How to Read a Sperm Analysis Report

A sperm analysis report gives professional healthcare providers insight into a person’s fertility, and enables decision making when it comes to family building. When a person is struggling with infertility, this report would also give insight into how the infertility can be managed. It is also valuable for the person whose sperm has been analysed to understand the meaning of the metrics, because it helps them understand the basis for the decisions a medical practitioner makes from the report. We shall discuss the metrics of a sperm analysis and their implications.

What Is a Semen Analysis?

A semen analysis is another way of denoting a sperm analysis report. In this report sperm cells are observed closely and information about them is recorded. Initially semen analyses were used as a post-procedural test following a vasectomy. While this is still the case, the same procedure is used to give insight into male fertility, allowing individuals to have better insight into how they can plan around building their families. Typically semen analyses examine sperm morphology, sperm count, and sperm motility. Let us dig deeper into what these terms mean:  

Sperm Morphology

A sperm cells structure is what is termed as its morphology. Generally, sperm cells have three parts, a head, a midpiece and a tail. The head contains the genetic material necessary for life, the midpiece contains mitochondria that provide energy for its movement, and the tail contains a filament that provides the movement for the cell. These three elements determine whether that cell has the potential to fertilize an egg. 

Sperm Count

Sperm count is the quantity of sperm found within a specific volume of semen. The count is measured from the volume of a single ejaculation, and this figure is an educated estimate. If the quantity of sperm is high, it is an indicator of a high sperm count. If the quantity of sperm is low, it is an indicator of  low sperm count.  Whereas in general, a high sperm count is a good thing, having a lower count does not necessarily mean that a person is infertile. Ironically too, a sperm count that is too high can contribute to infertility, as we shall see later in this article. 

Sperm Motility

Fertilization cannot occur unless a sperm cell moves from the vagina where it is deposited, through the uterus and into the fallopian tube, where the actual fertilization happens. If one considers the size of the sperm cell, it quickly emerges that this distance is quite a long one for a cell that is so small.This brings to the fore how vital sperm motility is to natural conception. 

What to Expect During Semen Analysis Process

A sperm sample is required in order for a semen analysis to be conducted. The sperm required would need to be ‘fresh’ and therefore a person would be required to masturbate and ejaculate into a medical sample container. The sample is analysed In a lab and could take several days based on the tests that are being carried out. Another way this sample can be analysed is using an at-home semen analysis kit. The at-home kit will produce results for two parameters; sperm count and sperm motility, while the lab analysis will give a more detailed report. 

Understanding Your Semen Analysis Report

The sperm analysis report from a lab gives more than sperm count and sperm motility metrics, it also is able to give insight into a person’s fertility. Let us look at some of the parameters assessed and what they mean in light of fertility.

Semen Ejaculate Volume

As we had mentioned earlier, the sperm count is determined from a specific volume of semen obtained from one ejaculation. On average, two to five milliliters of semen are produced from ejaculation. If this volume is lower than two milliliters, it could be pointing to other factors such as insufficient testosterone, an absence of the seminal vesicle, or some type of blockage. Typically, ejaculation produces about two to five milliliters of semen. When this volume is low it could be due to an underlying issue. A low sperm volume however does not mean that fertilization cannot occur.

Sperm Concentration 

From the two to five milliliters of sperm, the estimated number of sperm is 39 million. Out of these, a minimum of 58 percent on average remain alive. In a sperm analysis report, this will be reflected as a percentage and the number will represent the living sperm. Therefore if a person’s sperm concentration is 61%, it means that within the sperm sample given, 61% of the sperm cells remained alive.

Sperm Motility

Sperm motility is measured in two ways, general ability to move, and forward movement. The general ability to move is referred to as overall motility, while the ability to move forward is referred to as progressive motility. This is calculated on the living sperm cells in the sample and if 40 percent, or more, of the sperms display overall motility, this is positive. If 32 percent of the sperm cells display progressive motility, it is also considered a positive indicator. If these two aspects of motility display limitations, then it is more likely that conception will not occur naturally, and may require intervention.  

Sperm Morphology

Sperm morphology has to do with the structure of the sperm cells. This metric does not have a direct bearing on fertility. In fact, in a normal sperm sample, only four percent of the sperm cells have a normal structure as is seen in illustrations of a sperm cell! When you consider how many babies are born, and consider that among them were many more who did not develop to term, it would seem that having a sufficient supply of moving sperm is more crucial than the form they take.

Sperm Count and Fertility

Sperm count is a crucial factor impacting fertility, and a high count is always a good sign. However, a count that exceeds 40 million per milliliter was observed to have downward trend when it comes to fertility.  

How to Increase Sperm Count

If a person finds that their sperm count is low, there are ways this can be improved. A few changes in lifestyle such as:

• Increasing the intake of folate and zinc in the diet
• Ensuring a healthy and balanced diet
• Regular exercise
• Getting sufficient sleep
• Managing stress
• Avoiding alcohol and tobacco

In Conclusion

A semen analysis reveals the health of a person’s sperm as well as their fertility. There are people who may struggle with fertility even with good metrics, and others with metrics that are lower than average who do not struggle to have children. A professional healthcare provider can walk you through your report and if there are any underlying issues, these can be addressed. 

If you are facing challenges having children or would like to know more about your sperm health or fertility, contact IVF Fertility Center. Our team of professionals is committed to walking with you through the options you have regarding family building.