Seminal Analysis

Section: Hematology
Task: Seminal Analysis


When is the test requested?
Seminal analysis is usually performed on 2 occasions:
1) To investigate whether a man might be infertile.
It is only a ‘screening test’, not a confirmatory test for fertility.
Studies shown that 30% of all patients with normal semen analysis have abnormal sperm function.
(It is a common request in couples planning for marriage!)

2) After a vasectomy to determine whether the procedure was successful.

How to collect?
A colleague joking told me that in olden days, hospitals have a special room playing RA-ted movies in order for males to collect the semen.

That I am not sure whether it is true, but now semen can be collected through:
1) Masturbation
2) If intercourse is the only way to collect sample, special nonreactive condoms are available. They are made up of silicone or polyurethane, instead of latex, which is non-harmful to sperm.

Semen specimen are collected into a sterile and transparent container and required to be analyzed within 1 hour of collection. Therefore, the patients should be strongly recommended to collect samples within clinic area.

Procedures
Upon receiving the semen, we will put it into the incubator for an hour before performing seminal analysis.

Why do we need to incubate for an hour?
- It is estimated that the sperms after being ejaculated, take an hour to pass through the vagina to the uterus to the fallopian tubes to reach the ovaries. Hence 1 hour is the standardized time to measure the amount of sperm that can reach the eggs of females.
- Putting in the incubator is to maintain the viability of the sperms.

Tests done:
1) Appearance
How? Observing the color of semen
Normal result: White or pale yellow
Comments: Reddish semen is abnormal

2)Viscosity
How? Observing the thickness of semen
Normal result: Liquid-like
Comments: Glue-like(very thick) is abnormal

3) pH
How? Use pH dip strip
Normal result: 7.2-7.8
Comments: Semen is alkaline by nature; Acidic ejaculate can be associated with blockage of seminal vesicles.

4) Volume
How? Using 1ml dropper
Normal result: 2-6 ml
Comments: Low volume may be due to absence of seminal vesicle component or decrease of retrograde ejaculation

5) Density
How? Count 10 squares of neuber chamber under microscope
Normal result: >20x106/ml
Comments: The result = (no. of sperm counted) ×10^6/ml

6) 1st hr and 2nd hr motility
How?
1) Drip a drop of semen onto the glass slide and place a cover slide on top
2) Count the motile and non-motile sperms under microscope
3) Motility can be calculated by dividing the motile sperms with total sperm count.
Normal result: >60% for 1st hr
Comments: 2nd count is usually lower as more sperms die.

7) Morphology
How? RBCs , WBCs , Abnormal sperm
Comments: Abnormal sperm includes those with short tail, either head that are too big or small, sperm with 2 heads etc

Factors leading to low sperm count:
Smoking:
Toxins in cigarettes affects the lifespan of sperm and it was also proven that smokers had far less sex drive than their non-smoking peers.

Alcohol:
Drinking in excess damages developing sperm and decreases healthy sperm.

Testicular overheating:
Putting laptop on your laps or wearing tight fitting underwear can raise scrotal temperatures, which slow down the rate of sperm production. Laptop heat insulators and loose fitting garments are recommended to allow air to circulate and keep the testicles cool

Vigorous exercises:
Exercises that cause repeated trauma or impounding damage to the testes and scrotum result in semen alterations. Examples of such exercises are cycling or mountain biking.

There are many more interesting factors! You can read more on www.spermtest.com/causes_of_abnormal_low_sperm_counts.php

Other sites visited:
www.umc.sunysb.edu/urology/male_infertility/SEMEN_ANALYSIS.html
www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/semen/test.html

Cheers,
Kum Hui Min =)
tg01