Do you have a sperm analysis that you are trying to decipher? Are you struggling to understand the results? We can help! In this blog we will address the basics of sperm production and explain what you should expect when your fertility clinic requests a sperm analysis.
Here are the basics:
- The growth of sperm is called spermatogenesisThis process takes roughly 64 days from start to finish in the human body.
- The average male produces roughly 100 million sperm per day and ejaculates 100-300 million sperm.
- A sperm analysis is a test to check many different factors regarding the quantity and quality of sperm. It’s a great guideline and starting place to considering how male infertility might be affecting your ability to become pregnant.
The following details will be included in your sperm analysis results and are factors that will be considered by your doctor when discussing your personalized plan.
- Volume – Amount of fluid that comes out when a man ejaculates.
- Sperm Concentration – The number of sperm/mL in a sample.
- Sperm Count – Not to be confused with Sperm Concentration, sperm count is the total number of sperm in the entire ejaculation.
- Motility – The number of sperm that are moving in a sample.
- Progressive Motility – The number of sperm that are moving forward. This is important because this is the sperm that will be used during the IVF procedures.
- Morphology – This is what the sperm look like under a microscope. Only about 4-10% of men have sperm that look “normal” under a microscope. Most fertility experts agree that it should only be considered as a small part of the whole and not an indicator of its own.
Here is an example of sperm analysis:
What should you know before getting your sperm analyzed?
Not all Clinics are created equally and have the same level of expertise. In the United States, there are very few guidelines to regulate how a fertility clinic operates. While in some cases, this is a benefit to Intended Parents, the same is not true for every situation.
Sometimes you will find a clinic that is underprepared to handle your case. It’s important to find a fertility clinic that analyzes sperm on a regular basis. This ensures that you will receive accurate results for your sperm analysis and that the focus is not put on the wrong portion of the results.
We want to make sure the following fact is abundantly clear:
– If your sperm analysis results show less than a “normal value”, there is no cause for concern. Your doctor should approach these results considering each factor not individually, but each of these factors as a whole.
– A sperm analysis is not always completely accurate. There are multiple factors that can affect the results, so sperm analysis is considered a guideline. At times, your doctor might even request more than one sperm analysis during the process of IVF to ensure the most accurate results.
Love & Kindness can help!
Although we aren’t medical professionals, we have experience with helping clients with infertility issues and experience working with medical professionals. We can assist you in your IVF journey!
If you feel uneasy about test results or a medical diagnosis you have received from a medical professional, we can help you find a second opinion.
If you are struggling with infertility, you are not alone. Infertility affects roughly 9% of men and 11% of women worldwide. When facing infertility with a team (An Agency, Family & Friends, or Medical Professionals), you can feel confident in your personalized plan!