Male Fertility Matters: What a Semen Analysis Can Reveal
It’s a common myth that fertility issues are usually related to a female partner’s reproductive health. The truth is that male factors contribute to many infertility cases, and a male partner needs to undergo a semen analysis as part of a couple’s fertility evaluation. A semen analysis is a simple yet important tool that helps reproductive specialists understand infertility and create customized treatment plans to give their patients the best chances of conception.
What Does a Semen Analysis Test?
A semen analysis is a non-invasive laboratory test that assesses male fertility and diagnoses potential problems with sperm production or quality. This test is quick and is considered a routine part of a couple’s fertility evaluation. A semen analysis measures:
- Volume: The amount of semen produced in an ejaculation
- Motility: Sperm movement
- Morphology: The shape and structure of the sperm
- Sperm concentration: The number of sperm per milliliter of semen
- Total sperm count: The number of sperm in the entire ejaculate
- White blood cell count: Abnormal numbers can indicate an infection
- pH: The acidity or alkalinity of the semen
- Fructose level: Fructose is an energy source for sperm
- Liquefaction time: How long sperm takes to change from a gel to a liquid
- Sperm antibodies: Proteins that can attack and kill sperm
What Causes Abnormal Results?
Abnormal semen analysis results can stem from various issues, including infections, medical conditions, genetic predispositions, as well as lifestyle factors, like smoking, alcohol consumption, and poor diet. These underlying factors can influence issues like low sperm count, poor sperm motility, and abnormal sperm morphology.
Male fertility problems are common, making up one-third of all infertility cases. Common treatments include lifestyle changes, medications, and assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Many patients with abnormal sperm analysis results go on to successfully conceive healthy children with their partner.
Learn More About Sperm Health and Fertility Testing
No matter where you are on your path to parenthood, getting a semen analysis can provide the answers you need to conceive. At Aspire HFI, our Houston male fertility experts will guide you and your partner from conducting a thorough fertility evaluation to moving forward with assisted reproduction, if necessary.
Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment at our Houston, Willowbrook, Cypress, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, The Woodlands, Memorial City, Beaumont, Kingwood, or Clear Lake locations.
