Key Highlights:

• A semen analysis report evaluates male fertility and reproductive potential. 
• The semen collected should be submitted to the lab within an hour for accurate results.
• A guide to understand semen analysis and sperm quality reports.

What Is a Semen Analysis?

Semen analysis is a test to check the viability of a man’s semen and sperm. It is evaluated in the laboratory. This analysis was conducted to understand male fertility. The evaluation criteria include motility, morphology, sperm count, volume, pH level, liquefaction time, and white blood cell count. Semen analysis is advised for males in cases of long-term inability to produce a child, post-vasectomy procedures, or before fertility treatment and while evaluating recurring pregnancy loss. It is also used as a reference for assisted reproductive treatment (ART). This blog describes the elements of a semen analysis report and its importance.

What is the difference between sperm and semen?

Particulars	Sperm	Semen
Definition	A microscopic reproductive cell responsible for fertilizing female eggs.	Thick whitish-grey fluid that transports sperm.
Production	Created inside the testicles with a 75-day procedure.	Produced mainly by the prostate gland & semenal vesicles.
Composition	Contains genetic material and has a tail that is used for swimming.	Made of water, plasma, mucus, and nutrients like fructose to nourish the sperm.
Visibility	Invisible to the naked eye, it can be seen only under a microscope.	Fully visible to the naked eye as a white liquid.
Quantity	Millions per ejaculation	Millilitres per ejaculation

How to Prepare for a Semen Analysis Test?

Follow these steps to prepare for the semen analysis tests:

• Abstinence Period

Abstain from sex and masturbation for 2-5 days before semen analysis. Exceeding more than a week causes a decline in sperm motility.

• Sample Collection

Wash your hand and penis before extraction to avoid contamination. The sample is to be collected through masturbation only. Do not use saliva or any sort of lubrication, and submit the complete collection to the laboratory.

• Delivering to the laboratory

If you collect the sample at home, deliver the sample in less than 60 minutes to the laboratory. Keep it at body temperature; avoid exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures.

What are the things to avoid before the semen analysis test?

For a better semen analysis report, follow these precautionary steps:

• Avoid consuming substances like alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and recreational drugs for 2-5 days before the semen analysis test.
• Postpone the test for 2 weeks to 8 months, depending on the severity of the illness; postponement helps your health and sperm recover.
• Inform the doctor about your consumption of prescribed medications or supplements, especially testosterone therapy or antibiotics, as they impact the semen analysis.
• Avoid sex and masturbation for 2-5 days before the test, and do not exceed 7 days; it will impact the sperm motility.
• Avoid exposure to excess heat like hot tubs, sauna baths, and extreme hot showers. Sleep well and keep your body hydrated.

How Do You Read a Semen Analysis Report? 

A semen analysis report is a breakdown of the elements that together indicate a healthy reproductive system. Shared below is the description of each element.

Semen Volume
What It Explains: The total amount of fluid collected for the test.
Normal Baseline: 1.5 mL or more.
Clinical Indications: Fluid is the sperm transporter; low volume might be due to improper placement during collection, low or no abstinence before the test, or physical blockages.

Sperm Concentration
What It Explains: The density of sperm per unit of fluid.
Normal Baseline: 15 million sperm per mL or higher.
Clinical Indications: The density fluctuates frequently due to recent fevers, stress, exposure to too much heat (including hot tubs), or consumption of substances.

Total Sperm Count
What It Explains: The total number of sperm in the entire sample.
Normal Baseline: 39 million sperm or more.
Clinical Indications: Sperm count is calculated by multiplying volume by concentration. It depicts a complete look at your body’s overall sperm production capacity. It can be impacted by lifestyle choices, medications, medical history, etc.

Total Motility
What It Explains: The total percentage of sperm that show any movement.
Normal Baseline: 40% or more.
Clinical Indications: Low motility obstructs egg fertilization. Low motility might be caused by the delay in collection to testing time (<60 min), enlarged scrotal veins, hormonal imbalances, genital infections, and lifestyle factors like smoking, obesity, and excessive heat.

Progressive Motility
What It Explains: Sperm’s ability to move forward and fertilize the egg.
Normal Baseline: 32% or more.
Clinical Indications: Low progressive motility is among the important elements of fertility. A low count is caused by stress, medical factors, lifestyle choices, enlarged scrotal veins, etc.

Sperm Morphology
What It Explains: The physical shape, size, and structure of the sperm.
Normal Baseline: 4% or more with perfect shape.
Clinical Indications: Under strict criteria, most sperm are abnormally shaped. Low morphology might impact the conception timeline. Lifestyle choices, medical history, and genetics cause abnormal structural issues.

Semen pH Level
What It Explains: The acid-base balance of the fluid.
Normal Baseline: 7.2 to 8.0
Clinical Indications: The alkaline fluid shields sperm from acidic vaginal environments. Abnormal pH points to a gland issue or a bacterial infection.

Liquefaction Time
What It Explains: Timeline of semen thinning out from a gel to a liquid.
Normal Baseline: Within 20 to 30 minutes.
Clinical Indications: Semen ejaculates as a thick gel to protect sperm. Delayed liquefaction (over 60 minutes) can trap the sperm and prevent them from swimming. It is caused by lifestyle factors, dehydration, hormonal imbalances, etc.

White Blood Cells 
What It Explains: The presence of immune cells in the sample.
Normal Baseline: Less than 1.0 million cells per mL.
Clinical Indications: High white blood cell counts indicate active inflammation or an infection in the reproductive tract. It is caused by substance consumption and long-term abstinence from sex. It may damage the health and DNA integrity. 

White Blood Cells 
What It Explains: The presence of immune cells in the sample.
Normal Baseline: Less than 1.0 million cells per mL.
Clinical Indications: High white blood cell counts indicate active inflammation or an infection in the reproductive tract. It is caused by substance consumption and long-term abstinence from sex. It may damage the health and DNA integrity. 

Sperm Vitality
What It Explains: The percentage of sperm cells that are actually alive.Normal Baseline: 58% or more.
Clinical Indications: Essential to check if movement is low. Helps confirm if the low motility count sperms are dead. Might cause difficulty in natural conception.

What Do Abnormal Semen Analysis Reports Mean?

An abnormal semen analysis report refers to low metrics in a single or multiple criteria used to analyze semen health. The common abnormalities are as follows:

Oligospermia—a sperm count lower than 15 million sperm per milliliter.

Asthenozoospermia—Poor sperm movement

Teratozoospermia—abnormal shape and structure of sperm

Azoospermia—complete absence of sperm in ejaculation

Leukocytospermia—A high concentration of white blood cells, indicating infection in the reproductive tract.

Low Volume: Semen volume lower than 1.5 ml, signaling partial blockage or retrograde ejaculation.

Some common causes of the above-mentioned abnormal semen analysis report include varicocele, hormonal imbalances, infections, lifestyle factors, genetics, history, etc. The abnormalities require fertility specialist intervention and can be treated through medical processes.

What are the ways to improve sperm health?

• You can improve sperm health by making healthy choices for a period of 64 to 74 days/months:
• Maintaining a healthy diet, getting good sleep, and living a stress-free life.
• Maintaining a healthy weight through stress management and regular exercise.
• Abstaining from smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
• Treat underlying medical conditions and maintain a healthy sex life.
• Consult a fertility expert during the initial stage of the sperm health issue.

In a Nutshell:

Semen analysis is the first step towards understanding reproductive health. The test helps analyze potential or existing concerns at an early stage. In case of an abnormal report or inability to reproduce despite having a normal report, you can visit the doctor for expert guidance. Prescribed medicines and healthy life changes help in minor cases. Post it. The doctors ask for a retest. At Orchid, we use advanced equipment for semen analysis and guide males and couples in their reproductive health queries. 

FAQs:

• How long does sperm fully refill?

It takes 62 to 74 days for a new batch of sperm to mature from scratch; however, it takes only 2-3 days to rebuild stored volume and sperm count after ejaculation.

• Why wait 48 hours for a semen analysis?

Doctors often suggest waiting 2-5 days and following the guidelines for sperm tests to obtain an accurate semen analysis report.

• How does alcohol impact semen analysis?

Regular consumption of alcohol leads to low sperm count, reduced motility rate, and abnormalities in the shape of sperm.