Evaluation of spermiogram

• Quantitative microscopic analysis of ejaculate obtained after 2-4 days of sexual abstinence by masturbation or captured during sexual intercourse in a condom made of a special material that does not damage sperm.

• In recent years, there has been a permanent deterioration of the spermiogram:
  • in 1951 the lower limit was 80 mil./ml, in 1964 it was revised to 40 mil./ml, in 1980 to 20 mil./ml and in 2010 WHO established 15 mil./ml as the norm.

Normal spermiogram

• After 2-7 days of sexual abstinence:
  • volume 1.5-4.8 ml;
  • pH 7,2–7,8;
  • sperm above 15 million/ml;
  • total movement: 40 %
  • progressive movement: 32 %
  • morphology: normal forms of sperm: 4 %

Findings

Ejaculate sample - azoospermia with multiple leukocytes (pyospermia)

If we talk about the quality/quantity of the ejaculate as such, we use the suffix - spermia, but if we want to comment on the number or characteristics of the sperm contained in the ejaculate, we use the suffix - zoospermia. It is good to be aware of this distinction in terminology, as it is often mistaken.

• aspermia – complete absence of ejaculate (no ejaculate formed or retrograde ejaculation);
• pyospermia – leukocytes in the ejaculate;
• hemospermia – erythrocytes in the ejaculate;
• normozoospermia – parameters are within normal limits;
• oligozoospermie:
  • below 15 mil./ml, the probability of fertilization may be reduced
  • drop below 5 million/ml – oligospermia gravis;
• asthenozoospermia – sperm movement is lower than normal, higher percentage of defective forms;
• teratozoospermia– too many morphologically abnormal sperm;
• azoospermia – sperm are absent:
  • obstructive;
  • testicular;
• necrozoospermia – only avital sperm are present;
• cryptozoospermia - the absence of sperm in the native sample, after centrifugation the presence of a small amount of sperm (serves to distinguish azoospermia, which most often has an obstructive etiology, from a serious disorder of the germinal epithelium)
• combination of the above pathologies: oligoasthenozoospermia, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia, oligoteratozoospermia.

Links

Related Articles

• Assisted reproduction
• Gametogenesis
• In vitro fertilization

Source

• BENEŠ, Jiří. Studijní materiály [online]. [cit. 2010]. <http://jirben.wz.cz>.