{"id":10569,"date":"2018-03-05T10:53:20","date_gmt":"2018-03-05T18:53:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.avawomen.com\/?p=10569"},"modified":"2020-08-26T06:46:10","modified_gmt":"2020-08-26T13:46:10","slug":"sperm-analysis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.avawomen.com\/avaworld\/sperm-analysis\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Read a Sperm Analysis Report Like a Pro"},"content":{"rendered":"

So you or your partner got a sperm analysis report, and now you want to know what it means: is he healthy? Will you be able to conceive naturally? When it comes to getting pregnant, dad and his sperm are half of the equation.<\/p>\n

Global estimates<\/a> suggest that male factor infertility is about as common as female factor infertility, so it\u2019s important to consider male reproductive health when trying to conceive. This post will explain what sperm is, what to look for in semen analysis reports, and what helps make the best swimmers.<\/p>\n

The basics of sperm production<\/h2>\n

Spermatogenesis is the biological process of sperm cell production. New sperm cells are produced continuously over the male life span, with millions made per day. These cells are made in the seminiferous tubule of the testes with the help of Sertoli cells. Semen is made in the seminal vesicles, and this fluid contains nutrients and sugars to protect sperm cells. The entire process of initial stem cell to fully mature cell takes about three months.<\/p>\n

The final step for sperm to be fully capable of fertilizing the egg is a process called capacitation<\/em>. This process happens in the female reproductive system, where vaginal fluids help change the structure of the head so that genetic information can transfer to the egg. These fluids also trigger a series of chemical changes in the tails so that they can be more active and swim better.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s important to know about capacitation is that this step takes about 7 hours. So, your best fertility<\/a> odds are the day or two before <\/em>ovulation to maximize the likelihood of capacitated sperm reaching the egg. Having sex during <\/em>the day of ovulation<\/a> limits the likelihood of completed capacitation, which then reduces the odds of fertilization.<\/p>\n

When should he get a semen analysis report?<\/h2>\n

According to the American Pregnancy Association<\/a> , if you and your partner have not been able to conceive within a year, both your fertility and your partner\u2019s fertility should be tested. There are some advantages to testing your partner\u2019s fertility first.<\/p>\n

A female fertility test can include blood tests, ultrasounds, and a\u00a0<\/strong>hysterosalpingogram<\/a> (HSG), and the process can be expensive, invasive, and take weeks before you and your doctor know the results.\u00a0 Unlike fertility testing in women, fertility testing in men is relatively easy, fast, and inexpensive. So, it\u2019s more practical to address male fertility first with a simple and routine semen analysis report, which usually takes about a week to process. But ultimately, the choice is up to you and your partner.<\/p>\n

How do you read a sperm analysis report?<\/h2>\n

Here are the important metrics in a semen analysis<\/a> report:<\/p>\n