Semen Analysis

ANALYSIS OF URINE AND BODY

FLUIDS
 Learning Outcomes

➢Further understand the role of semen analysis in infertility investigation

➢State the structures involved in sperm production and their function.

➢Describe the four components of semen with regard to source and

function
Why do you need to perform
semen analysis?
Semen analysis
➢An integral part of infertility investigations
➢Provides useful information concerning sperm production, sperm motility
and viability, patency of the male genital tract, secretions of the accessory
organs, as well as ejaculation and emission.
➢Correlates with fertility BUT NOT an actual fertility test

• Men with SA results outside reference range may be fertile

• Men with SA results within reference range may be infertile
Infertility
➢ The inability to conceive after 1 year of unprotected sexual
intercourse

➢ Assessed by taking a detailed medical and sexual history, a

complete physical examination, and semen analyses

➢When male fertility is in question, further investigation is require

• endocrine testing (FSH, testosterone), postejaculatory urinalysis, scrotal ultrasound,
specialized semen and sperm tests and genetic screening depending on the abnormality
detected
Seminal Fluid Assessments
General semen analysis:
➢To assess motility, morphology,
concentration, volume, appearance, and
so forth

Sperm chromatin integrity test:

➢To determine the level of DNA damage to
sperm

Immunobead test:
➢To assess for antibodies against sperm

Semen culture:
➢To assess for infection
Retrograde ejaculatory testing:
➢To assess for retrograde semen flow or obstruction if
semen analysis yields an extremely low count.

Trial wash:
➢To assess sperm factors and determine whether IVF or
intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is more
appropriate, conducted before IVF and/or ICSI
procedures.

MESA/TESE/PESE (microsurgical epididymal

sperm aspiration/testicular sperm
extraction/percutaneous epididymal sperm
aspiration):
➢ To extract sperm from the testicles by a specialized
procedure when sperm count is low/absent or if
ejaculation is not possible
Seminal Fluid/Semen

➢a substance produced by the male reproductive

organs
➢ composed of spermatozoa in a semi-viscous
fluid
➢structures involved in the production of semen
include:
➢Testes and epididymis
➢Prostate
➢Seminal vesicles
➢Bulbourethral gland
 Testes
➢ Male sex glands that have both an
endocrine and exocrine function.
➢ oval-shaped reproductive structures
that are found in the scrotum and
separated by the scrotal septum.
➢ bean-shaped and measures three cm
by five cm in length and 2 cm to 3
cm in width.
Seminal Fluid/Semen
Seminal Fluid
Appearance
• Check for color and clarity
• Normal: Gray-white, translucent
 SEMEN ANALYSIS
Sperm Morphology
• While evaluating sperm for sperm vitality, identify each cell
as normal or abnormal in respect to the structure of the
head, neckpiece, midpiece and tail
• Tally at least 200 cells as normal or abnormal
• Normal values:
• greater than 30% using routine criteria
• greater than 14% using strict criteria
SEMEN ANALYSIS

SPERM MORPHOLOGY
• Head:
• Contains the acrosome with enzymes for
ovum penetration
• double and irregularly shaped heads
interfere with penetration
• Neck piece:
• Attaches the head to the midpiece
• a neckpiece too long causes a bent head that
interferes with motility
SEMEN ANALYSIS
SPERM MORPHOLOGY
• Midpiece:
• Contains mitochondria to provide energy for the tail
• Tail:
• Acts as a flagellum to propel the sperm
• double and coiled tails interfere with motility
Thank You