after the first hour, active results begin to be obtained. However, sometimes different situations can be encountered. For example, the test is given, but no sperm can be seen when looked at. In these cases, sperm are taken again and centrifuged. When faced with such a situation, the time may be extended. If there is no additional test to be done, the test results are immediately available in an average of 1-1.5 hours.
What Do Sperm Test Results Mean?
Sperm test results can be evaluated in many ways. Sperm analysis evaluates the sperm by analyzing it from various aspects. We can list these analyzes as follows:
· Sperm count and density:
Sperm count describes the number of sperm in 1 ml of semen. The World Health Organization advocates that a normal sperm count should be at least 15 million per ml or at least 39 million per sample. Having fewer sperm than these numbers indicates a low sperm count.
· Sperm morphology:
Non-abnormal sperm have a long tail and oval head. Morphology refers to the size and shape of the sperm a person has. Sperm that do not have a normal size or are weak in shape have difficulty reaching the egg and fertilization.
· Sperm motility:
The ability of sperm to move efficiently is one of the most important factors for fertilization.
· PH level of sperm:
When the pH level is too high or too low, it can affect the health of sperm and its ability to pass through the female reproductive tract.
Apart from these, sperm health is examined by looking at many factors such as semen volume, liquefaction, and seminal fructose levels while performing the sperm test. After examining all factors in detail, the results are examined and reported to the patient.
What is the Sperm Test Result of a Healthy Individual?
Low sperm count can have many different causes. The first reason is smoking addiction. Smoking addiction is one of the important factors that reduce the sperm count. In addition to smoking, alcohol and drug addiction also affect sperm count. Sperm count can also be adversely affected when there is a deficiency in hormones, depending on the clogged ducts.
Hormones are one of the important factors for reproduction on their own. Since the deficiency in reproductive hormones directly affects sperm production, it increases the possibility of encountering problems in reproduction. Apart from these, mistakes made by couples who want to have children also affect the sperm count. Using natural products unconsciously and continuing to use them uncontrollably, without knowing the limit, does harm to the person instead of providing benefits. Long-term treatment and drugs used during the treatment also affect the sperm count.
IMSI in Sperm Selection
The IMSI (Intracytoplasmic Morpholgically Selected Sperm Injection) method is the magnification and examination of even the smallest cells using special microscopes. In the past, in the microinjection procedures applied in IVF treatments, living sperm cells could be enlarged up to 400 times. However, with IMSI, sperm can now be enlarged between 6000 and 8000 times. It is possible to examine and detect in detail the disorders called "vacuoles" that indicate the intracellular structures of the sperm and their genetic damage.
The IMSI technique is an extremely useful method. Selected sperm injection; It allows advanced morphological analysis of sperm without damaging the living sperm cell. Sperm with the highest fertilization ability are selected and a high chance of fertilization between 20% and 40% can be obtained with the applied microinjection application.
Precautions to be Considered for Sperm Quality
Couples who want to have children should pay attention to egg and sperm health and be careful in this regard. There are many factors that affect sperm quality, such as those that affect egg quality. One of these factors is undoubtedly a healthy diet. A healthy diet is extremely important for every organ in the body, of course also in sperm health.
In addition, exercise is very important in making you more vigorous and increasing your body's stamina and activity. Regular exercise will make you recover in a short time and will positively affect both your mental and physical health. Alcohol and smoking are substances that affect reproductive cells and should be avoided. This is a proven fact as a result of research. If we gather all these under one title, we can say that one should take care of his own health. Nutrition, avoiding alcohol, smoking, exercising regularly will first affect your health and therefore your sperm quality.
This process, which is sensitive and special for couples who want to have a child, is extremely important for them. In this process, prospective parents experience excitement on the one hand and a lot of stress on the other. Hüma IVF Center, which understands the emotions experienced best and does not spare its support by being by their side throughout the process, is always ready to accompany you.