Fertility 101 - Male Factor

It seems as though men have it a little bit easier when it comes to infertility. OK maybe not easier, but treating their fertility issues seems to be a bit more straight forward. In our personal case, male factor is not the cause of infertility. I have come to learn a bit about male factor from undergoing 4 IUI cycles and 1 IVF.

When we first sought treatment for infertility, one of the first and more simpler tests was done on my husband. He gave a semen sample that was collected for analysis (if you are curious of how the collection goes, it literally takes place in a room with some "reading material" and a cup and that's about it!). The goal is to see how the sperm is reacting and how what role that plays in relation to the egg. The semen is then analyzed for a multiple number of things, but these three things seem to be the most important:

1) Count

2) Motility

3) Morphology

1) Count: Count is exactly what it sounds like - it is the volume and density of the number of sperm in a given sample. The volume of an ejaculate sample should be greater than 2 millimeters. Anything lower than that can be indicative of a lower sperm count. A "normal" sperm count is greater than 20 million sperm/milliliter. One cause for low sperm count could be due to a reverse vasectomy procedure.

2) Motility: Motility is the number of sperm that are moving in a certain direction in a given time. This number should be at least 50% of the sample. This test is indicative of how the sperm would move toward the egg inside the females body.

3) Morphology: Morphology is the analysis of the sperm cell appearance. At least 50% of the sample should appear to be a normal shape and size. This analysis is of the head, midsection, and tail of the sperm cell. 

pH in Semen Analysis:

Another factor to consider during a semen analysis would be the pH of the semen. If the pH is more acidic, this could be indicative of urine mixing with the ejaculate. 

Below is a sample of what my husbands semen analysis looked like...

The Environment and Semen Quality:

The quality and count of sperm can be effected greatly by environmental factors. Men who are trying to help their partners conceive are advised to avoid environmental factors that would negatively effect the semen quality such a excess heat from wearing tight underwear or going in jacuzzi tubs. Diet can also play a large role in the quality of sperm. Recreational drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, and caffeine all can effect semen quality. Increased age does not necessarily attribute to low sperm count or quality. 

Sperm play a much more important role in fertility than many people think! Make sure you are taking care of your little guys before you try to conceive.