Davis's Lab & Diagnostic Tests
Semen Analysis
General
Synonym/Acronym:
N/A
Rationale
To assess for male infertility related to disorders such as obstruction, testicular failure, and atrophy.
Patient Preparation
There are no food, fluid, or medication restrictions unless by medical direction. Instruct the patient to refrain from any sexual activity for 3 days before specimen collection.
Normal Findings
Method: Macroscopic and microscopic examination.
| Semen Analysis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | Normal Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Volume | 2–5 mL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Color | White or opaque | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearance | Viscous (pours in droplets, not clumps or strings) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clotting and liquefaction | Complete in 15–20 min, rarely over 60 min | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| pH | 7.2–8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sperm count | Greater than 15 million/mL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total sperm count | Greater than 39 million/ejaculate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motility | At least 40% at 60 min | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitality (membrane intact) | At least 58% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Morphology | Greater than 25%–30% normal oval-headed forms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The number of normal sperm is calculated by multiplying the total sperm count by the percentage of normal forms. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There is marked intraindividual variation in sperm count. Indications of suboptimal fertility should be investigated by serial analysis of two to three samples collected over several months. If abnormal results are obtained, additional testing may be requested.
| Abnormality | Additional Test Ordered | Normal Result |
|---|---|---|
| Decreased count | Fructose | Present (greater than 150 mg/dL) |
| Significantly decreased count (less than 5 million/mL) | Genetic testing (karyotype for CFTR, AZF deletions) | Normal karyotype |
| Decreased motility with clumping | Male antisperm antibodies | Absent |
| Normal semen analysis with infertility | Female antisperm antibodies | Absent |
Critical Findings and Potential Interventions
N/A
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