A Guide to Read and Understand Your Sperm Analysis Report  

A semen analysis assesses the quality and volume of sperm. It is among the primary steps to identify fertility problems. The test involves evaluating a semen sample in a laboratory. Based on the results, further tests and treatment options are recommended to help with successful conception.

What is Sperm Analysis?

A sperm analysis involves a laboratory test to assess a semen sample using a microscope.

Why is Sperm Analysis Done?

Fertility Assessment

A semen analysis can help determine if a male partner is infertile and analyse the reason behind it (sperm dysfunction or low sperm count).

Post-Vasectomy

After vasectomy, men go through semen analysis to ensure that there is no more sperm in their semen. This is because vasectomy is performed as a permanent method of birth control by cutting and sealing the tubes that carry sperm to the penis from the testicles.

Evaluation of Sperm Health

A sperm analysis evaluates three aspects of sperm health, i.e., sperm movement (motility), shape of the sperm(morphology) and sperm count. This helps identify if sperm health is affected and whether that is leading to male infertility.

Key Parameters in Sperm Analysis Report

Volume

Semen volume (in millilitres) is the quantity of semen in the lab sample.

Normal Range: 1.5-7.6 ml

Significance: Low semen volume often indicates blockage or dysfunction in the prostate gland or seminal vesicles and inadequate sperm amount to fertilise an egg. Excess volume can imply sperm amount to be diluted.

Concentration (Sperm Count)

It refers to how many million sperm are present per millilitre of semen.

Normal Range: 15-259 million per ml of semen

Significance: Lower sperm count can indicate that the testicles are not producing sufficient sperm, or the sperm is getting blocked.

Motility

It is the ability of sperm to move forward or swim. Sperm motility is rated on a scale of 0-4. Over 50% of sperm should move normally an hour following ejaculation.

Normal Range: Score of 3-4

Significance: Sperm motility is essential for fertility since sperm should be able to swim and reach the egg to fertilise it. Poor motility can be a cause of male infertility. 

Morphology

It refers to sperm shape and size. Morphology data shows various features of the sperm like the percentage of tail, midpiece, neck and head defects.

Normal Range: 4-48 % of sperm should have normal size and shape.

Significance: Only normal sperm can fertilise an egg. If less than 50% of sperm are normally shaped, this can indicate immature sperm and a possible factor for infertility.

pH Level

Semen’s pH level shows the proportion of bases and acids in the semen sample. Too acidic semen can impact sperm health.

Normal Range: 7.2-7.8

Significance: A pH below 7.0 may hint at blocked ejaculatory ducts or a contaminated specimen. A score above 8.0 may mean that the sperm donor is infected.

Liquefaction Time

Initially, semen is thick and has a gel-like consistency. It needs to liquefy to allow sperm to move. Liquefaction time is the time taken by semen to become watery.

Normal Range: 15-30 minutes

Significance: If semen takes more than 30 minutes to liquefy, this can affect fertility.

White Blood Cells

This data shows the count of white blood cells (WBCs) in the semen sample.

Normal Range: 1.0×106 peroxidase-positive cells per millilitre

Significance: Excess of WBCs in the sample may mean poor sperm motility and quality and chances of infection.

Interpreting the Results

Understanding Normal vs. Abnormal Results

Normal results of a semen analysis test report mean that there are no signs of male infertility. If there are still cases of unsuccessful conception, the female partner needs to be checked for any factors of infertility.

Abnormal results indicate sperm’s difficulty to reach and penetrate eggs, which makes conception hard and lowers the chances of pregnancy. Below are the various indications of abnormal results:

• Infection
• Infertility
• Genetic defects
• Hormonal imbalance
• Exposure to radiation
• Disorders like diabetes

Common Issues and Their Implications:

Low Sperm Count (Oligospermia)

Oligospermia refers to low sperm count, i.e., less than 15 million sperm in 1 ml of semen.

This can imply blockages, infection, genetic conditions and a possible reason for infertility.

Poor Sperm Motility (Asthenozoospermia)

It is marked by a reduced ability of the sperm to move.

This can be indicative of male infertility since a sperm that cannot reach the egg, cannot fertilise it.

Abnormal Sperm Morphology (Teratozoospermia)

It is characterised by a high quantity of abnormally shaped sperm.

This also implies the presence of an infection, genetic defects or chronic diseases and chances of male infertility.

High White Blood Cell Count

Pyospermia refers to an unnaturally high count of white blood cells in the semen. This condition can damage genetic material and weaken sperm cells.

It can impact fertility but that is not true with asymptomatic pyospermia.

What to Do If Your Results Are Abnormal

Consult a Specialist

If you receive abnormal results in a sperm analysis report, consult a fertility specialist. Possible treatment approaches include:

• Surgery: Surgical correction is often helpful if the patient has a blocked vas deferens or varicocele. 
• Antibiotics: The healthcare provider may recommend antibiotics if a bacterial infection is impacting the patient’s fertility or sperm count.
• Medication or counselling: They can help address issues in sexual intercourse like erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. 
• Hormone treatments and medications: These approaches are helpful if infertility is caused by low or high hormone levels.
• Other methods: The specialist may also recommend procedures like:
• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) treatment: Here, specially prepared sperm is directly placed in the uterus to boost the chances of fertilisation.
• In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment process: In IVF, the embryologist directly combines the most motile and strongest sperm with the egg in a lab and places the fertilised egg in the uterus. This increases the chances of a successful pregnancy.

Lifestyle Changes

The following lifestyle changes can help improve sperm count:

• Exercise and Diet: Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and body weight through regular exercise and proper diet. Excess body weight can reduce the sperm count.
• Avoid Smoking and Alcohol: Avoid substance abuse and quit tobacco or drug use and heavy drinking.
• Manage Stress: Try stress management techniques like yoga.

Conclusion

It’s common to feel embarrassed or nervous when you get a semen analysis test report. However, fertility specialists at Oasis Fertility always welcome questions about reproductive health and will address all your concerns. Our semen analysis tests are performed by experts to provide accurate results and we help you learn how to read a sperm analysis report. Our fertility specialists suggest additional tests for more clarity and recommend suitable treatment options for successful conception.