SEMEN ANALYSIS
Semen analysis can help a man to learn about their sperm count and fertility
When a man or a couple visits Alps hospitals and diagnostics to get help conceiving, our fertility specialists will likely order a semen analysis. This straightforward test provides a broad range of knowledge regarding a man’s reproductive ability. It achieves this by looking at important sperm health and function factors.
What can a semen analysis tell you?
Once the specimen arrives in the laboratory, our Andrologists will evaluate it for multiple parameters of sperm and semen health.
- Semen volume
- Sperm count, or concentration (the number of sperm per volume of semen)
- Motility (the percentage of sperm that are alive and swimming)
- Morphology (the percentage of sperm with a normal shape and size)
If the semen analysis reveals a low sperm count, your physician may recommend a second analysis to confirm this result. If testing still shows a low sperm count, our specialists have a variety of tests and treatments that can help you.
For the best results, we recommend providing a semen sample using masturbation or with help from your partner after at least 48 hours of abstinence. We also advise against using gels or other substances that can affect the semen evaluation.
You can collect this sample at home or in our partner laboratory. If you decide to collect at home, you’ll need to keep the semen sample close to body temperature and bring it to our office within an hour of collection.
What are the treatments for a low sperm count?
In the event you have a low sperm count, our team may order a laboratory test to examine your follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone. If your hormone levels are abnormal, we can recommend medications that can easily correct the problem.
We can also recommend other treatments to help overcome a low sperm count and have a baby. Some of the most common examples include intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and Testicular Rejuvenation.
Severe cases of male infertility may require IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). During this procedure, an embryologist injects a single sperm directly into an egg in the laboratory. This procedure is both safe and effective.
In some cases, we may refer you to our urologist. This type of physician has received training that allows them to diagnose and treat disorders of the male reproductive tract. This doctor can make specialized treatment recommendations based on your unique situation and diagnosis.
If you’d like to learn more about your sperm count, contact us at Alps hospitals to schedule an appointment.
