The Semen analysis is the examination of male sperm with the aim of finding out whether they are able to fertilize a female egg without external support. Sperm analysis is often the beginning of a man's examination of a couple's problems getting pregnant.
What is the semen analysis?
Sperm analysis is often the man's first physical exam when a couple is trying to get pregnant and it hasn't worked out before. It is used to examine the quality and quantity of sperm. The sperm are examined under a microscope and it can be determined whether the couple's fertility problems are due to the man.
Sperm tests diagnose one of the most common causes of difficulty getting pregnant. In the spermiogram, the man gives a semen sample, which is then analyzed in the laboratory under a microscope. Among other things, this determines whether the amount of sperm is sufficient and how the sperm are composed. A percentage is determined how many sperm are able to move and whether this proportion would be sufficient to fertilize an egg cell.
In addition, a microscopic examination of the sperm can determine whether there are any deformations of the sperm that make them unable to move, so that fertilization cannot take place normally. The spermiogram is decisive for the decision about artificial insemination.
Function, effect & goals
Spermiograms are a non-invasive examination method and at the same time a safe way to quickly identify some of the most common fertility problems in men. This is why it is one of the first tests when a couple with problems getting pregnant see a doctor.
At the same time as the man's semen analysis, the woman must also be examined, as fertility problems can lie on both sides. In the spermiogram, the man is first asked to give a semen sample, which is obtained directly in the doctor's office by masturbation. In the first step, the amount of sperm in the sperm fluid is examined, as the problem may already be due to the fact that not enough sperm get into the woman's uterus and fallopian tubes. Then the shape of the sperm cells is checked. Deformity of the individual sperm is also a common cause of fertility problems.
The spermiogram shows whether and how many sperm are unable to move and thus unable to fertilize the egg cell. Other important characteristics relating to the shape and nature of the sperm are also examined and assessed to determine whether or not fertility is guaranteed. Furthermore, the sperm analysis makes a statement about how many sperm are living in the ejaculate and are therefore capable of fertilization and whether antibodies against sperm could be found. Antibodies against own body cells kill them and ensure that the man can lead a normal sex life, but is only fertile to a limited extent. Since antibodies against spermatozoa are not otherwise noticeable, a spermiogram is the only way to determine them.
Another area of application of the spermiogram is the follow-up examination after a vasectomy, which is based on the intentional sterilization of the man. After a successful vasectomy there should no longer be any sperm in the ejaculate. Only then is it really safe to have sexual intercourse without further contraception. With vasectomies in men, it is quite possible that there is still limited fertility, even after the procedure - a spermogram can rule out this risk and give you the certainty that the desired result of the procedure has occurred.
Risks, side effects & dangers
The creation of a spermiogram is not an invasive examination and therefore completely harmless for men. There are also no risks or side effects. Only giving a sperm sample can be uncomfortable, as this is done by masturbation on site in the doctor's office and many men do not feel comfortable with it. It can be helpful to realize that doctors and medical assistants in fertility centers are confronted every day with the fact that they know how to deal with it accordingly.
However, doing a semen analysis can help reveal that a couple's infertility is due to the man. Many affected men have psychological problems because they define themselves by their ability to fulfill their partner's desire to have children. In good fertility centers, when doing the sperm analysis, it is pointed out as a precaution that the result can also be negative, so that the men are prepared for it.
If after an unpleasant result of the semen analysis a gloomy mood actually arises, it is not wrong to seek psychological advice. This can identify and prevent possible depressive moods through an unpleasant result of the spermiogram before they develop into an actual psychological problem.
Spermiograms can positively also give rise to artificial insemination.They are necessary for the health insurance to cover the costs or to confirm that pregnancy is otherwise not possible. If the couple knows that pregnancy is unlikely due to the man's sperm quality, they can opt for artificial insemination. This method is now very well developed and has already helped many couples with similar problems to have the desired child. The findings of the semen analysis will tell you how best to do it, as it will precisely identify the problem.
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