Decoding spermogram yourself: norm indicators

Sperm analysis (or spermogram) is one of the main methods for diagnosing conception when examinations are performed for men in case of possible infertility. This is a standardized method for the study of ejaculate, which is aimed at assessing the micro- and macroscopic characteristics of semen. Deciphering the spermogram will help you understand the data that will be obtained as a result.

The concept of “sperm analysis” is quite extensive, includes several types of studies at once, and the spermogram itself is needed in order to assess the quality and quantity of sperm.

What is semen and ejaculate?

Sperm is a concentrated suspension consisting of sperm. It is secreted in the process of ejaculation.

Ejaculate is the fluid that comes out of the male penis during orgasm. It consists of sperm, prostate secretion and seminal vesicles. The concepts of “sperm” and “ejaculate” can be considered synonyms in relation to each other.

90% of semen consists of water, 6% are organic matter, and the remaining 4% are trace elements.

What is part of sperm?

Before we proceed to decipher the indicators of sperm analysis, you need to understand what is in the semen:

1. Seed plasma. This is a mixture of fluids that are produced by the testes, cells of the vas deferens, seminiferous vesicles, prostate, and glands that are located directly in the urethra.
2. Shaped elements, among which mature sperm cells occupy the main position. In adult males, about 15 to 100 million sperm counts per 1 milliliter of ejaculate. Other types of cells can be found in sperm, but their total number should not be more than 2% of the total number of cells.

What cells are found:

• white blood cells;
• prostatic stones;
• cylindrical epithelium from the excretory genital ducts;
• lipid grains;
• protein granules;
• degenerative round cells from the germinal epithelium;
• pigment grains;
• Bether crystals (these are prismatic crystals, precipitation of salts of phosphoric acid, as well as spermine, which are formed during the evaporation of water from semen).

Deciphering the analysis of spermogram helps to establish the fertility of a man, as well as detect possible diseases associated with the work of the reproductive system of the body.

This procedure is prescribed in cases where a couple has complaints of infertility. Deciphering the results of the spermogram is also necessary for people who want to be sperm donors or plan for its cryopreservation.

How to prepare for the analysis:

1. Sexual abstinence is required (this also applies to masturbation) for a period of 2 to 7 days. In further studies, the abstinence time should also be the same. For example, if during the first study you abstained for 4 days, then during the second study you will also need to wait for such a period.
2. Eliminate the effect of temperature on the body: no sauna, shower, hot bath or bath.
3. Prior to the study, you must refrain from drinking alcohol for 14 days.
4. Do not use drugs that affect the functioning of the urogenital tract.

Getting sperm

Before you start decrypting a spermogram, you need to pass the semen for analysis:

1. It is necessary to take the analysis in a special room inside the clinic or laboratory in order to minimize the time between obtaining the necessary material and the beginning of its research.
2. Method for sperm production: masturbation inside a chemically clean glass cup made of plastic or glass with a wide throat. You can buy it at the pharmacy or directly at the laboratory itself.
3. In certain cases, you can use special condoms that do not contain spermicides.
4. You need to collect the entire volume of semen, however, the first drop will be the most valuable. It contains the largest number of sperm. Losing it will affect the receipt of false results of decoding spermogram indicators.
5. The sperm tank must certainly be sterile if it is necessary to carry out bacteriological seeding of sperm, in vitro fertilization, etc.
6. The temperature of the container should be from 20 ° to 40 ° C. Thus, you can’t come right away from the cold and start taking tests.
7. In rare cases, sperm can be collected even at home, but within the next 60 minutes you will need to deliver it to the laboratory for research. Transportation should be carried out inside a lightproof bag, and the temperature should be maintained in the range from 20 to 40 ° C.

What is forbidden?

Sperm, which is obtained in the case of interrupted intercourse, cannot be used to perform the analysis. This is due to the fact that there is a very big risk of losing the first drop. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to decrypt the results of spermogram analysis in this case.

Simple condoms should also not be used to collect a sperm sample. Latex destructively affects the spermatozoa.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends conducting studies on two or more copies of the ejaculate, which were obtained in the interval from 7 to 30 days. We remind you that the period of abstinence should be the same when passing tests. The resulting transcript of the analysis of spermograms makes it possible to show the man's ability to fertilize. These are very important results, which everyone should familiarize themselves with.

During sperm analysis, there are four important points - preparing directly for analysis, transferring sperm to the laboratory, conducting all necessary tests, and decrypting the spermogram by a doctor. A man can only affect the quality of the first two points.

What is a sperm cell?

A sperm is a specialized germ cell, the fundamental difference between which and other cells inside the human body is that it has 23 chromosomes. 22 somatic chromosomes carry data on the structure of the body, and 1 is sexual - either male or female.

Spermatogenesis is the formation and maturation of sperm. It passes inside the testicles, the duration of this process varies from 65 to 75 days. About 3 million new cells may appear in a day.

What does it consist of?

To understand the norm in decoding a spermogram, it is important to understand the structure of the sperm:

1. Head. It has 51% of the total mass. It has a round-sharp shape, inside is the core. The average length is from 4 to 5 micrometers, and the width is 2.5-3.5 micrometers. On the outer surface there is an acrosome with enzymes, which is necessary for the breakdown of the egg shell.
2. Neck. Helps to connect the sperm head and neck. It is thin, well defined, its width is not less than 1 micrometer, it is located at the bottom of the head.
3. Flagellum. This is the organ of sperm movement that directs it towards the ovum. It is even, much thinner than the neck, and its size is 45 micrometers.

Spermogram recommendations

Deciphering the results of the spermogram will help to diagnose infertility in men, as well as:

• during a routine examination, if you are planning a pregnancy;
• for future sperm donors;
• before performing cryopreservation of sperm;
• after a vasectomy to assess the success of the operation;
• to evaluate fertility in case of endocrine or chromosomal diseases;
• people who in childhood suffered from cryptorchidism, epididymitis, after testicular injuries, as well as taking medications that affect spermatogenesis;
• the period of preparation for the process of artificial insemination;
• according to personal desire.

Possible additional analyzes

To understand the decoding rate of spermogram analysis, additional analyzes may also be required:

• general analysis of urine, blood;
• blood biochemical test: liver, kidney tests, rheumatic tests;
• urogenital smear ;
• total or free testosterone and more.

What can affect the results?

The following factors may affect the result of decoding the spermogram norm:

• medicines - inside the instructions for each medicine, it is indicated how much it can affect the ability to fertilize;
• mental stress, fever, intense physical activity, and similar factors can affect sperm performance.

Norms of analysis

The doctor who will assess the quality of sperm, first of all draws attention to two characteristics:

• the total number of sperm - the ability of the testes to produce sperm, and the transport system - to successfully isolate them;
• the total amount of ejaculate is the ability of the glands to produce a secret that ensures cell viability.

Poor semen quality

Men whose spermogram decoding showed that some parameters are beyond normal limits are less likely to carry out conception in a natural way. But this does not mean that such a man will not be able to become a parent at all.

How does decryption work?

Sperm color and its liquefaction period are considered. Normal sperm is characterized by a white-gray color, slightly opalescent, has a uniform consistency, and at room temperature it liquefies within 15 minutes. If the duration of the liquefaction occurs in more than an hour, then it is necessary to add special enzymes to help dissolve it. This will make sperm more suitable for subsequent tests. Sperm should not contain impurities of fresh blood or traces of brown hematin, mucus fibers or pus. Yellow color may appear due to the use of multivitamins, antibiotics or after (during) a disease, for example, jaundice. Gel grains are also found that do not dissolve during liquefaction.

Now about the volume. The minimum amount of sperm that is required for analysis is 1 milliliter, and the volume from 1.5 to 5 milliliters is considered the norm for successful fertilization. The amount of ejaculate can depend on the volume of seminal plasma and does not depend on the number of cells.

Viscosity and consistency are also important. It can be estimated at the end of the liquefaction relative to the length of the fiber, which is formed when the sperm touches the glass rod. High viscosity significantly affects sperm motility, and can indirectly indicate the presence of antisperm particles.

Doctors pay attention to the level of acidity. The decoding rate of the spermogram pH is slightly alkaline, in the range of 7.2-7.8 pH. If the data is greater than this indicator, then there is an infection. With obstruction of the vas deferens or the congenital absence of such a duct, azoospermia may develop, and therefore the acidity will be less than 7.

Sperm analysis under the microscope

Such analyzes are carried out using a special microscope with phase contrast. A conventional light microscope may also be used. With its help, painted or unpainted strokes are considered.

With the help of a special camera, the number of sperm counts. It turns out the total amount of 1 milliliter. Normal volume indicators range from 15 * 10 ⁶ per milliliter. Their entire sample contains about 39 * 10 ⁶ .

If the decoding of the spermogram showed a small number of sperm, it is necessary to use a centrifuge and conduct research on the sediment using a microscope. In his opinion, the doctor will indicate "cryptozoospermia."

To investigate sperm motility, the doctor will examine five visual fields inside the microscope twice and evaluate 200 sperm and more.

What are the criteria for the analysis:

• progressive fast movement - from 25 microns per second at a temperature of + 37 ° C, from 20 microns per second at a temperature of + 20 ° C, thus approximately 32% of sperm cells move;
• progressive slow motion;
• non-progressive - less than 5 microns per second;
• motionless.

If you suffer from infectious diseases of the urogenital tract, then the speed of sperm movement is significantly reduced.

Third-party cellular components in sperm are also present. The ejaculate (in addition to spermatozoa) may also contain other cells, which are combined with the term “round”, because when magnified with a microscope, they are not always easy to differentiate. To identify them, it is necessary to stain using a special dye.

A normal ejaculate sample contains less than 5 million round cells per 1 milliliter.

White blood cells (in particular neutrophils) can be contained in a small amount in a healthy ejaculate. However, if their number exceeds the norm, then you have leukocytospermia, which occurs in connection with an infection or inflammation.

If an increased number of leukocytes in the semen was found, then auxiliary studies, for example, bacterial urine culture and so on, are required. If they are absent in semen, this does not mean that you do not suffer from genitourinary infections.

If sperm contains immature germ cells, for example, spermatids or spermatocytes, as well as epithelial cells, then this is a sign of a violation in the maturation of spermatozoa, their slow maturation. Such an effect may affect the low probability of fertilization.

There are cases when there is a bonding of live sperm to each other through the heads, necks, flagella. This affects the immobilization of sperm, which is an indirect evidence of immunological infertility. Normally, when decoding the morphology of a spermogram, such a case does not occur.

There are methods for determining immunological infertility. To do this, you can conduct a MAR test. Deciphering the spermogram mar-test will help to find out the necessary results.

The percentage of live sperm is also important. Sperm viability can be analyzed by intravital staining. The results obtained are analyzed if the number of motionless cells is more than 50%. Dead spermatozoa that have a destroyed cell membrane do not change their color. The test makes it possible to estimate the number of living elements. A large number of dead sperm testify to testicular disease.

The structure of the sperm has many options and this is not a necessary study during the acquisition of sperm data. This must be done if you are planning an IVF. The shape of the cell can indirectly show fertility, and also helps determine the level of IVF effectiveness.

The doctor conducts research on 200 sperm cells, comparing them with the "ideal" form. The decoding of the spermogram according to Kruger should be carried out in a strict framework, so the norm is relatively low. A smear should contain at least 14% anatomically ideal specimens so that sperm can be considered suitable for fertilization. Indicators of 5-14% are good forecasts for conception, but less than 4% gives poor forecasts.

An increased number of abnormal spermatozoa indicates testicular disease, as well as impaired spermogenesis.

What may be the results of the survey:

1. Normal ejaculate, which matches all the specified parameters.
2. The total sperm count is less than 20 * 10 ⁶ per milliliter.
3. Less than half of the sperm have a progressive movement.
4. Only 15% of sperm have normal structure.
5. There may be 3 of the above phenomena.
6. Weak motility and low sperm count.
7. No live sperm are present in the sample.
8. Increased white blood cell concentration.
9. There are no sperm in the analysis.

Additional facts

A spermogram is not an absolute fertility test.

Norms in the study of sperm in laboratories can be "their own", so do not be surprised if you see different indicators of the norm after decoding.

The norm in such studies is conditional and subjective, since a simple person is involved in the process. But some analyzes are carried out 2 times, so that such distortions are easily leveled.

Decoding of spermogram DNA fragmentation is necessary in a comprehensive manner, small deviations will not always be signs of any disease.

Automatic analysis devices play only an auxiliary role during sperm quality assurance.

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