If a married couple has problems with conceiving a child, the examination for infertility usually begins with a man. It’s faster, easier and cheaper. The main analysis that the doctor prescribes is a spermogram.
A spermogram is a laboratory analysis of a man’s sperm, which is carried out in order to assess the fertilizing ability of seminal fluid. In addition, the spermogram makes it possible to assume the presence of chronic, inflammatory, and sometimes oncological diseases in the male reproductive system.
The first indication for the appointment of a sperm test is the absence of a couple of children for 12 months against the background of a complete rejection of any methods of contraception. Sometimes a spermogram is prescribed to assess fertility disorders after a man has suffered from diseases. For example, with prostatitis, the presence of problems in the hormonal system, after injuries, some infectious diseases. Semen analysis in such cases allows you to identify violations in the reproductive function of a man in the early stages and prescribe the right treatment.
The main indicators of the spermogram
1. Ejaculate volume – one of the most important characteristics of male fertility. The norm is 2 ml or more. A small volume of sperm can become an obstacle to fertilization. With a significant decrease in volume, the diagnosis of “oligospermia” can be made. The volume of seminal fluid is important in terms of the number of spermatozoa present in it that can fertilize an egg.
2. Sperm concentration. Normally, there should be about 15 million in 1 ml of seminal fluid, at least 32% of them should have normal mobility.
3. The rate of dilution of the ejaculate. The increased viscosity of sperm makes it possible to make an assumption about disorders in the prostate gland.
3. Morphology of sperm. (the number of spermatozoa with normal structure). If there are problems with reproductive health in the sperm of a man, spermatozoa with anomalies of structure can be observed – without a head, with two tails, without tails. Normally, there should be at least 4% of spermatozoa with a normal structure.
How to prepare for sperm donation for analysis
A man’s sperm reacts quite sensitively to various external factors. Therefore, a single sperm donation for analysis does not give a reliable picture. The vast majority of clinics (when examining a man for infertility) suggest doing this twice, with an interval of about 1 month.
In order for the results to be as reliable as possible, it is necessary to submit the sperm for analysis no earlier than 48 hours after the last sexual contact and no later than a week after it. Two days before the analysis, it is necessary to refrain from drinking alcohol, smoking, visiting the sauna and bath. A man’s fatigue, recently experienced severe stress, the use of certain medications – all this can also affect the results of a spermogram.
The cost of a spermogram
In the ISIDA clinic, a spermogram can be done as a separate analysis (26.20 EUR), or as part of the comprehensive program “Examination before ART for men”. ISIDA shares your financial costs within the framework of such a survey and gives you a guaranteed discount of 50% – 58.00 EUR.
The high level of accuracy of the results of the spermogram, which is performed at the ISIDA clinic, was confirmed in 2017 by the German clinic at the University of Westphalia. Wilhelm (Menstr, Germany). The certificate that ISIDA clinic received after evaluating its diagnostic capabilities confirms ISIDA’s ability to perform sperm analysis at a level that meets European quality standards.