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Male Fertility Check

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SPERMIOGRAM - ASSESSING SPERM QUALITY 

For a successful pregnancy, the number and quality of sperm is of great importance.  

With the spermiogram, we determine the state of a man’s fertility and if there are currently any problems with sperm quality. 

MALE FERTILITY CHECK

WHAT DOES THE SPERMIOGRAM TELL US? 

We assess your  semen quality  by means of a sperm examination. To do this, we examine the  number, shape  and  motility  of the sperm in your ejaculate. In the examination we can detect disorders or diseases and evaluate your fertility. In doing so, we follow the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). 

For a normal spermiogram, the following parameters must be met:

  • The  concentration  of sperm cells must be at least 16 million sperm per milliliter of ejaculate. 
  • At least  58%of the sperm must be viable (alive). - The ejaculate volume must be at  least 1.5 milliliters. 
  • The  pH value must be between 7 and 8. 
  • A total of at least  39 million sperm  must be contained in the ejaculate. 
  • A maximum of1 million white blood cells  may be found per milliliter. 

EVALUATION OF SPERM QUALITY 

Fertility depends to a large extent on the quality of sperm. The  shape and motility of the sperm are important, as in natural fertilization the sperm must be able to swim to reach the egg. This is not possible if they are deformed or limited in their agility. 

Therefore, we examine how many sperm are normally shaped. 4% percent normally shaped sperm are sufficient for normal fertility.

ASSESSMENT OF SPERM MOTILITY

We divide sperm motility into four levels:

  • Fast forward movement (fast progressive).
  • Slow forward movement (progressive)
  • Sperm swim in circles or only locally (non-progressive)
  • Sperm do not move (immotile)

COMPARISON NORMAL SPERM AND ABNORMAL SPERM

Spermiogramm, Wunschkind Klinik Wien Dr. Brunbauer

Normal motility is defined as 40% of the sperm being basically motile and two-thirds of them being progressively motile.

MAR-TEST (MIXED-ANTIGLOBULIN-REACTION-TEST)

In this test, the ejaculate is tested for  sperm autoantibodies. These antibodies stick to the sperm and inhibit their swimming ability. In normal fertility, less than half of the sperm carry such particles. 

We will inform you in advance on the exact process and ask you to provide fresh sperm for the tests on the agreed date. 

For this purpose, we will provide you with a  discreet room  at our clinic, where you will obtain the semen sample  by masturbation. You should be healthy on the day of the spermiogram. Fever, colds or infections will affect the results. 

Before the appointment you should be  sexually abstinent  for at least three days to be able to give us an  optimal semen sample. 

The reason: frequent ejaculation uses up more sperm than the body can reproduce in a short time. If your spermiogram is outside of  the normal range, we repeat the test with fresh semen after a few weeks to confirm the diagnosis. This way, we can determine whether the changes were only temporary . Sperm cells mature in the testicles; their quality is subject to strong fluctuations and is influenced by many factors, e.g. temperature and state of health. 

In some cases, the volume of ejaculation is too low. This may be due to production disorders. In this case, too few sperm are produced in the testicles. Furthermore, transport problems due to blocked seminal ducts could also be the cause.

Causes of reduced semen quality

Reduced semen quality can have various causes:

  • Genetic causes
  • Consequence of a mumps disease
  • Side effects of medication
  • Undescended testicles as an infant
  • Varicose veins in the scrotum (varicocele) 
  • Blockage of the seminal ducts (congenital or caused by inflammation) 
  • Unhealthy lifestyle (nicotine, alcohol, obesity) 

In addition to physical reasons and pre-existing conditions,  lifestyle  often contributes to the deterioration of semen quality. Frequent alcohol and nicotine consumption reduce sperm quality. Excessive stress has a negative effect, as do obesity and anabolic steroids, which are sometimes taken by athletes. In addition, various medications, such as antibiotics, affect the ability to conceive. Last but not least, the  age of the man  plays a significant role. Sperm production and motility decrease with age. In addition, the sperm of older men are more likely to have genetic defects. 

Several treatment options are available in infertility treatment, depending on your personal situation:

  • Hormone therapy to improve sperm quality. AAfter completing the treatment course, fertility treatment (insemination, IVF, ICSI) may be performed. 
  • Insemination: In this treatment we transfer the man’s sperm cells directly into the uterine cavity after laboratory preparation. We recommend this treatment if the number and motility of your sperm cells is limited or if you have erection or ejaculation problems. 
  • Testicular biopsy: If there are no sperm cells in the ejaculate, it is possible to take them directly from the testicle. A testicular biopsy is used to determine if sperm are present in the testicle and this sperm from the biopsy can be used for fertility treatments. Testicular biopsies are performed in a minor operation carried out by a urologist. 
  • If there are no sperm cells in the testicles, you as a couple need to consider  sperm donation  as a possibility. 

We will discuss with you and your partner which form of therapy promises the best chances of success for you. We will inform you of the individual steps of the treatment and the timing. Of course, we will answer your questions and respond to your wishes. 

IMPROVE SPERM QUALITY

You can help improve your sperm quality by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and using alcohol in moderation. Quitting smoking, avoiding stress and losing weight if you are overweight is also helpful.

IMPORTANT TECHNICAL TERMS

In our consultations, we will be happy to explain all the technical terms relating to the spermiogram in detail. We will explain the most important terms briefly and clearly here:  

Normozoospermia: normal spermiogram

Oligozoospermia: there are too few sperm in the ejaculate.

Asthenozoospermia: the mobility of the sperm is restricted.

Teratozoospermia: The number of normally shaped sperm is reduced.

Oligo-Astheno-Teratozoospermia: The number, motility and shape of the sperm are limited.

Azoospermia: There are no sperm in the ejaculate.

Hypospermia (parvisemia): The volume of the semen sample is too small.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Just ask us.

We have compiled the most common questions for you. For further information, please visit our comprehensive FAQ section. If you have additional questions or need personalised advice, feel free to contact us by phone at +43 (0)1 402 53 41. Our team is always happy to assist you.

According to the WHO, investigations should be carried out if no natural pregnancy occurs after one year of regular sexual intercourse without contraception. These include a spermiogram. 

You can find our current prices under the item costs.

We use a spermiogram to assess male fertility.

In doing so, we evaluate the  quality  of your sperm according to  various criteria. These include the  number  of sperm in the ejaculate, the  shape,  motility,  liquefaction time,  volume  of the ejaculate, viscosity  (whether the semen sample is viscous),  pH, color  and  vitality  (how many live sperm are contained in the ejaculate). 

First, we will inform you in detail and make an appointment with you.

You should be sexually abstinent for at least three days before this date.

You should not have a cold, inflammation or fever on the day of the spermiogram, as this may affect the result. In our clinic, we have a discreet room where you will use masturbation to obtain the semen sample that we will examine. We will discuss the results and subsequent treatment recommendations with you and your partner in a follow-up appointment.

If the result of your spermiogram is not due to a previous disease or has known genetic reasons, you should consider lifestyle changes. 

Smoking, drinking large amounts of alcohol, being  overweight and  excessive stress  have a  negative  effect on sperm quality. 

Healthy diet, regular exercise and emotional well-being help to improve sperm quality.

A complete sperm production takes 96 days. In principle, a spermiogram can be done  about 12 weeks after cancer treatment.

However, the regeneration of fertility depends on various factors, such as the level of the treatment dose and the age of the patient. Often, the spermiogram is already of reduced quality before cancer treatment. Seek the advice of your treating physician before scheduling a spermiogram. Especially in the case of a testicular tumor, full recovery can take up to three years, and in certain cases up to nine years.